Tried and Tested
Technology Challenges
(T3C)
www.yecscotland.co.uk
@scdiYESC
T3C Project Choices
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A Balloon Powered Vehicle
A Model boat
A Timer to ring a bell
A launcher for a ping-pong ball
An electrical Quiz board
A Sorting Machine
A Weighing device
A Marble transfer device
A Particular Pylon
An eco-friendly Christmas cracker
An egg transfer device
A Jack in the Box
A satellite grabber
A Windowsill Greenhouse
The Paper Engineering Challenge
T3C The Design Process
The general principles are the same for any project:
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Define the problem being solved
Be able to state clearly what you are setting out to achieve
Consider a number of solutions
Brainstorm a few different design ideas before you start to make anything
Carry out research
Ask questions, interview experts, search on-line, look up books etc
Carry out simple experiments to help you make design decisions (e.g. to
compare different materials before deciding what to use)
Decide on one design idea and build/make it
Make sure all the team are involved. Agree on a plan!
Evaluate the finished design
Test its performance. If unsuccessful, go back to stage 2 and make
improvements and work up to stage 4 until the team agree the challenge
has been successfully completed
Complete a technology report/take photos for display
1. Balloon Powered Vehicle
Using 4 CDs for wheels, and basic materials normally found in the home or
workshop, design and build a simple Balloon Powered Vehicle to transport
a ping-pong ball along a level track.
Rules
1.
Prior to inflating the balloon, the vehicle
dimensions should not exceed those of a
standard ‘A4 paper’ box
2.
The vehicle should clearly display a team logo
3.
The vehicle should be powered by a single
balloon and should be ready for release within 1
minute of being called to the start line
4.
The vehicle should be released from behind the
start line. ‘Pushing’ will result in disqualification.
2. Model Boats: Paddle v. Sail
Using materials provided can you design and make a model
boat?
Your boat should be powered either by an elastic driven
paddle or by the wind provided by a hair dryer fixed at one end
of a tank.
Boat racer
•Which style of boat is better -paddle or sail?
•Which measurements will give you the speed?
3. Timing Device
Using materials provided and a
marble, water, sand or a candle
can you design and build a timer
to ring a bell/make a noise after
30 seconds?
4. Ping Pong Launcher
Using the kit provided or materials of your own
choosing, design and build a device which will fire a
ping pong ball to strike a target at a distance of 2
metres.
Prepare an instruction sheet to
allow another user to set the
launcher for each target
distance.
5. Electrical Quiz Board
Design and make a quiz board with at least 4 questions
and answers which will light a bulb or ring a buzzer
when the correct answer is connected to each
question.
Q1
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Q3
A
A
A
A
Q2
?
Q4
Choose your own topic for the quiz and decorate the
quiz board to match your theme.
6. Sorting Machine
Using materials provided can you design and make a
device that will sort marbles into groups of 5?
7. Weighing Machine
Using the materials provided, design and build a simple
weighing device which can be used to measure masses
of between 10g and 100g
Suggested materials:
Paper cups, elastic bands,Wire coat hanger, paper
clips, Plasticine, metre stick, string, card, pins,
garden canes, Sellotape, 1 standard 10g mass
water bottle (1ml water 1g)
8. A Marble Transfer Device
Construct a channel that will transfer a marble the greatest
vertical distance and take the longest possible time.
RULES:
Equipment:
1. The marble run must be confined to the table top.
•Marble
2. The marble should roll continuously once it is
released.
•8 sheets A4 card
•Scissors
•1 roll sellotape
•20 paper clips
•4 wooden plant
stakes or skewers
3. If the marble falls out of the channel, the height
and time will be measured from the start to the point
where the marble leaves the channel.
Score:
Drop height = ……..cm
Time taken =………seconds
Performance Rating
J K L
9. Particular Pylons
Using only the materials in the kit provided, design and
build a model pylon which is capable of supporting a
test weight at an agreed height. The structure should
be free standing, not supported in any way.
The idea is to make the ‘cheapest’ structure which
meets the conditions set at the start.
Kit 1: Fruit pastilles, straws, and
cocktail sticks
Kit 2: Pasta strands, marshmallows
10. Eco Friendly Christmas Cracker
Using recycled materials as much as possible, design
and make a an eco-friendly Christmas Cracker
•Your cracker should contain a novelty item, a quiz question
and a joke.
•Your report should explain what features makes your cracker
eco-friendly
11. Egg Transfer Device
• Design a set-up to transfer an egg from one table top to
another all by itself
Or
• Design a system to project an egg through a hole in a
card and catch it unbroken at the other side.
The materials and measurements/distances for
these challenges should be decided/agreed by
the club members and leaders.
12. Jack in the Box
Using no more than 3 sheets A4 card and glue design
and make a ‘Jack in the Box’ to lift out an egg or a ping
pong ball when the lid is opened.
Note: The lifting mechanism can be
constructed from an extra sheet of
card or by a simple mechanical
device which involves pneumatics
(or even a balloon?)
13. Satellite Grabber
Using materials of your own choosing, design and build
a device which will allow you to ‘grab’ and retrieve a
model satellite positioned at a distance of 1 metre
Rules
• The model satellite should be
constructed using a helium balloon.
• It should be weighted down with
polystyrene to hold it steady in
mid air
14. Windowsill Greenhouse
Design and build a mini greenhouse suitable for indoor use on
a windowsill which will allow you to investigate whether ‘Tea
Bag' grow bags are better than cotton wool for growing cress
or mustard from seed.
15. Paper Engineering Challenge
Using only the materials provided, you have 1 hour to make as many
of the following items as possible:
Materials
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A ‘Fishy’ Game
A Puzzle
A Puppet
A Storage Box with a Lid
A Mobile
Something Useful
•Mystery Item x2
•A4 Paper/card
•Cocktail sticks
•Straws
•Paper clips
•Skewers
•Thread
•Sellotape
Each group will be asked to demonstrate their items at the end of the
hour. The other teams will award points out of 5 for each item. The
leaders may award bonus points for good teamwork.