Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

The Great Marble Race Physics Project
Due: Nov. 13
The project is a display that demonstrates several concepts of mechanics. It will consist of a ball and a series of tubes or track that send the ball through motions that illustrate the physics concepts. At least 6 different concepts will be demonstrated. The projects will be displayed in the new assembly room. The project is a homework assignment that covers several days, and it will be worth a significant amount of your grade.
Rules:

The project must be YOUR work. No store bought marble race type toys may be used. YOU must design and build the project.

1. The project may be done individually or in groups of no more than two.

2. Projects that come from groups will be expected to reflect the effort of both people.

3. The project must be labeled with index cards. The cards should completely explain and point out the six areas where the physics concepts are being illustrated. Extra credit will be given if the figures are calculated for the project. For example, "The speed of the marble is 1.5 ft. per second". Be sure to show your work.

4. Your project must be self-supporting. This means that it is well constructed and that it does not need anyone to hold it up or support it.

5. The project must start with a ball rolling down some kind of a track, but it may switch to other types of objects and designs as long as the physics concepts are illustrated.

6. Your project may be any size and it may be made with any materials. The exception is anything that may be dangerous.

7. The project should be creative and as elaborate as possible.

8. You should make sure that your project is reliable. Test it over and over, so you can be confident that it will work when you get it to school.

The project must start with a marble doing something. Any ideas???

smpsscience wrote:The Great Marble Race Physics Project
Due: Nov. 13
The project is a display that demonstrates several concepts of mechanics. It will consist of a ball and a series of tubes or track that send the ball through motions that illustrate the physics concepts. At least 6 different concepts will be demonstrated. The projects will be displayed in the new assembly room. The project is a homework assignment that covers several days, and it will be worth a significant amount of your grade.
Rules:

The project must be YOUR work. No store bought marble race type toys may be used. YOU must design and build the project.

[snip material]

The project must start with a marble doing something. Any ideas???

Hello- It looks like from the rules that you need to design this yourself- you should probably double check that asking for help here is okay. Even if it is okay, we probably cannot give any detailed help without breaking the rules.

This is an example of "rube goldberg machine", where you have many complicated parts to do a simple task. If you google for this, you can find some amazing examples on the web.

I would start with listing 6 different physics concepts (or forces- such as gravity) that you can use to move an object, and then figure out how to link them together. This isn't as hard as it seems- I had to do this in physics class too- and it worked out okay. Just work on it part by part.


Louise

Hi there,

As the previous Expert posted it appears that we are not suppose to give out details on what you should build.

But this project is a GREAT chance for you to get creative. I believe you should think about 'telling a story' when you construct your contraption. What do you like the most in a good story ? Well for me I like when the story starts out simple and then becomes more complex and ends with a bang !

I think it is also good if you pick a theme for your contraption (again use your imagination, I guarantee you this skill is never thought in the classroom but will definitely be used in real life). Then tell a 'story' around your theme.

Hope this gets your mind rolling.....just like your marble ball will start rolling by telling a story to the audience.

I found one idea: it's called the gauss rifle

basically, all you need is a ruler, 4 cube magnets, and nine steel balls. Anything else? Any new ideas? Pleasepost.

we can get help from this site. Any ideas are fine. Please continue to post.

[quote="smpsscience"]we can get help from this site. Any ideas are fine. Please continue to post. [/quote]

you dont need help sounds like your project is going to be great

I think the gauss rifle could be a good part of your project. Maybe you want another component to knock the first ball to start it rolling... or what could you start by hitting it with the ball that shoots off the track?


Louise

[quote="Louise"]I think the gauss rifle could be a good part of your project. Maybe you want another component to knock the first ball to start it rolling... or what could you start by hitting it with the ball that shoots off the track?


Louise[/quote]



Exactly! Any ideas??

Hi again,

You seem to be very impatient and demanding from other people. That is not a good way to approach problems.

A good way of approaching a problem is popularly called "Brain Storming". You (yes you) should sit down and jot down any ideas that you can think of on a piece of paper. Anything that comes in mind related to your project (even though it may seem silly). Then after that you take a break and then come back to your writings. From there you should be able to compile new ideas and since they came from your brain you could think more and expand. Most importantly use your immagination.

Professional companies often use these session with even the brightest workers to solve complicated problems.

In the end it will be your brain and time that will count on how succcesfull the project is. Not other people's.

Good luck !

Tried that. See my new post about the Guass rifle. If anyone could find any info, it would be highly appreciated.