1. The MESA Machine: Ball Launch

2. 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

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?

4. (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.

5. OK Go – This Too Shall Pass Video
watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w

6. 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

7. 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

8. Middle School Competition Area Specs

9. High School Competition Area Specs

10. Engineering Lab Book

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

15. Resources / Contact Rules and curriculum at https://mesa.ucop.edu/
Teach Engineering at
RubeGoldberg.com at education/teaching-resources/
Ben Louie
USC MESA