Compound Machine WebQuest

Help! A Major Machine is Needed!

A Simple Machine WebQuest

simple machines

Introduction	Resources
Task	Evaluation
Process	Conclusion

Introduction movers

Help! Moving Major Mountains, a new and upcoming moving company is in need of your help. The owner of a very valuable Egyptian artifact is moving into a new apartment within his building. He owns a priceless Ancient Egyptian water clock. However, due to the delicate nature of the water clock, no human hands may touch the artifact. The owner is also extremely concerned about how this item is to be moved and has detailed specific limitations to the moving company as to how the water clock is to be moved. Some of his stipulations include no human hands touching the clock. However, gloved hands may briefly move the object to a moving device or transportation method. Also, the elevator in the building has been acting funny lately with the sprinkler system going off unwarranted so the stairwell must be used instead. The moving company is eager to please their customer and has agreed to design an invention that will do the job. However, this is a busy time for Moving Major Mountains, and they are seeking to hire you to design a machine to do the job.

pulley Task screw

1. Your task is to design an invention that will move the ancient water clock from the 25^th to the 26^th floor of the Nelson Building. The rules of the owner must be upheld in the design of the machine which he has provided in writing.

The elevator cannot be used to move the water clock. The stairwell must be used. It consists of two sets of 10 steps.

Human hands may not carry the water clock due to the delicate nature of the clock. Gloved hands may move the clock to a platform for transport, but human handling of the artifact should be minimal.

Also, since the owner is a fan of the famous Rube Goldberg projects, he requires that this invention must consist of at least two simple machines (compound machine).

2. Once a design for your machine is planned, a replica of it needs to be created.

3. This machine must be presented to the president of Moving Major Mountains for final selection in the form of a commercial advertisement.

rube goldberg machine Process advertisement

You are to work in learning groups made up of four students per each group. You will work as a group to accomplish the tasks at hand. Each group member will be assigned a particular role and with it go specific group responsibilities. Click here for Group Role Descriptions. Although each group member has his/her own duties within the group, all members are responsible for contributing to the overall efforts of the group.

1. Gather background information

Working with your group, you must first research and define six simple machines. You each will record the name and definition of each of the six simple machines in your science journal.

Using the information, you must make a poster that provides a description of the lever, screw, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, and wedge.

Your poster should also contain pictures and/or drawings of "real world" examples of each of these simple machines. The resources listed and linked below in the Resources Section will provide the information needed for you to create your poster.

Present poster to teacher when completed prior to going on to step #2.

2. Design and create a compound machine

You and your group must develop a plan, drawing, or sketch of a compound machine that you propose to build. This is required so that you can combine two or more of these machines to develop a compound machine of your own. Once you have a plan, it must be informally presented to the teacher (via group reporter) for approval prior to building it.

Classroom supplies such as "legos", "tinker toys", screws, marbles, string, etc. will be made available for use. If additional materials are needed, they must be requested (via materials manager) in writing.

Once you have your materials and approval, you may build your machine. When completed go on to step #3.

**Reminder, you are working as a group, so make sure you know your group role and the responsibilities that go along with it.**

3. Plan and deliver your presentation

Your job is to convince the president of Moving Major Mountains that your machine will move his water clock.

Name your machine.
Create a slogan for your machine.
Create an advertisement (commercial) that describes your machine and demonstrates how it will work.
You are required to create a script for your commercial.
Within the commercial, be sure to identify the types and function of each simple machine component in your design.
All group members need to have a speaking part.
Your commercial should last 1-2 minutes.

You must have your script approved by your teacher before you begin rehearsing for your presentation.

Resources

The Inventor's Tool Box - Machines are explained, described and examples are presented. Has an excellent link to "Gadget Anatomy" to identify simple machines present in a compound machine.

Simple Machine Learning Site - Contains an overview of the six simple machines and examples of each.

MIKIDS Simple Machine Site - Site has descriptions of simple machines and ideas/instructions on how to make these machines from common items.

Edheads Simple Machine Site - Site contains interactive play to identify simple machines in use.

Franklin Institutes's Simple Machine Site - Contains a good overview of simple machines and examples of each.

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Evaluation and Conclusion

Evaluation

You will be graded on your informational poster, compound machine, and commercial. Please follow this link to the rubric to examine the specifics as to how you will be assessed.

Conclusion

Now that you have completed building your compound machine, you know that a machine makes work easier. Without machines work would be harder and require more effort on the part of humans. Be on the look out for all the machines that you use throughout the course of the day. Simple and compound machines are incorporated in so many of our daily activities that we often don't appreciate how many we put to use in one day. So next time you ride your bike to the neighborhood park or sharpen your pencil at school, you can thank those simple machines for making your task a bit easier!