Engineering

After watching two videos on the history of the war machine, Trebuchet, I was ready to make my own model. I constructed my Trebuchet out of popsicle sticks and a few other simple materials. Later, I tested the design by catapulting a marshmallow across the room. 

My next project was to build a Ferris wheel. Seems simple, right? Well, not exactly, as this Ferris wheel had to be made out of pasta and had to be able to spin. I ran into many problems with the pieces of pasta not sticking together, but in the end, I succeeded. 

This project was designed to test several filtration designs until I got a product with the cleanest water. I had lots of fun with this hands-on activity and experimenting with different types of filters in several stages of filtration, or in my project, cups. The cups had cotton balls, rocks, and even rice! Through this project, I was able to build a mini-model of a typical filtration system you would find.

Next, I created parachutes out of coffee filters. I had lots of fun dropping them from the upstairs window measuring how long it took, and then improving the design of the flawed ones.

This project consisted of building a homemade anemometer. An anemometer is used to measure the wind. To make my own, I connected little rotating paper cones to an anemometer to measure precisely what the wind speed was.

For my next project, I tried to make a lightbulb out of simple materials. I researched the history behind the light bulb, and I learned a bit about Thomas Edison. When I started making my project, however, I ran into many difficulties, and in the end, my project failed to work. This was a learning moment for me because I realized that engineers always fail and that failure is part of every good project.

Watermills- a significant part of history. They have been used over time for irrigation, grinding wheat, and later, for producing electricity. In this project, I made my own, working watermill that produced power.