The MESA Machine: Ball Launch 2019-2020

Learning Objectives By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1 explain the rules to students, demonstrate specific simple machines, elastic energy, and circuits, and create a complex machine from available materials to launch a ping pong ball the farthest distance. 2 3

What is the MESA Machine? A complicated device designed to execute a simple task in a complex, indirect way. What is the MESA Machine?

(1) Stomp down on board to launch rock into the air (1) Stomp down on board to launch rock into the air. (2) Rock lands on balance causing one side to drop and the other side to move up. (3) When balance moves up so does the finger, switching on the fan. (4) Fan turns on and blows sheet out of the way revealing the carrot to the rabbit. (5) As rabbit tries to walk toward carrot, conveyor belt moves candle under string. (6) when string gets burnt it causes the swing arm to fall and pop the fish bag. (7) fish falls into fish bowl. (8) cat sees fish and tries to get it. (9) As the cat moves forward toward the fish bowl the skate rolls and the finger presses on the on button.

OK Go – This Too Shall Pass Video https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w

The MESA Machine: Ball Launch Middle School (6th and 7th/8th ) High School (9th/10th and 11th/12th) Launch a 2-inch vinyl kick ball – distance 75 cm by 75 cm by 75 cm No parts, including moving ones (except liquids), may extend outside of Machine Launch Zone Machine initiated by a single operation of pulling a string outside of designated zones Machine must do all the work after initiation 3 to 6 sequential and dependent actions Launch a 2-inch vinyl kick ball – accuracy 50 cm by 50 cm by 50 cm No parts, including moving ones (except liquids), may extend outside of Machine Launch Zone Machine initiated by a single operation of pulling a string outside of designated zones Machine must do all the work after initiation 4 to 8 sequential and dependent actions

The MESA Machine: Ball Launch Middle School (6th and 7th/8th ) Middle School (6th and 7th/8th ) High School (9th/10th and 11th/12th) 3 different categories of energy/simple machines Gravity Springs or rubber bands Levers or pulleys Electronics Modifications allowed during competition Scoring Machine (10 pts per action) + Distance (> distance) + Time (< time) Tie-breaker / Notebook 4 different categories of energy/simple machines Gravity Springs or rubber bands Levers or pulleys Electronics Pressurized fluids Modifications allowed during competition Scoring Machine (10 pts per action) + Distance (< distance) + Time (> time) Tie-breaker / Notebook

Middle School Competition Area Specs

High School Competition Area Specs

Engineering Lab Book

Activity 1: What You Should Know Stations Inclined Planes Levers Pulleys Rubber bands Electronics (circuits) Objectives: Experiment with inclined planes, levers, pulleys, rubber bands, and circuits At your own pace; limited time

Activity 2: Design and Launch Challenge Supplies per Group: 1 ping-pong ball 1 motor 2 marbles or equivalent 5 straws 1 plastic water bottle or soda can 10 craft sticks 10 rubber bands 2 plastic spoons 5 small paper clips 1 mousetrap 5 large paper clips 1 – 2AA battery holder Objective: Design and build a complex machine from available supplies to launch a ping-pong ball the farthest distance General Supplies: Foam board / cardboard String Scissors / box cutters Wire Masking tape Wire strippers Glue guns

Activity 2 Using any of the available supplies, create a complex machine to launch the ping-pong ball the farthest distance. Brainstorm ideas and create a plan and drawing of your design. Device must have at least three different sequential and dependent actions. Device must use three different categories of energy/simple machine from the following: Gravity Spring (+ 100 cm) Elastic Lever Pulley Motor (+ 200 cm) Testing Select a launch area on the ground and use masking tape to create a launch line. The action to initiate the device may count as one of the three actions. Measure distance traveled from launch line.

Resources / Contact Rules and curriculum at https://mesa.ucop.edu/ Teach Engineering at https://www.teachengineering.org/ RubeGoldberg.com at https://www.rubegoldberg.com/ education/teaching-resources/ Ben Louie USC MESA blouie@usc.edu