The goal of this engineering project is to create an engineering prototype that shows the transfer of energy. To reach this goal, we will be using the design process and creating a toy that fits the audience, has a clear purpose, consider the environment, and has an appealing appearance. In this document, I would record my ideas and problems that I would consider.
Problems:
Safety: The making process of any idea would most possibly include electricity; therefore, when making the prototype I need to make sure that the electricity would not leak, and I would not use anything that conducts electricity to touch it. The process might also use hot glue, which has a very high temperature that would burn hands.
Time: The time for the whole project is two weeks, and the time is not very adequate for any large projects. In order to stay on track, I need to write out a schedule that would help me finish my project on time.
Idea 1: Lava lamp
My first idea is to make a lava lamp. Lava lamps work with a simple mechanic and its energy transfer is obviously identified. I could consider adding decorations other than oil inside the lamp and put more creativity in the way I can change a classic lava lamp.
Purpose: The purpose of this prototype is to model how electric energy transfers to thermal energy along with how the density difference between oil and water would cause the movements in the lava lamp. Knowledge of energy transformation, density, and particle movement could be learned through the process of making this prototype.
User/audience:
Lava lamps can be intriguing to many different groups, but more specifically, it would be more favored by children or young adults.
Pros: This idea is practicable, the materials that are required should be easy to get, the mechanism of it is simple to understand, and the presentation of this project is pleasing. Another aspect to consider is monetary problems, and this idea does not include anything that is not affordable.
Cons: The creativity that I can show on this idea is very limited since it is hard to change the appearance or the mechanism of a lava lamp. The idea of making lava lamps could have been used too often by students and does not give me too much interest.
Energy transformed: Electrical energy to thermal energy to light energy.
Ratings (1 out of 5):
Difficulty: 4.5
The time it would take: 4.5
Interest: 3.5
Outside source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bwWekWsIYk
This procedure is quite complicated and requires a lot of different tools that may be hard to obtain or has potential safety hazards. The difficulty level is not incompletable, and the final product is beautiful, showing various energy transformations and energy transfer.
Idea 2: Windmill lamp
My idea is to make a windmill that would power a lightbulb. The lightbulb and the windmill would be decorated into a night lamp with cotton around it.
Purpose: The purpose of making this prototype is to successfully model how wind power can be converted into electricity through a windmill. Knowledge of how to make circuits and use motors would be learned through the process of making this.
User/audience:
My final product would be close to a night lamp or a normal lamp; therefore, the audience could be people of all ages. However, the appearance that I am planning to give this prototype would be more intriguing for female users or children.
Pros: This idea, like the previous one, is also practical. Its mechanism can be easily understood and carried out. The cost of the materials in this idea is also affordable. Additionally, unlike a lava lamp, a windmill-powered lamp has a variety of ways that I can change the prototype. For example, I could change the material to make a windmill, I could also add more lightbulbs and make the circuit more complicated.
Cons: Compared to the lava lamp, the procedure of this is a bit too simple. The energy transferred is also not complex which lowered the interest in this idea.
Energy transformed: Mechanical energy of wind to electrical energy to light/thermal energy.
Ratings (1 out of 5):
Difficulty: 3.5
The time it would take: 4
Interest: 4
Outside source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXYkjHKakGE
The windmill-powered house in this video has around the same mechanisms as my idea, but the way that the author decorated the prototype is not appealing enough to me. Considering this, I would take parts of this as a reference, but not the appearance of it. I could also try using other materials apart from cardboard, but the challenge level would be larger (for example 3D printing).