The engineering principles that this project is based upon are gravity and air resistance. Gravity and air resistance are fundamental concepts of many forms of engineering. After we demonstrate the physical principles of gravity and air resistance through various experiments, the children are to pair off into groups of 2 to apply these concepts to an activity. The demonstrations will include dropping a parachute, a small and large feather, and a maple seed and explaining how air resistance affects their movement.
Using only paper towels, paper, scotch tape, scissors and string as construction materials, the children are to brainstorm, design and create a contraption that will make a pencil or a piece of pasta, depending on their age, fall as slowly as possible. This activity is designed for children ages 6-16. The level of difficulty can be adapted with different materials and different falling objects. The older children will be given heavier objects and a limited amount of material.
By participating in this activity, the children will gain a better understanding of how gravity and air resistance affects falling objects. They will have to work cooperatively with team members in order to reach the goal. While each group tests their innovation, the others will compare their ideas to the one that is being tested and learn the strengths and weaknesses of different designs.
As part of a teachers demonstration our group constructed three parachutes with different characteristics out of nylon. One of the parachutes has one large hole in the center of it. Another parachute has several holes throughout. The third parachute has no holes in it. The idea is that the parachute with the most holes will fall the fastest, where as the one without any hole will fall the slowest, and the one with only one hole will fall between the other two. This will demonstrate how the surface area of a parachute causes the air resistance and makes objects fall slowly.
Our activity meets all of the specified requirements. The children are to solve a problem using physical principals that they have learned, thus engaging in an engineering activity. This activity appeals to all types of children; everyone loves to drop things. Components to the kit are safe, durable and do not take up much room. The activity description is very open-ended and so the children are free to design an original contraption anyway they please. The materials are all cheap and easily accessible at home and at school. Given the time it will take for children to brainstorm ideas, design, construct and test a device, it will take the full length of a class period. The whole kit will fit in a plastic storage tub easily because none of the objects in the kit are longer than one foot.