The device’s purpose was to pop a balloon. It starts with a marble falling down a
ramp and landing onto another ramp. Then the marble went down the second ramp,
eventually falling onto a set mousetrap, triggering the trap that pulled a string. The
string’s purpose was holding a stopper beneath another marble, so once the string was
pulled the second marble was set loose and it was taken down a ramp with gravity being
the only force acting on it. After the marble traveled the course of the ramp it was
launched from the ramp, eventually colliding with a Styrofoam stopper, guiding it then
into a tube that allowed the ball to fall onto another set mousetrap. Then the activated
trap sets off yet another trap which is located directly behind it. The second trap had a
small wooden stick with 2 thumb tacks driven through it; allow the hammer like motion
to pop the balloon which is situated on the Styrofoam stopper. This device completes its
simple task accurately and efficiently, providing the same effect time after time again.
We were initially given the design criteria for the project. From here, we
brainstormed many different devices that could achieve a task using the required three
energy conversions. These ideas included using loops and ramps, launching projectiles,
mousetraps, and ending the process with a balloon being popped. After much heated
debate, the team decided on only one balloon to be popped rather than the initial idea of
three balloons being popped. We established that the finished product would contain
ramps, mousetraps, and a balloon. The three energy conversions we were aiming for
initially included potential energy, kinetic energy, and center of mass. The potential
energy conversion would be placed in step one in a small ball rolling down ramps. The
kinetic energy conversion would also be found in step one whenever the ball was rolling.
The center of mass conversion would have been found in the initial idea of using three
balloons and levers. Once that idea was thrown out, we decided on a second potential
energy conversion with a large ramp.
For phase one, we used a masonite backboard, 15 inch long 2 inch thick PVC
pipe, mousetrap, 3 gram marble, string, and foam board. The PVC pipe was halved and
angled to create two ramps the small marble would roll down into the mousetrap that was
placed next to a fabricated foam board dish. Attached to the mouse trap, was string that
pulled a gate and released a 15 gram marble when the mouse trap was activated by the
first marble. This procedure begins phase two.
Phase two consists of a 3 inch wide and 8 inch long PVC chamber with a 3 inch
diameter piece of wood, 40 inch long balsa wood ramp with wooden supports, and a 3
foot by 2 foot masonite backboard. Once the wooden gate was pulled, the 15 gram
marble fell vertically down the ramp and launched off the 55 degree slope section of the
ramp. Here begins phase 3.
Phase 3 consists of Styrofoam blocks, junk plastic tubing, two mouse traps glued
to a 9 inch to 12 inch masonite board, a skewer with two inserted tacks, and a balloon.
Phase 3 begins when the in-flight marble is caught by the Styrofoam block and diverted
down the plastic tube. The marble falls directly onto the first mousetrap. The second
mousetrap is placed adjacent to the first mousetrap and has the skewer with inserted tacks
mounted on it. The holding pin of the first mouse trap is released and hits the target area
of the second mousetrap. When the second mousetrap is activated, it swings the skewer
into the balloon mounted on the Styrofoam block, thus completing the task.
The balloon popper consisted of the following materials and these prices:
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Wood
Mouse Traps
Glue/ Tape
Styrofoam
Marbles
Balloons
PVC
String/ Rubber Bands
Tac’s
Total
$7.00
$1.00
$1.00
$0.85
$2.00
$0.25
$1.29
$0.21
$0.74
$14.34
In doing this project, we encountered many problems and learned different things. At
first, we had the problem of the first marble flying off into the floor after it hit the mouse
trap. We decided to make a holder for the marble that would catch the marble after it hit
the mouse trap. Also, we had the problem of how to catch the second marble, and make
it hit the second mouse trap. We found a piece of Styrofoam, and carved out a funnel that
would direct the marble straight down onto the second mousetrap. We eventually learned
to not make the project to complicated, and that it could still be interesting if we took a
couple of things out. If we had to do it again, we wouldn’t do anything different, except
make it look a little bit better. Overall, we were very happy with our project, and we had
a lot of fun.