The more the marbles wastes, the more the statue grows' Michelangelo

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Don't Lose Your Marbles!
The more the marbles wastes, the more the statue
grows. Michelangelo
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Purpose

• The purpose of this project is to use
• your engineering skills to construct
• a marble racetrack. You will
• work cooperatively to create,
• calculate, and demonstrate!
• During this project you will
• Construct a track that will allow
• a marble to run the course from start
• to finish without outside help.
• Measure distance and angles.
• Calculate time and speed.
• Calculate averages.
• Draw a scale model.
• Graph and compare data.
• Predict, Experiment, Analyze

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Rubric

• Your track must
• Be your own design (not a pre-constructed track)
• Be solid and sturdy (you must be able to
  transport it in
• one piece easily)
• Change direction a given number of times
• (see your card from Mrs. French)
• Have 3 marked intervals where you can see
• your marble at the beginning and end
• (in order to measure time)
• Be designed so that your marble can get from
• beginning to end without stopping or needing
• assistance

Each item is worth 10 points for a final score of
100.

• Your data must
• Measure the distance (cm) accurately of
• 3 intervals on your track
• Measure the time (seconds) of the same
• 3 intervals
• Calculate speed by dividing distance
• by time for each interval
• Show 3 sets of data for each interval and
• calculate average

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Data
Track Distance (cm)
Marble Time (sec)
Marble Speed (cm/sec)
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STEP 1

• Collect materials for your track.
• Use the rubric to be sure
• you use materials that will
• work for the requirements.
• Ideas
• Toilet paper paper
• towel holders
• Old pvc pipes
• Old rubber tubes
• Copper tubes
• Wood
• Be sure to get parents
• help and approval!

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STEP 2

• Put your track together.
• Be sure it is sturdy and can be
• easily transported. Try to be
• original, but use the rubric
• to be sure your follow the
• requirements!
• Ideas for creating attachments
• between tracks
• Strong tape
• Glue
• Rubber cement
• Wire
• Clamps
• Be sure to get parents
• help and approval!

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STEP 3
Mark the intervals where you will measure
distance and time. Be sure the start and end of
each interval is a place where your marble can
be seen.
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STEP 4
COLLECT DATA MEASUREUse a centimeter ruler to
measure the distance from the beginning of the
track to the end of each interval. Use decimal
numbers to be accurate! Repeat 3 times for
each interval (Each group member should measure
once.) Use a stopwatch to measure the time it
takes for the marble to travel to the end of each
interval. (For each trial start at the beginning
of your track.) Repeat 3 times for each
interval. Calculate the average of each interval
by adding the 3 trials together and dividing by
three. Calculate the speed for each interval by
dividing the average distance by the average
time.
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STEP 5

• GRAPH DATA
• Create a line graph of your data by
• placing time on the x-axis and distance
• on the y-axis. Be sure your graph has
• Scale
• Title
• Labels
• Accurate data
• Compare your graph with another group.
• Analyze your data by answering the
• following questions
• Describe the relationship between
• distance and time.
• Describe how your graph shows
• an increase or decrease in speed.
• Describe how your graph shows
• the difference between your track

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STEP 6

• DRAW A MODEL OF YOUR TRACK
• Measure the angle (slope) of your track at each
• place where the angle changes.
• Determine a scale to use so that you
• your drawing will fit on paper.
• (For example 1 cm 5 cm)
• Use the scale and angles to draw a
• 2-dimensional model of your track.

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STEP 7
Present your work to your fellow
engineers! AND Congratulate yourself on a job
well done!
Click here for engineering information from
Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY.