Manila Folder Bridge Challenge!

We were to build a bridge over a 22" gap and support as many magazines as possible without the bridge collapsing, while also fitting within the following constraints!


Constraints:Part 1

• Materials:
• 2 "letter size" Manilla folders
• 2' of masking tape (may not use any piece longer than 6")
• Weighing:
• Magazines will be used as "weights"
• Your "score" for our competition is determined by how many magazines your structure supports!
• Magazines will be added to your structure one at a time until "failure" is achieved.
• You may place magazines anywhere on your structure as long as:
• All magazines must rest between the two vertical edges of the gap your bridge is spanning (magazines must be over the "gap").
• No magazines may touch the tables (magazines may not be piled up to "self support" themselves).

Our first bridge:

This one was not too successful when I tried it again because it was worn out from our first few tries! It also did not span the 22" distance. So I attempted again:

This one was nearly successful! It was however to weak to hold ANY magazines. This is most likely because after further analyzing my criteria, the distance was not 22" but in fact 18"!! Oops!

This will teach me to read more carefully in order to be successful!

4th Annual Mousetrap-Racecar Races!

 We were given a set criteria and constraints permitted for my team of three to create a race car powered by a mousetrap!

 we were told:

Criteria:
Design, build and compete with a Mousetrap Racecar (A "car" uses at least two axles).
Maintain a clean workspace.

Constraints:
One mousetrap
No more than 12" of masking tape
Fischertechnique robotics parts
No more than 24" of string
All materials used must travel with your vehicle
You must work through the stages of the event (see Achievements below)
Additional materials by Instructor approval

ok...tough...

BUT, we did it and I am claiming 8 achievements!!

1. "Build It"-

2. "The Price of Glory"- $2 for the 2 axles, $1 for the mousetrap, $1 for 12" of tape, $1 for all 24" of string, $4 for all wheels, $4 for 4 bearings, for a total of $13

3./4. "Long Distance Winner!"- We tied for the longest distance with one other team!!!!

        "Going the Mile!"

5."Game Changer"- I think making the game so that you have to also move something from one point to another would create a whole new breed of ideas and creativity!

6."Name it"- "The Participant"- how much did you participate and are there witnesses or proof?

7."Leave It Cleaner Than You Found It"- We cleaned up all our messes and I for one made sure I also picked up some screws and stray string that fell on the ground.

8. "Design/Build"- It was similar in the design/build challenge in that we all had to make suggestions and constantly try them out until we came up with a product that worked! Trying and failing and trying again  is essential in any king of innovative career because theres no way to get something perfectly the first time!

Marble Drop challenge!

 •Goal!!!!- To create a system using only the force of gravity to propel a single marble into a cup as far away from the starting point as possible.

   •Materials!!!!- We were allowed to use 1 marble of our choosing, 14 drinking straws, 10 wooden toothpicks, and 3 paper cups.

so we created a simple tape ramp with straws on the side for a barrier

We then chose a marble of a heavier weight so that it could stay true on the path!

We won the challenge! We got about 18 floor tiles from our starting point directly into the cup first try!!!

Design Build challenge!!

Our goal was to build a structure out of 3 paper cups, 3 feet of tape, 10 toothpicks, and 14 straws, that was successful in getting a marble into one of the cups at the farthest distance from the tables edge!

we used the entire length of the tape, attached it to the table and to the floor. We used the straws to line the tape and make a sort of bumper to keep the marble on track. 

We used a metal marble so it had enough weight to be accurate. About 15 floor tiles from the place where the tape was on the floor, we placed all 3 cups in a row to have the best chances. When it came to testing we won with 18 floor tiles!!

Cardboard Canoe Challenge

I am claiming

Summary:
We came up with a form of a cardboard canoe that we could build and attempt to use. Our cardboard canoe did not, unfortunately, displace enough water to stay sturdy when it came down to the actual flotation.

First Achievement!
Criteria
• Build a watercraft that allows you to traverse the CHS swimming pool.
• Your "boat" must float at least one student through the course of the competition.
• Protect your work space from damage!

Constraints
• You may only use Cardboard and Duct Tape for this event.
• All Staples or other foreign material must be removed from your cardboard. If we trash the pool, we will not be invited back for other activities during the year (yes, we have other activities in mind for 2nd semester).
• Cardboard must meet our quality standard and be approved by the instructor (more info to follow)
• Each boat must have a minimum of a 3" tall "sidewall" (no completely flat designs).
• All exposed cardboard must be covered in duct tape (this will reduce cardboard disintigration in the pool).
• Each team will be provided one "versa table" cardboard box piece and three 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.

Implied Constraints & Criteria
1.Must be able to fit a person inside of it
2.Must be completed in full before the race starts
3.Must be too cool for school
4.Must be a Boat, not a car 


Second Achievement!
Feedback- There were many things we could have done to help our canoe:
1. Measure out our small prototype exactly
2. test our prototype before scaling up to our canoe
3.cut out the pieces to our canoe more exactly
4. tape maybe more air bubble
5.triple tape the bottom of the boat
6. use 4x the cardboard we used for the bottom of the boat, as it folded in on itself
7. create an idea that had more vertical walls
8. create a boat that rested deeper in the water
9. perhaps more narrow walls would have allowed me to reach over and paddle
10. a paddle would have been beneficial

Third Achievement!
Redesign- If we were to build another canoe, I think it would have been much deeper and more box shaped, because even though ours was potentially the most aerodynamic, the more square, boxed ones, floated while ours sank.  

Fourth Achievement!
 Sketch Ideas -

Fifth Achievement!
Prototype Ideas -

Sixth Achievement!
 Build It! -

Sixth Achievement!
Videographer -

Wheel and Axle!!

Jacob, Lucas and I worked together to create a system of wheel and axle!!!

Then we did some ROCK'IN mathematics!!!

What a fun time!!!!!!!

My First Blog Post

Welcome to my awe-inducing and incredibly creative internet abode. I am Franchesca and this is my online portfolio for Principles of Engineering. I'm a poster art, comic book, music, and film fiend with a slightly narcissistic take on blogging.

Here's some cover art that I love.

My favorite graphic novel ever has some of the most amazing cover art. Neil Gaiman is a genius.