Expert: J. S. Shipman - 1/1/2008

Question
Hi, I'm currently in grade 11 physics and we have gotten a project to build a contraption which a marble goes through. Part of the criteria is to include a mechanism that involves magnetism but not electromagnetism. Also we must have a separate mechanism activated by a marble which transfers energy from one form to another. I was wondering if you could help me by giving suggestions on how I could create something like this. An example was a magnetic switch, seeing as we must turn a light bulb on and off at certain times, but we cannot use that in our contraptions.    

Thank you very much!

Answer
Karen,

Have you ever thought of being a physicist or an engineer?  This project may help you discover that you like that idea.  These are careers that can lead to happiness and financial gain, if you like them.

One purpose of such a project is to help you see if you can develop the talent needed for problem solving in any area.  That is a useful skill.

What have you thought about so far?  Did you brainstorm?  Did you try any thing?

Your teacher has foresight in assigning this type of project:
"A physics teacher who had worked with students for four years in the national Duracell Device contest attended the summer workshop. After becoming acquainted with the engineering problem-solving cycle, he found his students could overcome roadblocks against which they had previously stumbled time and time again. His students went on to become finalists in the competition in 1991, which had never happened before. This success continued, with six national winners in 1992, and the 2nd place winner nationally in 1993 plus other award winners."  Source:  http://fie.engrng.pitt.edu/fie95/4b1/4b14/4b14.htm

Have you heard of the engineering problem-solving cycle before?  The website www.imagine101.com/paper.pdf might help but it is quite a lot of print.  I can look for another site but this can get you started.
You need to 1-Recognize the problem, 2-Define the problem,
3-analyze the problem  (brainstorm to form possible solutions, 4-Select a solution using models, 5-Implementation or realization:  Gather materials and build a prototype, 6-evaluate and test (analysis of the prototype), and, 7-re-design and modify.

Just like writing an essay, you revise...in this case, we call it, "Re-design and Modify.)

I hope this gets you started.  Get back to me when you have brainstormed a few ideas.

First define the problem.  (You have done that a little bit by posing the question.)Re-state the question.  What do you already know about marbles and magnets?  Are there physics comments that are related to these?  That is a good place to start.  Try something and get back to me with your results and more questions.

Dr-J

Here's a quote you might like:

"The preparation of students for design problem solving is an important aspect of engineering education."  Source:   
Engineering design factors: how broadly do students defineproblems?
Bogusch, L.L.; Turns, J.; Atman, C.J.
Frontiers in Education Conference, 2000. FIE 2000. 30th Annual.  Volume 2, Issue , 2000 Page(s):S3A/7 - S3A12 vol.2
Digital Object Identifier   10.1109/FIE.2000.896664