Goal:
-Design a device that can be used to teach energy transformation
-Make a toy that converts energy 

 User Story: Students are learning about energy transformation. They need a tool and example to help them learn more about energy transformation throughout a toy. The Product will help students learn about energy transformation while having fun with their class.  

Success Criteria: 

-Able to launch/fire a small ball 

-Teaches students about energy transformation 

-Clearly shows mechanical, potential and kinetic energy 

-Students can have fun playing with the toy 

-Safe to use and appropriate for classroom environments 

-Uses a lever 

User/Beneficiary: Children in schools that are learning about different types of energy. This toy would help enhance learning by providing a toy they can use to provide an example of energy transformation.  

Target Audience: Schools, Parents, Teachers, Students 

Desired Outcome: The product provides a solid example of energy transformation to help students learn about the topic.  

Energy type:  Mechanical-> Potential -> Kinetic
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 Precedents:

CATAPULT TOY 

We will make a catapult that can be launched by a syringe lever. When you push on the syringe, it launches to form potential energy from mechanical energy. Then, when the ball launches, it creates kinetic energy 

Syringe

Mechanical—->Potential—->Kinetic 

 1. What is the purpose of your device/toy, how does it function, and who is your user?

The catapult teaches students of energy transformation between mechanical, potential, and kinetic energy. The toy allows students to have fun playing while learning about energy transformation. The students can push the syringe to launch the catapult and record their observations of energy while having fun with the toy. Parents and teachers can use this toy to teach their kids or students about energy transformation. 

 

2.What is the environmental impact of your product and is it durable and safe? 

Our product can have environmental impacts by renewable wood resources instead of plastic materials. This is environmentally friendly. It is durable and safe for students to use. The syringes are recyclable and can be reused when the catapult is disassembled. The wood pieces and materials used can all be recycled after the catapult is disassembled.

 

  1. What precedents inspired you? What did you take away from them? How did it inform your choices?

We were inspired by a catapult toy. It clearly demonstrates kinetic and potential energy while it is fun for children to play with. We also took inspiration from a lever made from pressing syringes that shows mechanical energy. We added the syringe design to the catapult so pressing the syringe would launch the catapult. We combined them so students can understand all three types of energy. These precedents combined gave us inspiration about how we can create a toy that transfers mechanical to potential energy that also transfers to kinetic energy. 

 

  1. How are you making your product original and/or using creativity?

Our product is made from a combination of a catapult and a syringe lever. We will modify the syringe lever and connect it so it launches the catapult. This will show the mechanical energy converting to potential energy and kinetic energy. We combined the two precedents to create a creative and original product.