Purpose/Function/Audience

  • the product I am creating is a marble rollercoaster (energy conversion toy) – it is mainly going to show the transformation of potential gravitational energy into kinetic energy (some vibration, and heat energy is involved too) as the marble rolls down the rail.
  • audience – children between the age of 6~9 and their parents – it is not too complicated, all they have to do is roll the marble. It is also the maximum age that people shows interest in marble rollercoaster, while smart enough to know that they should not eat the marble.

how the product works:

there are two marbles that will role down the settled rails: the second marble will be placed in a small piece of rail at the left side of Newton’s cradle, and the very right marble of Newton’s cradle will be placed at the tip of the rail of the first marble so that it can trigger the cradle – which triggers the second marble. The first marble is released at the top of the rail. When all the marbles are placed in their starting position, that’s when the marbles demonstrate potential(gravitational) energy, and the energy transform into kinetic energy when it rolls down the hill.

Environmental impact/Safety

  • Environment-friendly product – 95% made of a cardboard box, steel(for marble), few fabrics for string – all recyclable/reused material
    • cardboard boxes are material that is already recycled from paper- it can be used to make another cardboard box later on
    • steel
  • they are able to be separated from each other – do not have to put everything in the trash bin when one piece is broken/ can separate recyclable parts from non-recyclable parts
  • safety for the audience –  all parts have round- ended and soft, and non of the materials are heavy enough to harm children’s body

Precedents/Inspiration

  • precedents that showed energy transformation of potential energy to kinetic energy:
    • marble roller coaster
    • watermill
    • silver metal newton cradle

My Own Creativity

  • I have put all of those three precedents while modifying them:
    • marble roller coaster: adapt the system of a marble rolling down the rail while making it in 2d format(flat) as possible to reduce the size that it takes
    • watermill: it helps reduce the speed of marble (it moves with the kinetic/potential energy of marble instead of water)
    • silver metal newton cradle – used to trigger the second marble