Week 11 - March 25, 2019 Compound Machine Testing and Wave Notes

This week we watched two videos that explained how Archimede's Screw was used in ancient times, namely in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and how it is used in our modern day to generate electricity.

Next, I brought our completed Archimedes' Screw model made with K'NEX. 

We discussed as a class which variable --force or distance-- was multiplied when we used the screw. We established that force was increased. We also discussed how we could increase the number of balls moved to the top of the ramp by increasing the threads of the screw. 

After our class discussion we removed the screw portion of our model and used the inclined plane portion along with a spring scale and a 295g mass to calculate the Ideal Mechanical Advantage and the Actual Mechanical Advantage of our inclined plane. 

While we were able to perform our calculations, we determined that we had a number of sources for error, including the calibration of our spring scale (which we corrected), human error in reading the change in force, and the lack of steadiness of moving up the plane. 

Our next discussion was an introduction to our final unit for the year covering waves. I will place all the notes in the next post as well as the graphic organizers and videos we covered in class.