Gravity-Powered Sorting Machine
Gravity-Powered Sorting Machine https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/gravitypowered-sorting-machine Days: 2 Mode: Pairs or individual Take-home: Cardboard sorting machine
Teaching & key ideas
Key concepts: Gravity, size/shape constraints, ramp angle, sorting accuracy, iterative adjustment.
Hook: Roll a small and large object down the same ramp over a gap that only the small object can fall through.
Test / evidence: Machine sorts a standard 10-object mixture with at least 8 correct.
Variables to change: Gap width; ramp angle; guide-rail spacing; object speed.
Lesson flow
Lesson plan:
Day 1: prototype
Day 2: improve reliability
Video:
Marble Machine Engineering Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfw42Lf6ey4
Safety / cleanup:
Use test objects too large to be choking hazards where possible; keep them contained.