Standards and Abilities
This unit documentation
provides an
opportunity for the
student to address the
following standards
for technological
literacy: 6, 7, 17.
This unit documentation
satisfies the following
from the VCSU AbilitySkill-Level model:
• Ability: Technology
Skill: General
Technology
• Level: 4
Parts Needed
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1 Rubber Band.
1 Reducing Straight Connector.
1 2” Gum Rubber tubing.
1 One hole stopper.
5 16mm marbles.
1 2 ml glass tip syringe.
1 19mm x 150mm Test Tube.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
3 Plywood 1.5” X 2.5” X ¾”.
1 Plywood 4” X 8” X ¾”.
2 Wooden dowel- ½” X 7”.
1 Carpet Tape 2” x 2” on stick.
1 3” cotton lamp wick.
1 Tea lite candle w/ in metal dish.
14. 1 Approx. 2” x ½” rubber
band piece.
Tools Needed
1. 1 Tape Measure, 1 In x 12 ft.
2. 1 Titebond Premium Wood
Glue.
3. 1 Electric drill.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1 Pair of scissors.
Matches.
1 Hammer.
1 ½” drill bit.
Experiment
 Mark the center of the 4”
by 8” plywood base (9).
 Place a mark ¾” in from
the long edge on both
sides
 Using a ½ drill bit,
make holes at the
marks.
To watch the Fabrication Video : Click here.
 Put the two dowels (10) in
both holes. They can be
glued in by putting some
glue at the tip or just
hammered in if you want
to use them again.
 Place the rubber band (1)
around the wooden
dowels.
 Place a piece of
carpet tape in the
middle of one of the
side, that will be
where the syringe
will stand.
 Insert the Gum Rubber
tubing (3) on the tip of the
syringe (6) and add the
straight connector (2).
 After putting the marbles
(5) in the test tube (7), cap
the tube with the hole
stopper (4).
 Insert the straight
connector into the hole
stopper making sure the
syringe is all in.
 Glue the three
plywood pieces (1) on
top of each other using
Wood glue or use
carpet tape if you wish
to reuse them.
 Set the assembled test
tube , gum rubber
tubing and syringe to
the rubber ring and
twist it around one
time like shown in the
photograph.
 After the previous step, the test tube and syringe will
stay in place by installing the bottom of the syringe on
the carpet tape. Some tape can eventually added if it
does not stay in place.
 Set the glued plywood pieces at the opposite side of the
syringe with the candle as shown in the picture.
The candle not providing enough heat, use
the candle cup to put a piece of cotton lamp
wick (13) soaked in rubbing alcohol.
 If it does not work adjust the height of the test tube by
moving the rubber band until you get a repetitive
movement as shown in the video in the link below.
Click here --Test Tube Engine Video.
Gas expands
Air pressure
rises in the
syringe
Heat
Negative
expansion
Cold
Air pressure
decrease in
the syringe
 The best way to ensure it
works is to make sure
that when cold the
marbles are in the
syringe side and only
need a little notch up to
travel to the other side.
 In this picture, you can see
how the pressure in the syringe
is rising due to the dilatation of
the heated air in the test tube.