NAME:_____________________________
Machine Construction Project
Activity Component
Machine Design
Mechanical Advantage
Report
Description
Machine Use & Safety Considerations
Drawing (AutoCAD, hand sketch)
Measurements
Materials
Build Procedure (document)
Pictures/Videos of build
Load Force Calculation
Effort Force Determination
AMA Calculation
Effort and load distance determination
IMA Calculation
Purpose
Materials & Design
Analysis (answer analysis questions)
Conclusion (answer conclusion questions)
Date Complete
Purpose:
To design and construct a simple or compound machine for the purpose of solving a
practical problem and to determine its mechanical advantage. Your machine should
have some useful purpose. Common machines to consider include: pulley, mobile, can
crusher, trebuchet or some other catapult.
Materials:
State the materials that you will use including labelled diagram(s).
Procedure:
1. Submit the machine design to your teacher for safety evaluation. Your invented
machine should not pose any risk to human life and should serve some useful
purpose.
2. Once you receive notification from your teacher that your design has been
approved for safety, construct the machine according to the design. As you
progress through the stages of building, take a series of photos or videos that can
describe your process. The pictures or video, with descriptive captions, must be
submitted to the teacher.
3. Complete a written report of the construction which will include: Purpose, Materials
(including labelled diagrams), Analysis, and Conclusions.
Analysis:
1. Record collected data and calculations (with units) that indicate the mechanical
advantage of your machine.
2. What safety considerations did you make in designing your machine?
Conclusions: This should be a short paragraph that includes the answers to the
following questions.
1. What machine was constructed?
2. What practical problem does the machine solve?
3. Is the construction a simple or a compound machine?
4. What is the mechanical advantage (actual or theoretical)?
5. Identify any design features that could improve the mechanical advantage of future
constructions of this type.
Rubric
Machine Construction
Categories
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
(50 - 59%)
(60 - 69%)
(70 - 79%)
(80 - 100%)
Thinking
-ability to design a
machine, selecting
appropriate instruments,
safely applying
appropriate techniques,
and collecting accurate
data to assess the
machine's mechanical
advantage
SI1.02, SI1.04, SI1.05,
SI1.08, MS2.07
-demonstrates limited
ability to design a
machine, selecting
appropriate instruments,
safely applying
appropriate techniques,
and collecting accurate
data to assess the
machine's mechanical
advantage
-demonstrates some
ability to design a
machine, selecting
appropriate instruments,
safely applying
appropriate techniques,
and collecting accurate
data to assess the
machine's mechanical
advantage
-demonstrates
considerable ability to
design a machine,
selecting appropriate
instruments, safely
applying appropriate
techniques, and
collecting accurate data
to assess the machine's
mechanical advantage
-demonstrates thorough
ability to design a
machine, selecting
appropriate instruments,
safely applying
appropriate techniques,
and collecting accurate
data to assess the
machine's mechanical
advantage
Communication
-expression and
organization of relevant
ideas and information
related to the construction
of a machine and the
assessment of its
mechanical advantage
SI1.06, SI1.07, SI1.11
-expresses and organizes
relevant ideas and
information related to the
construction of a
machine and the
assessment of its
mechanical advantage
with limited clarity
-expresses and organizes
relevant ideas and
information related to the
construction of a
machine and the
assessment of its
mechanical advantage
with some clarity
-expresses and organizes
relevant ideas and
information related to the
construction of a machine
and the assessment of its
mechanical advantage
with considerable clarity
-expresses and organizes
relevant ideas and
information related to the
construction of a
machine and the
assessment of its
mechanical advantage
with a high degree of
clarity
Application
-application of concepts
related to the function and
mechanical advantage of
simple machines to the
invention of a unique
machine with a useful
purpose
MS2.07
-demonstrates limited
ability to apply concepts
related to the function
and mechanical
advantage of simple
machines to the
invention of a unique
machine with a useful
purpose
-demonstrates some
ability to apply concepts
related to the function
and mechanical
advantage of simple
machines to the
invention of a unique
machine with a useful
purpose
-demonstrates
considerable ability to
apply concepts related to
the function and
mechanical advantage of
simple machines to the
invention of a unique
machine with a useful
purpose
-demonstrates thorough
ability to apply concepts
related to the function
and mechanical
advantage of simple
machines to the invention
of a unique machine with
a useful purpose