Weston Middle School
Technology/EngineeringCourse Materials
Roller Ball Chain Reaction System
Challenge: Construct a system which will:
- Accept a ball entering at a height of 10 cm;
- Deliver the ball at a resonable velocity to the next contraption at the same height;
- Have a change in height of at least 10 cm within the contraption;
- Take at least 10 seconds to traverse the contraption;
- Contain at least one event triggered by a sensor and two different simple machines;
- Contain Music and/or sounds
Credit is given to Barbara Bratzel of the Shady Hill School.
Efficient building isn neccessary due to the limited number of parts. Therefore, the studded beams and plates from the older Lego system must be incorporated along with the Technics system parts. No solid walls of beams are allowed. Ramps may be built of cardboard, foamcore, wood strips, wire, etc.. They may be used within your system, or as connections from one system to the next.
Tracks and structures:
- Funnel- Use to collect ball
- Ramp- Use to deliver ball by gravity to a new location
- Switch- Diverts ball onto one or other track
- wide/narrow
- tunnels
- bridges
Links
Chain Reaction Machine:
Sample Projects- Analyze closely for mechanisms and sensors used:
Lego Machine #2-Ceiling Pathway
Lego Robots Playing Hot Potato
Pineapple Express -Rollerball example
Chain Reaction Machines@MIT: