During class, my group searched around for ideas online and sketched the following devices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) simple-two way fountain

 

 

 

 

 

2) a car with a fan in front + a ballow that allow it to move

3) similar to the car ballon product, instead it is an airplane

4) a non-stopping fountain

 

After consideration, we decide to adopt the last idea.

User: students in elementary school who are getting to know about energy transfer or teachers who teach energy transfer.

Purpose: the product must show some kind of transfer of energy, in this case, potential to kinetic energy

Recycle: reuse plastic bottles, no overuse of extra materials

 

How does it function?

Firstly, the product is considered a device used for teachers/ students or just to demonstrate energy transformation. The none stopping fountain works by pouring water into the left-hand bottle, which will flow down the second bottle and move to the horizontal bottle through the straw. Next, when the water level is at a certain place, it will push the air inside the bottle upward through the upright straw and give the water inside the fourth bottle a push. When the water inside the fourth bottle gains enough force, it will start to flow through the last straw back into the starting bottle. This process involves energy transfer from gravitational energy to kinetic energy.

Moreover, the product is relatively safe because it doesn’t include fire or other toxic items. However, it is still not suitable for children to play with. Also, it is environmentally friendly as we reuse plastic bottles and recycle them instead of throwing them away. For its durability, although the fountain will go on and on, it is made out of plastic straws and bottles, which means it can still be broken after a long time using.

Furthermore, the image below inspires the product; it is an original idea of the no-stopping fountain. We use this idea and turn it into a physical fountain, replacing the glass weird shape beaker with plastic bottles and straws.