Names____________________________Date______________________________ Design Challenge Center of Mass, Torque, & Rotation

The Challenge
Using what you know about center of mass, torque, and rotation, design a cantilever structure. Your structure may be built from only masking tape and straws, and must attach to the wall using duct tape (provided at the time of testing) at one end. To test your structure, increasing amounts of mass will be hung from the end of it and when your structure has deflected 8 cm or more the test will be considered over. Before you test your device, you must obtain a signature from Ms. Sperling certifying that you have completed the design portion of the lab. Score = mass held (g) * cantilever length (cm) mass of cantilever (g)

Design
1. Explain the physics concepts that apply to this lab including any relevant equations (3-4 sentences). 2. How will the length of your cantilever affect the amount of force that your cantilever is able to support? Show an example of this concept by calculating torque for two different length cantilevers. 3. Draw a picture of your cantilever design. Label the parts of your cantilever. 4. Make a prediction about your cantilevers performance. Do you think the cantilever will hold a lot of mass? Why do you think it will work well or badly? Do you foresee any problems with your cantilever? (2-3 sentences). 5. Describe how the engineering design process applies to this project. Go through each step of the design process explaining how you employed it in your own project. STOP! YOU MUST GET A SIGNATURE MS. SPERLING IN ORDER TO CONTINUE WITH THE LAB. Signature ________________________________________

Testing
Before you are ready to test you must record the mass of your cantilever. Your cantilever will then be attached to the wall using duct tape. The length from the wall to the place that you attach the mass will be measured as your length. Your cantilever will then have increasing amounts of mass placed at the end. Mass of cantilever _____________(g) Length of cantilever_____________(cm) Mass held_____________ (g)

Analysis
1. Were you happy with your cantilevers overall performance? Describe what went well and what could be improved upon (3-5 sentences). 2. If you were to redesign your cantilever, what would you change? (2-3 sentences). 3. Draw a picture of your improved cantilever design. Label the parts of your cantilever. 4. Calculate the largest torque that was applied to your cantilever before it broke (use mass held). Show all of your work. 5. Which cantilevers that you observed in class worked the best? Which didnt work as well? Why do you think some worked better than others? (2-3 sentences). 6. Describe a real life application for the concepts used in this lab (2-3 sentences).