Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Could you please help me . I have to make a simple machine that will pop a balloon using a pulley, lever and inclined plane. I have been doing lots of research but can't come up with any ideas for my project.

Hello,

Here are some Science Buddies Project ideas about simple machine elements that should give you some ideas. Take a look at them.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p018.shtml

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p042.shtml

I bet you can come up with a good idea how to combine them to pop a balloon. If you still have problems, visit this forum again.

Ed Neu
Buffalo, MN

Please see if this works:
First drop the weight attached to the pulley. This will get the ball rolling by spinning the wheel and the axle. The lever (like see-saw) could be triggered by dropping a stone into the cup which is on one end of the lever. The stone or marble can be dropped from the inclined ramp. The lever would finally pop the balloon with a wedge (pin or something sharp).
Besides the science buddy links already mentioned, you can also view this site to get some help.

http://www.rubegoldberg.com/
Good Luck with your project

Sumit Mitra

Hi Tayto9,

I found a resource that has tips and videos of past projects. This is an investigation into using the simple machines as Ed_Neu pointed out. Please use this site as Reference Only to get your inventive juices flowing!

http://www.tclauset.org/07_Poppers/BP.html

Best of Luck,

Marc