Robinson,+Kristopher-chapter

Deliverable 3 Deliverable 2

Upon completion of this unit students will have addressed the following Rhode Island Grade Span Expectations in Enginering and Technology.


 * ET2 - Effective design through engineering and technology is the outcome of a problem solving process invloving the application of content knowledge aquired skills, and creativity (ITEA STL - 8-13)
 * ET2.1 - Utilize the attributes of the design process to slove a real world problem.
 * 1a. define a problem that address a scenario by identifying its criteria and constraints.
 * 1b. selecting and justifying an appropriate design solution for a given scenario or task
 * 1c. fulfilling a specific function as a team member to achieve a desired result.
 * ET2.2 - Use and maintain technological products and systems, as well as their tools.
 * 2a. explaining and using safely the required tools and organizing information resources for a specific task.
 * 2b. incorpating information, proper material selection, and assign measurement instrumentation throughout the design process.
 * 2c. using tools to diagnose, adjust, and repair problems that arise in the course of building.
 * 2d. interpreting and evaluating the accuracy of infomriton for the purpose of developing possible solutions.
 * ET2.3 - Utilize processes (i.e. research and development, invention and innovation, experimentation, and troubleshooting) in designs that use criteria and constraints leading to useful products and systems.
 * 3b. utilizing materials provided to construct a working model for a given task.
 * 3c. testing, troubleshooting, and evaluating a complex design solution.

**__Introduction to Technology __ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In today’s world, we are constantly hearing about technology. We are told that technology is all around us and that it is going to be needed in all jobs that are taking place in the future. But what is technology? When most people think of technology, they immediately think of computers and electronics. However, technology is a lot more than that. Technology can be placed into several different categories: **Communications**, **Construction**, **Transportation** and **Energy**, **Manufacturing**, and **Biotechnology**.
 * __Technology__** can be defined as any human made object that makes a task or job easier. These objects can be simple such as a pencil or a book. It can also be much more complex object, or even involve complete systems (or groups) or objects working together like a car or the space shuttle.

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Communications__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the main things that separate human being from animals is the ability to **__communicate__** with each other through spoken or written language. People use many different ways to communicate. A teacher may communicate to the class by giving a lecture or writing certain information on the board. A student may communicate to the teacher by raising their hand if they have a question or slouching in their chair if they are bored. The principle may communicate to the school over an intercom. Today people are communicating by more sophisticated means than ever before. Some people will use cell phones to a call a person while others will use the cell phone to send a text message. While both people are using the same device but in a different way, both ways are able to communicate the same information to the person on the receiving end of the message. There is even non verbal ways to communicate information. For example if I were to point to an object next to you, you would understand that I would like you to look at that object. Think about when someone shrugs their shoulders, do you know what they mean. How about a nod or the shake of a head, these are different types of non-verbal communication. But communication does not have to be limited to human to human communication. There is also communication from machine to machine (for example from the computer to the printer), human to machines (computer programming), Human to animals (training a dog to sit), and animal to animal (dogs howling).

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Manufacturing__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__**Manufacturing**__ is when someone is making an object or device in a factory, and then it is transported to a store to be distributed (sold to customers). Manufacturing is important when making large amount of items. In manufacturing we take raw (basic) materials, and using certain tools and instructions turn them into items that we would like to use. The three most common ways to manufacture objects are to use an assembly line(where you have many people, producing a lot of objects, with each person having one specific job to do), a job shop (where you have a several of people, producing many objects, who do most of the jobs), and the cottage industry (having a couple of people, producing few objects, all whom can do all of the jobs). One of the most important inventions in manufacturing was the assembly line, which was invented by Henry Ford. The assembly line took a moving conveyor belt, and had people working in stations. Each station had one specific task to do. This made making a car much quicker. For example one persons job could be to put in a windshield, then the car would move on to the next person on the line.

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Construction__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__**Construction**__ is when you make or build something at the actual location that it is going to be used. Usually they are large objects (houses, office buildings, bridges). Sometimes the objects are part of another structure, such as heating and cooling units. These large objects & structures that are constructed typically work in systems. The first stage that typically is done is creating a foundation for the object. The foundation is created so that it will prevent the large object or structure from sinking into the ground. The second stage is the building of the structure itself, above the ground. Structures usually are created of straight lines, diagonals, & triangles.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Transportation and Energy__
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__**Transportation**__ is when you move people or goods from one location to another. This allows people to and goods to be transferred in a relatively quick time (think person walking to the grocery store verses driving to the grocery store in the car). This is very good for certain goods such as food. Now we can import and export food around the world without it spoiling. It also allows people to become tourists, and share cultures around the world. It can be broken down into four main areas: Land, Sea, Air, and Space travel.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**__Energy__** is the ability (or fuel) to do work.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Land || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Car, Train, Motorcycle, and Bicycle  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sea || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speed Boat, Freighter, Tugboat, and Submarine   ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Air  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jet, Helicopter, Hang Glider, and Hot Air Balloon   ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Space  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Space Shuttle, Satellite, Space Station, and Rocket  ||


 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** Type ** || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** Renewable or Non-renewable ** || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** Source ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Animal || Renewable || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Food  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Fossil Fuels || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Non-renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Coal, Oil, Gas  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Nuclear || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Non-renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Uranium  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Solar || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Solar collectors capture sun light  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Wind || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Windmills use wind to turn turbines  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hydroelectric || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Water power from dams turn turbines  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Geothermal || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Heat from the earth used to heat homes or converted to steam to turn turbines  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Bio-fuels || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Renewable  || <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Biomass, Ethanol, Cooking Oils  ||

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__What are Machines?__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to move anything we need to apply a force to the object. A force is any push or pull that acts upon an object. Forces can be natural like air resistance or gravity, or they can be applied by other means such as a human pushing on a desk, or an engine turning gears to allow a vehicle to move. A **__machine__** is any human made object that is used to make a job easier or quicker. The machine changes the amount of work done, the speed at which the work is done, or the direction the force is used. Work is defined as the amount of force applied to move an object over a distance. It can be represented as W = F X D. This means that in order to do work you must apply a force and move an object. A person could push on a brick wall all day, but unless the brick wall moves, no work is accomplished. Therefore you can reduce the amount of work done by either decreasing the amount of force used, or by decreasing the amount of distance traveled. However if you reduce your distance traveled your force must be greater, and if you increase the force used your distance will be less.

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__The Six Simple Machines__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All machines are made up of the six simple machines.

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Lever__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lever is probably the earliest form of simple machine used. It is used to lift or pry objects. A force would be applied to one end of the lever, allowing the weight or load to be lifted at the other end. The force that is being applied to the lever is called the effort, and the area that allows the lever to pivot around it is called the fulcrum.

There are 3 types or classes of levers. They are 1st class levers, 2nd class levers, and 3rd class levers.

__1st Class Levers__ – First class levers are levers that are used with the fulcrum between load and the effort. Examples of first class levers are sea-saws, crowbars, a dolly, or a hammer when you are removing a nail. The closer you move the fulcrum to the load, the easier it is to lift the load.

__2nd Class Levers__ – second class levers are levers that have the fulcrum placed after the load. The weight or load that is being lifted is between the effort being applied and the fulcrum. Examples of 2nd class levers include scissors, wheelbarrows and nutcrackers. It reduces the force needed to move the weight or load.

__3rd Class Levers__ – Third class levers are levers with the fulcrum is placed at the end of the lever, but this time the load is at the beginning of the lever, and the effort force is in the middle. Examples of a third class lever can include a fishing rod or a pair of tweezers, and a catapult, a hammer striking a nail. They are used to allow a small amount of force to build up a greater amount of speed. The load will move farther then the effort needed to move it.

See the __**levers**__ in action [|here].

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Inclined Plane__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An __**inclined plane**__ is a slope that allows objects to be moved up or down the surface. Much less effort is used when you are moving the force up the inclined plane then if you were simply trying to lift the load straight up. This is how an inclined plane works. The inclined plane splits the amount of force needed to move an object to a higher point. The smaller the angle, the easier it is to move the load. However, you must push the load further in order to move it easier. So although it becomes an easier effort, we must move much further to do the same amount of work. If you could reduce the amount of friction on the inclined plane (add wheels to the load) the effort is even less. Ramps, a form of an incline plane, have been used for many thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians most likely used ramps in order to move large blocks up the pyramids that they were building.

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Wheel and Axle__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any type of lever that rotates fully around a fixed point is called a __**wheel and axle**__. Wheel and axles are used for many different things. The main purpose for this simple machine is to allow either the wheel to turn faster than the axle, giving speed, or allowing the axle to turn slower that the axle has more power or torque. Wheels can be seen at work in many different places. The handle on a screwdriver is a wheel and axle because it allows the blade of the screw driver to turn with less effort from the person using the screw driver. A steering wheel allows the person driving the vehicle to turn the shaft that will turn the wheels with much less force then you would need if you were just turning the shaft itself. The blades on a windmill allow for a small amount of wind force to turn a smaller shaft at high enough speeds to generate electricity. The wheels on a car work in reverse. By turning the axle of the car, it allows the wheels to revolve at a much higher rate of speed. This allows the car to go much faster.



**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Pulley__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__**Pulleys**__ are used to change direction of force. If you pull down on a rope the pulley changes the direction of the force causing the object to go up. This would be very useful if you needed to get a heavy load up into a tree. Instead of trying to carry the load up the tree, you could put a rope around the branch and pull the load up into the tree. A true pulley however, uses a rope around at least one wheel. This allows you to move the load while dealing with a smaller amount of friction. However, if you have more than one pulley and allow one of the pulley’s to move, you can decrease the amount of force needed. This is called a double pulley system and is often referred to as a block and tackle.



**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Wedge__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The __**wedge**__ is basically two inclined planes put together. However, unlike an inclined plane that can do its work while fixed to one point, a wedge does most of its work when it is moving. The work that a wedge does is always at a right angle to the direction that the wedge is moving.



Wedges are usually seen as any kind of cutting surface. The blade of an axe or knife are both examples of wedges in action. As the wedge of a knife moves through a loaf of bread, the bread is split apart allowing us to slice it into usable pieces for a sandwich. Another example of a wedge is when we put a door stopper under a door. It lifts the door and now longer allows the door to swing closed.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Screw__
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A __**screw**__ is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder. If you look at a screw you can almost see it as a little path moving along the cylinder. They are used to either hold things together (like a wood screw) or to raise and lower other objects (like a spiral stair case). The screw allows you to move an object up or down with less force. If you take one complete rotation around the screws path, it will move you a fraction of the distance up the cylinder.



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">

Now try this on your own
Here is a website that allows you see the [|simple machines in action].

Now try and figure out which [|simple machine is being represented in the examples]. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you would like your own set of notes, you can print this out. A [|resource chart]for simple machines.

Compound Machines
A __**compound machine**__ is a machine that combines multiple simple machines together. For example, a car has many different simple machines. First, the car has wheels and axles that allow it to move. It also has gears and pulleys in the engine. The doors, gear shifts, and pedals are all examples of levers. The windshield is an inclined plane which allows for air to flow over the car. There are many screws hold parts in place on the car, and as well as some that are designed with a wedge in the front of the car so that it has less air resistance. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|Edheads.com] will give you more practice on simple and compound machines.

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Rube Goldberg__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rube Goldberg was born in 1883 and grew up in San Francisco. At his father’s urging he attended the University of California Berkeley. After graduating, in 1904, Goldberg took a job as an engineer in the San Francisco Water and Sewers Department. However, this was not his passion. And after 6 months he got a job working for a newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle, where he submitted cartoons until he was published. After being published he moved to New York where he got a job drawing cartoons for the “Evening Mail”. Goldberg was one of the founding members of the National Cartoonist Society. And in 1942 he won a Pulitzer Prize for his cartoons. His most famous cartoons involved Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts taking a simple task, like wiping your chin with a napkin, and making it incredibly complex. Using a variety of simple machines, and living plants and animals, Rube Goldberg would create chain reaction drawings that poked fun at how dependent human beings have become on technology. His cartoons were so famous that his name eventually became associated with creating complex ways to do simple tasks.

Here is the official Rube Goldberg site. You can find some of his drawing under the artwork gallery.

//[|RUBE GOLDBERG DRAWINGS]//

**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Chain Reaction Machines__ **
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people have actually started making some of their own Rube Goldberg type of contraptions. There are contests held around the country. The Phi Chapter of Theta Tau Fraternity at Purdue University holds a national contest in West Lafayette, Indiana. Every year a challenge is issued that must be completed in as many steps as possible.

[|LINK TO PURDUE’S WEBSITE]

Here are some other pictures.



<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other people have taking to making these contraptions purely for the fun of it. They make elaborate contraptions to show off, however some have used it as a working resume to show a company how creative they can be.

media type="youtube" key="RouXygRcRC4" height="344" width="425"

Honda even used one to as an attention grabber for a commercial about their vehicles.

media type="youtube" key="rYabfifhEPE" height="344" width="425" Even some movies have gotten into the action. Some movies like Back to the Future 1 and 3 use a Rube Goldberg device. Other movies have included Wallace and Gromit, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, and Earnest Goes to Jail.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__Making Your Own__
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now it is time to make your own Rube Goldberg device. Begin by checking out [|Rube Goldburger to Go]. This should help you to get some ideas of how to make your own contraption.

For a more complicated look, try <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|Tom’s Trap O Matic Game].

Next draw your own Rube Goldberg machine. Pick a simple morning task such as waking up, making breakfast, brushing your teeth, or getting dressed. Now simplify that task to one or two steps (example: instead of brushing your teeth, just putting toothpaste on the brush). Now draw a Rube Goldberg device that allow that accomplishes this task. You may start the machine or you may have another object start the machine however, once it starts no human interaction is allowed. That does not mean that you can not use other crazy objects or animals in your Rube Goldberg drawing though. You must use at least chain reactions (changes of motion). One way you might try doing this assignment is to work backwards (Example: The toothpaste is squeezed on to the toothbrush when a bowling ball lands on it. How does the bowling ball fall on it, how about a sea-saw launches it onto it). Don't forget to label your drawing with letters and then explain in a step-by-step form exactly how your drawing works.







Now that you have drawn a crazy morning task contraption, start thinking about how you can make your own contraption. Your task is to construct a chain reaction machine that starts with you releasing an object, flows through a minimum of 6 chain reactions, and then breaks an egg (the egg must be kept in a plastic ziplock baggy). You must use all 6 simple machines in your contraption. You may do more the 6 chain reactions if you would like.

Here are some picutres of other students work.





Here is how you will be graded.

neat, cuts are clean, careful use of glue and tape) || 10 ||  || 8pts cracks, 6pts does all of the steps but does break, 4pts does not complete all steps) || 10 ||   ||
 * 6 simple machines are present and labeled || 5 ||  ||
 * Steps are present before the egg is cracked || 5 ||  ||
 * Contraption is well constructed (Does not fall apart,
 * Contraption breaks the egg (10pts break and yoak,
 * Individual brainstorming (2 different designs) || 5 ||  ||
 * Final Drawing || 10 ||  ||
 * Written directions are clear and labeled || 10 ||  ||
 * Question 1 || 10 ||  ||
 * Question 2 || 10 ||  ||
 * Question 3 || 10 ||  ||
 * Total || 85 ||  ||

Question 1 - What were some problems that you had while designing and constructing your own Rube Goldberg contraption? How did you overcome these probelms?

Question 2 - Rate on a scale of 1 to 5 (one being horrible and 5 being great) your experiences in your group. Please think about how you chose your group, and how well you worked together. You do not need to mention any names, but be honest about good and bad experiences.

Question 3 - What did this unit teach you? "Nothing" is not an appropriate answer. If you did not like something in the unit, please explain why.

Good Luck!

Created by Kris Robinson Technology Education Teacher

This is an Open Source resource.