A KOALA BREAKFAST
Event Location: Orange County STEM Saturday
Competition: Energy Transfer Machine
Division: 3-5
School: Bay Meadows Elementary
Team Size: 6
“How We Made Breakfast Working Smarter Not Harder.”
“A Koala Breakfast“
Bay Meadows Elementary School
Energy Transfer Machine
Division: E (3-5) Team Size: (6)
Andrew (5th Grade)
Zane (5th Grade)
Elira (4th Grade)
JP (4th Grade)
Jake (5th Grade)
Victor (5th Grade)
Materials Used:
Peg Board
Wooden Dowels
Straws
Battery Powered Toy Car
Car Tracks
Paper Towel Rolls
Marble
Tape
Zip Ties
Wood
Dominoes
Small Plastic Cups
Cereal
Milk
This Is How Our Energy Machine Works.
Step 1: First our battery powered car hits the marble that is waiting in place. This is potential to kinetic energy in action.
Step 2: Then the marble falls down a paper towel roll track which is gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy.
Step 3: The marble gravitational kinetic energy is transferred to a stationary golf ball.
Step 4: The golf ball now in kinetic motion transfers that energy to a set of vertically aligned dominoes.
Step 5: The dominoes begin to fall and transfer their potential energy to each other. This kinetic motion then pushes over the plastic arm.
Step 6: The plastic arm arches over and with its kinetic energy, simultaneously knocks over a cup filled with cereal and a cup filled with milk.
Step 7: Both the cereal and the milk cups are put into motion, from the kinetic energy of the arm. Cups are pushed into separate funnels which then make their way to the bowl stationed below.
And Voila, Breakfast Is Ready!
I am so very impressed and very proud of all of you for your thoughtful planning, your hard work, your enthusiasm, and most importantly…your teamwork! You guys represent what a STEAM Dream Team truly is!
You did a great job! I am proud of you!
Good job with those close up photos of your Energy Transfer Machine!
I loved the enthusiasm of the team and how the last step split the movement between the two cups.
I am impressed with your creativity and determination to build a successful energy transfer machine. I am also impressed with your teamwork! It’s hard to make decisions as a team, but you persevered and made a successful machine. Way to go, team!
You did a great job explaining the science behind your project. My favorite part is when the plastic arm gets knocked over. We are so proud of you for representing our school!
I love your enthusiasm! Excellent explanation of energy transfer!