Tried and Tested Technology Challenges (T3C)

T3C Project Choices 1. A Balloon Powered Vehicle 2. A Model boat 3. A Timer to ring a bell 4. A launcher for a ping-pong ball 5. An electrical Quiz board 6. A Sorting Machine 7. A Weighing device 8. A Marble transfer device 9. A Particular Pylon 10. An eco-friendly Christmas cracker 11. An egg transfer device 12. A Jack in the Box 13. A satellite grabber 14. A Windowsill Greenhouse 15. The Paper Engineering Challenge

T3C The Design Process The general principles are the same for any project: 1.Define the problem being solved Be able to state clearly what you are setting out to achieve 2.Consider a number of solutions Brainstorm a few different design ideas before you start to make anything 3.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) 4.Decide on one design idea and build/make it Make sure all the team are involved. Agree on a plan! 5.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 6.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 Q4Q3 Q2 A A A A ?? 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. Equipment: Marble 8 sheets A4 card Scissors 1 roll sellotape 20 paper clips 4 wooden plant stakes or skewers RULES: 1. The marble run must be confined to the table top. 2. The marble should roll continuously once it is released. 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 

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: A ‘Fishy’ Game A Puzzle A Puppet A Storage Box with a Lid A Mobile Something Useful Materials 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.