#1249 Construction Set Student workbook

01

Creative Abilitycan be LearnedCreat ive Abi l i tycan be Learned

Gigo Learning Lab’s complete series includes 20 individual packages, as well as five school sets. The special features of Gigo’s Learning Lab are as follows:

1. Using GIGO’s “building block” construction-based curriculum, every class has a ready-to-assemble model, and includes time designed to promote individual creativity.

2. Promotes thinking outside-the-box of the traditional educational framework by learning innovation through play!

3. We are all innately good at something, so we should take into account both individual development and the ability to work as part of a team effort.

4. Course levels are designed from elementary to difficult, combining a life sciences-based curriculum with applications from daily life.

5. Experiment using Gigo’s “building blocks”, which can be used over and over again, saving both time and effort.

6. Comes with Gigo’s newly developed 3D Smart Manual, which makes learning how to intelligently assemble each model easier than ever before.

7. Learning Lab’s Cloud Platform allows systematic recording of learning progress.

We hope that kids can enthusiastically learn scientific knowledge through fun hands-on experience, developing their problem-solving abilities, as well as a positive attitude towards science. Our mission is to help children apply their newfound knowledge to daily life, furthering their innovational skills and abilities.

For any questions or inquires. please email to [email protected]

02

07. Pendulum Pitching Machine

08. Pinball

10. GreenMech (2)

11. Spiral Rolling

Appendix: Learning Lab Packages

20. GreenMech (4)

19. Peacock

18. Newton’s Cradle

17. Going Through The Wall

16. Pendulum Clock

15. GreenMech (3)

14. High Speed Track

13. Ski-jump Ramp

12. Bifurcated Track

09. Gravity-pick Machine

04. Springboard

05. GreenMech (1)

06. Pitching Machine

03. Rising Dominos

02. U-shaped Track

01. Skyscraper

Parts List

Index

Preface 01 39

03 45

09 53

17 59

23 67

31 75

02 41

05 49

13 57

21 63

27 71

35 77

Index (v1.0)

53 54 55 56 57 58 5950

62

51

63

52

6465 66 67

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16x4

x4

x4

x6

x2

x4

x4

x6

x2

x6

x2

x1

x1

x6

x2

x6

x1

x5

x1

x2

x6

x1

x2

x1

x1

x6

x1

x1 x6 x3 x6 x22 x16

x1

x1

x1

x1

x6 x5x7

x14

x1

x5 x3 x1 x4 x1 x5

x3

x1

x2

x4

x1

x6x6

x4 x7

x1

x1 x1

x2

x8 x1

17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

38 39 40 44 45 46 47

48

60

49

61

41 42 43

x4 x4 x1 x1

03

P a r t s L i s t01

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Long FrameShort FrameSquare FrameLong Rod11-hole Rod11-hole Prolate Rod7-hole Prolate Rod5-hole Rod5-hole Rod-III3-hole Rod3-hole Dual RodCross Axle 6CMCross Axle 7CMCross Axle 10CMCross Axle 15CM3-hole RodRound Bar 3CMRound Bar 6CMRound Bar 8CMRound Bar 16CML Cross AxleTransparent Tube 15CMStraight TrackCurved TrackSlide Track6T Drive Gear20T Gear40T Gear60T Gear30T SprocketEgg Cam160 GearRacing TireWaterwheel Scoop

35

36

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39

40

41

42

43

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49

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53

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67

Transparent BallL Rubber BandTrack ConnectorCurved Track ConnectorMulti Direction ConnectorRing ConnectorL CubeTube ConnectorMulti Direction Axle ConnectorLateral AdaptorMulti Direction AdaptorVertical AdaptorTrack FixerConcaveCross Axle FixerTwo-in-one ConverterHingeCross Axle Connector90 Degree Adaptor-I90 Degree Adaptor-IIAxleLoose AxleL Connecting PegS Connecting PegHollow Tube 3CMCrankS Button FixerMarbleBase GridJumbo Base GridJumbo Base Grid ConnectorJumbo Base Grid RemoverSpanner

04

05

01斜面

學習目標

生活中常看到的斜坡無障礙設施，其主

要是應用了斜面的特性，方便讓殘障的朋

友，能夠不太費力氣就能推著輪椅慢慢往上

走，或者以小力煞車緩緩地往下滑。斜面是一種傾

斜的平面，可以減緩物體落下速度，但會使物體的移動路徑變

長；反過來看，也能夠較省力地將物體從低處移到高處，但會比

較費時。主要影響斜面參數會有斜面角度、物體重量、接

觸面磨擦力。

05

S e s s i o n

The contours of a skyscrapers are vertically aligned; thus, forming a right angle between the building’s base and its center of gravity. This way, the building doesn’t produce torque, allowing the building to stand for long periods of time.

If you were to build a skyscraper like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, then the contours of the building would be tilted. This causes the center of gravity to not form a right angle with the base of the building; therefore, producing torque. The torque will cause the building to progressively tilt before eventually falling over.

Some claim that the tower is famous for being the site of Italian scientist, Galileo Galilei’s experiment of dropping two balls of different masses in 1589, as well as its ability to avoid collapsing despite it’s unintentional tilt. In fact, over the past 100 years, the tower faced a potential disaster, as it kept tilting more and more towards the south. The Italian government closed the tower to the public and implemented a restoration project in 1990. After 11 years, engineers finally stabilized the tower.

Skyscraper Center of Gravity and Torque

Jenga is a game that is based on the idea of keeping the balance between a tower’s center of

gravity and its torque. The game is comprised of many long wooden blocks. There are many different variations of

game play: one version is to try and build a tower by removing blocks and adding them to the topmost level. The key is to maintain the vertical contour of the tower while adding blocks to the top. This way, the tower’s center of gravity and base form a right angle, producing zero torque. However, stabilizing the tower while using just one hand is difficult. Another method is to place the blocks on the opposite side of the tower’s lean. For example, if the tower is leaning left, you place the blocks on the right.

Learning Subject

Daily

Application

01

03

02

04

06

想想看

斜面機構還能應用在哪些

地方？

06

1 2

8

23

37

45

x4

x2

x4

x2

x1 x1

x4

x4

57

64

65

66

x6

x2

x2

x1

55

29

Big hole on Jumbo Base GridSmall hole on Jumbo Base Grid

Assembly

Steps

01

03

02

04

Parts List

Brainstorming

What details need to be paid attention to if we want to build a tall structure?

Assembly

Steps

07

05 06

07

09

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

08

Try to use two dif ferent kinds of blocks to build a structure over 30 cm tall.

ArtAttack

Test your structure by shaking it. Does your structure easily collapse? How can you make it stronger and more solid?

Experiment

Time

09

Inertia

02

Th is i s an U - shaped t rack used to experiment the horizontal motion of a projectile.

First, set up the U- shaped track at an oblique angle, adjusting the end of the track to maintain levelness. Conduct

the experiment by placing the steel ball at different heights along the track. The steel ball will quickly roll down from its own downward acceleration, reaching the flat end of the track at different speeds. Its trajectory demonstrates the horizontal motion of a projectile. Afterwards, the steel ball will be pulled to the ground by gravity. From this experiment, we can realize how releasing the steel ball at different heights impacts the distance traveled horizontally, by observing the ball’s displacement.

At some amusement parks, there is a large U-shaped ride that travels at a very fast speed.The ride operates on the principle of inertia. As passengers rush up 9 stories high to one endpoint of the U-shaped track, the ride slows and begins racing in reverse towards the other side. This is like an advanced version of the “pirate ship”.

The ordinary pirate ship is a swing that travels through in midair, but this new type of pendulum ride is driven on a U-shaped track. The ride can swing back and forth between two top points just like an ordinary pirate ship, but the centrifugal force it produces makes it far stronger. So, if you are an adventure lover, try to take the seat in the back. You’re

guaranteed to swing the highest and have the most fun!

U-shaped TrackS e s s i o n

Learning Subject

Daily

Application

10

57

64

65

66

1 2

37

x2x1

x6

x2

x2

x4

x2

x2

x1

17 23

45

x4

x2

x2

x4

19

38

39

x1

35

What other facilities have you seen that also use a U-shaped track?

01

03

02

04

Parts List

BrainstormingAssembly

Steps

11

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

12

Tr y us ing t ransparent ba l ls of d i f ferent weights. Set them up at the same point on the track and record the height dif ference between the balls as they fly off of the track.

ArtAttack

How could we adjust the tracks in order to make the ball consistently both travel at a cer tain height, and land in a designated area?

Experiment

Time

13

When the dominos are standing, their center of gravity is higher. The bottom of the

domino and the ground’s surface form a right angle; therefore, the domino produced no torque and remains standing.

However, once the domino is hit on the side by an external force, the produced torque uses the ground as a fulcrum. This force shifts the domino’s center of gravity, causing the domino to fall. When dominos fall, they produce torque, which can cause nearby domino pieces to fall as well in a sequence. This chain reaction is known as the “domino effect”. If dominos are appropriately placed on a staircase, the transmission of torque from the first domino falling can make the domino effect look like it is climbing up the staircase.

03Center of Gravity and TorqueR i s i n g

D o m i n o sAfter dinner, Grandpa Rudolph told Tony that he wanted to show him a new domino game that he had never played before. Curious, Tony asked what it was. Grandpa Rudolph explained that Tony would recognize it after giving Grandpa all his new erasers and steel rulers.

Thus, Tony went to his study and got everything Grandpa Rudolph had asked for. First, Grandpa Rudolph took the two erasers and placed them underneath the middle of the ruler, using them as a fulcrum. Then, he placed the rest of the erasers at an equal distance apart on top the steel ruler. It was a domino seesaw!

Tony lightly push the bottom domino. The tumbling domino successfully initiated the domino effect. When the top eraser was knocked down, the top side of the seesaw moved down.

S e s s i o nLearning Subject

Daily

Application

14

53

56

58

62

51

64

65

66

1 2

3

4

5

8

10

17

23

37

45

41

What ways we can transmit energy from the bottom to the top?

01

03

02

04

x3

x2

x4

x2

x2 x1

x3

x1

x1

x2

x1

x1

x1

x1

x1

x6

x1

x2

x2

x1

Parts List


Steps

15

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

16

Try to design a contraption, where a marble placed on top will enter the track after five bricks hit each other.

ArtAttack

Tr y t o d e s i g n t h e p a t h o f e n e r g y transmission to be U-shaped.

Experiment

Time

17

Springboard Lever

04

The springboard act at a circus is very dangerous. As one person leaps down from a

very high platform and lands on a springboard, another standing on the opposite side is sprung high into the air. Fortunately,

a diving board is relatively much safer. A diving board is a level whose end is fixed. This means that the further away the lever “arm” is from the fulcrum, the greater its elasticity. During diving competitions, athletes need to exploit the maximum elasticity of the board, bouncing as close to the front as possible. By rhythmically landing on the diving board right before the board bends down, the diver increase its rebound, allowing them to shoot up higher.

A teacher introduced the lever principle during class. The teacher said that the motion of bending over to pick up things was one application of the lever principle. When we bend over, our muscles need to produce a lot of pulling force. This is because our waist muscles and backbone combine to form a “third class lever”. Therefore, the proper position for lifting heavy stuff is to make sure the object is as close to our body as possible, in order to prevent injury. Students also learned some useful facts about physiology at the same time.

At the end of the class, teacher introduced a quote from Archimedes, “Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the earth”. Tony raised his hand and said “Give me a lever as a springboard, and I shall spring

the earth away”. The class roared with laughter at Tony’s wild imagination.


Daily

Application

18

1 2

3

5x2

x4

x3

x1

x2

x4

58

x12

64

65x2

x2

66

x1

9

13

x2

33

x1

49

57x2

x2

56x1

35

37

x2

x2

44

How can we use an object with little mass to drive an object with much greater mass?

01

03

02

04

23

x2

Parts List


Steps

19

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

20

Adjust the distance of the fulcrum so that the racing tire can bounce the transparent ball more than 10 centimeters.

ArtAttack

Try to define the ball’s pop-out angle and di rec t ion, so that i t lands in a designated area.

Experiment

Time

21

Try to combine two or more contraptions together, which would allow a ball to fly over a 10cm high obstacle from a “low” point, using the models and theories we have learned so far.

ModelReview

1

01. Skyscraper

03. Rising Dominos

02. U-shaped Track

04. Springboard

05G r e e n M e c hS e s s i o n

1

ModelDesign

2

ModelCreation

3

Winner!

Evaluation

22

1

ModelDesign

2

ModelCreation

3

Winner!

Evaluation

DesignConcept

My Artwork

23

06P i t c h i n g M a c h i n e

Slope and Gravity

This is a pitching machine for helping baseball players practicing hitting baseballs.

The way the machine projects the ball is just like how a pitcher throws the ball. Batters can practice hitting the ball this

way. So how could a pitching machine “throw” the ball? First, baseballs are inserted into a spiraling tube. Underneath the tube is a battery-powered vibrating motor. Once a ball reaches the bottom of the spiral tube, the motor’s vibration causes the ball to jump onto a declined track. The ball slides down the track from its own gravity, before arriving onto a small platform that projects the ball out towards the batter for he or she to hit.

This is a water balloon- hitting game we sometimes see at a carnival. The game is set up by placing a big tube on two wooden boards at different heights. This makes an inclined surface for water balloons to slide down. At the end of the tube is a flat platform. The design is as simple as a pitch- ball machine.

Before the game starts, the owner needs to prepare a lot of water balloons. When players arrive, the owner gives them a hammer and asks the them to wait at the end of the tube.

And then the game begins! The owner will put in several water balloons from the top entry of the tube. The water balloons will slide

down the tube from their own weight. When the water balloons appear at the end of the tube, the player tries to hit as many of the water balloons as he or she can. Most importantly, it only counts if the water balloons are destroyed.


Daily

Application

24

57

58

64

65

66

1 2

3

5

37

x4

x3

x1

x1

x4

x1

x1

x2

x3

x8

x1

x2

x2

x1

9

35

44

8

17

23

45

x3

x4

x1 x4 x1 x1

x1

52

14

2060

W hat f ac i l i t i e s and s t r uc tu res in our daily l i fe apple a spirally-sloped surface?

01

03

02

04

Parts List


Steps

25

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

26

Try to adjust the path of the slope and make the ball drop down slowly.

ArtAttack

D e s i g n yo u r p i t c h i n g m a c h i n e w i t h different outlook.

Experiment

Time

27

07

27

S e s s i o n

Pendulum and Projectile MotionPendulum

Pitching Machine

The simple pendulum mechanism is a standard device for testing impact and projectile

motion. When conducting the experiment, place a steel ball on the platform, move the “bob” to a certain swing angle,

and then release the bob. The bob will swing in a pendulum motion. When the bob swings towards the platform and hits the steel ball, the steel ball will fly off of the platform from the impact. After flying for a period of time, the steel ball will eventually land on the ground from its own gravity. This is a horizontal projectile experiment. This device can also provide settings for a shooting elevation experiment.

There is an impact test for car fuel tanks, which is based on the simple pendulum theory. This is an experiment designed to test the capability of a car’s gasoline tank to handle being hit by sharp objects.

The simple pendulum impact machine is mounted onto a beam bracket. The beam is able to move up and down to adjust the location of the horizontal impact. The fuel tank is installed onto a base that is attached to a track. This track is able to move forwards and backwards to adjust the fuel tank’s position, utilizing a three- dimensional space to define the hammer’s hitting point.

A simple pendulum impact machine has a pointer and a scale to indicate the opening angle of the hammer. Since the mass of the hammer is fixed, we can calculate the hammer’s impact energy by identifying its opening angle and thus, evaluate the result from the impact.

Learning Subject

Daily

Application

01

03

02

04

組裝

步驟

28

想想看

斜面機構還能應用在哪些

地方？

28

2

4

5

2337

x4

x1

x2

x4

x1

x1

x3

64

65

66x2

x2

x2

x1

44

45

x3

x2

57x2

x4

56

54

21

26

x1

35

What methods could we use to hit the ball so that is travels far away?

01

03

02

04

Parts List


Steps

29

12

05

09

07

06

11

10

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

30

Trying choosing three di f ferent k ind of weights and observe the difference in their shooting distances.

ArtAttack

What parameters will be impacted if we were to change the pendulum length of the hammer?

Experiment

Time

31

The pinball machine here refers to the mechanical type. Marbles can be launched

either automatically or manually, with both of them launching the marble by releasing a plunger, which sends the

marble along the track up to the top. Since a pinball machine’s design is sloped, gravity will pull the marble down. While rolling, the marble strikes stakes, altering its path. Eventually, the marble will fall into different columns that are dived by different baffles. One giant pinball machine uses a football instead of a marble. After the football is launched, it follows the curved path to the top. This looks like the “banana-throwing” skill from football, hence why this machine is called a “banana-throwing pinball machine”.

This is an experimental instrument, which looks like a pinball at first glance. On the top of the device, there is a funnel-shaped container that contains hundreds of same-sized marbles. The mouth of the funnel is controlled by an active latch. Underneath it are a bunch of regular triangular lattices, which consists of stakes. Furthest below are the baffles, which correspond to each stake.

When conducting the experiment, you only need to pull out the latch. The marbles will roll down into different columns, which are divided by the baffles. The outline of the marble pile will be bell-shaped. Most of the marbles fall into the middle section, with some marbles deflecting either left or right with equal probability. The result is close to a normal distribution. This is Pascal's Marble Run, of ten used for learning probability distributions.

08P i n b a l l Slope and Gravity


Daily

Application

32

23

37

x1

x1

64

65

66

x7 x2

x2

x1

44

45

x3

x5

1 2

3

x2

x2

x2

x6x4

x2

x2

x2 x1

20

17

18

19

38

4641

What other ways can we produce a random distribution?

01

03

02

04

Parts List


Steps

33

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

34

Release three paper balls, one at a time. Try and observe i f they al l land on the same spot.

ArtAttack

How could we make the three paper balls land on the same spot?

Experiment

Time

35

Gravity-pick Machine

In our daily lives, there is a coin-sorting machine that also uses the same principle as the

gravity-pick machine. Inside of the machine is a sloped-spiral track. After inserting coins, the coins travel down along the sloped track in a circular motion. On the sides of the track are several round holes that differ according to each coins’ diameter. While the coin is spinning, a centrifugal force is created. Therefore, when the size of a coin matches a hole’s size, the coin will be sucked out into that hole by its centrifugal force, and will fall into the container. Since only coins of the same size would be collected in each container, the machine can successfully sort out different coins from one another.

In 17th century Britain, a person designed a perpetual motion machine. The machine they designed consisted of a turntable with many inclined partitions. Dozens of steel balls rotate in a circular motion along with the turntable, which increases their torque. When a steel ball reaches the top point of the machine, the ball would roll back to the turntable center along the inclined surface. The

ball would then once again follow the turntable in a circular motion, increasing its torque accordingly. The turntable rotates from this repetitive movement, making this a perpetual motion machine.

09Circular Motion and Slope


Daily

Application

36

57

58

64

2

x1

x1

x1 x3

x1

x6

x3x1

x3

x9 x6

x2

9

8

17

x4

x5

x2

x1

12

60

56 62

4 10

x3

x1 x7

x2x1 x1 x3

59

7 11

12

29

31

34

61

43

55

14

H o w c a n w e m a k e s e v e r a l bal ls t ravel to the nex t t rack in sequential order?

01

03

02

04

Parts List


Steps

37

05

09

07

06

11

10

08

12

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

38

Try putting in three marbles at the same time, and then make them roll down one by one.

Try to modify the model’s design so that you can control the length of time it takes for each marble to fall down.

Experiment

Time

ArtAttack

39

Try using the models and the theories we have learned to create a series of two configurations that can collect marbles and shoot them out one by one.

210

06. Pitching Machine

08. Pinball

07. Pendulum Pitching Machine

09. Gravity-pick Machine

S e s s i o n

G r e e n M e c h

ModelReview

1

ModelDesign

2

ModelCreation

3

Winner!

Evaluation

40

DesignConcept

My Artwork

41

11

Tony randomly saw a lottery draw show on TV. He noticed that all the lottery machines were transparent. This way, people could see through the machine and remove any doubt of cheating.

Tony curiously noted how the numbers that the lottery machine chose all rolled through a long spiral track. What he couldn’t figure out was what difference was there between a spiral track and straight track.

One day, while his teacher was introducing spirals, Tony realized that the benefits of a spiral design were that they provided the most efficient use of space, extended the length of the track, and slowed

the speed at which the ball fell. Tony guessed the purpose of making lottery machines transparent was also to let the audiences to see each number clearly!

It is very common to see water slides at a water park. Some water slides are spirally-

shaped, so that the riders can feel the rush of the water flow, as well as the excitement of spinning! If you pay

more attention to the design, you will notice that there is a cover on every turn. This is because, due to the movement of inertia, it is very easy to fly off the edge when sliding into the turn at a very high speed. To have a cover is to prevent the riders from falling off the slide.

SlopeSpiral RollingS e s s i o n

Learning Subject

Daily

Application

42

Parts List

Brainstorming

How can we design it such that we can prevent the ball from easily falling out of the track while traveling?

1 2

17

23

37 45

x3

x2

x2 x4

x1x14

x6

x4

x2

x5

x3

57

64

65

66

x1

x2

x2

x2

x1

35x2

x1

20

1619

24

2539

44

01

03

02

04

Assembly

Steps

43

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

44

Put the materials in different weights in the transparent ball and see the ball will fall down under which condition.

ArtAttack

Increase the gap between two tracks to 30cm; then make your ball drop to the lower track successfully.

Experiment

Time

45

12Lever and SlopeBifurcated

Track

Bifurcated tracks are one of the core designs in a mechanical coin slot machine. The

bifurcated track can differentiate genuine coins from fake ones. Mechanical coin-slot devices are a key component

of vending machines. The first stage of a vending machine is to determine which coins were inserted via a currency-weighing scale, which consists of a special weight beam and load. When a coin is inserted, it slides along a groove before making impact with the weight scale. It is a bifurcated track, which allows coins that meet the suitable diameter and weight to go through. The currency weighing scale presses down, creating enough space to initiate the separation of the tracks. The qualified coins then move on to the next stage, where they activate other parts of the vending machine. As for non-qualified coins, they can’t make the weighing scale function; therefore, they return to the repayment port through another track.

When a train runs from one track to another, it needs a controllable railroad switch. The switch consists of a pair of linked tapering rails, known as points. The railroad switch can guide the moving train to another track safely.

A railroad switch consists of two beveled, adjustable tracks, to reduce its rigidity. It is easily operated by using a rod which can control the direction of the tracks. This way, a train’s rims can be guided toward the scheduled tracks.


Daily

Application

46

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01

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What are the ways to relieve the tide of cars in the traffic jam?

Parts List


Steps

47

05

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07

06

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1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

48

ArtAttack

Design a track with a 3-road fork.

Release three marbles consecutively. Try to make the second one roll to a track that is dif ferent from the one that the f irst and the third marbles enter.

Experiment

Time

49

13Slope and InertiaS k i - j u m p

R a m pThe a deck of an aircraft carrier is not completely flat. The flight deck is inclined like a ramp for jets to take off of. The design of a carrier’s deck is no different from an ordinary boat. There’s no need for any special equipment, hence, there is no need to enlist any professional or technical staff. Of course, as a flight deck, its strength must be enhanced.

When planes are carrying out their flight mission, the planes speed up near the end of the ramp deck. This creates an upwards lift, which

increases the elevating force needed for taking off. The movement of inertia helps the plane take off from the ramp.

There is one kind of ski equipment that applies the principles of slope and inertia. It’s the

ramp for the ski jump at the Winter Olympics. It is a long and steep ski slope. At the end of the slope is a kicker ramp. When

you watch a ski jumping competition and its equipment on TV, you may find that it’s exciting. However, if you saw all of this in person, you may freak out, especially if you stood on the starting platform and looked down the mountain. Skiers first go down a take-off ramp. Once they reach the kicker ramp, they fly off of the ramp and are projected forward through the air by the movement of inertia. Finally, they travel and land in the shape of a parabola. The champion is the one who jump the furthest.


Daily

Application

50

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27

How do you feel when you drive on a bumpy road?

01

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Parts List


Steps

51

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ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

52

ArtAttack

Try to use the ski-jump track model to design a forked track.

Place some obstacles on the track. Try to get the ball to successfully jump over the obstacles.

Experiment

Time

53

14

The high-speed track we introduce here is a combination of building blocks, which utilize slope and elasticity. By combining building

blocks to operate in this way, the speed of the ball as it is launched from the track is faster than if you were only using elasticity to launch it on a horizontal

railway. This is because the former uses a track where the slope is facing downhill, allowing the pull of gravity to increase the ball’s speed. Since the former track is relatively faster, it is called a high-speed track. As previously said, it’s necessary to consider the appropriate slope angle and track width. The relative position of the bricks to the left and right of the high speed track must also be aligned and kept straight during actual assembling. This way, we can make sure to achieve the effects of a high speed rail.

Elasticity and SlopeHigh Speed TrackMost high-speed tracks are high-speed rail tracks, which are usually referred to as Bullet Trains. This is a railway transportation system with traveling speeds much faster than that of ordinary railways.

The main high-speed rail operators of the world now usually limit the maximum speed at around 300 kph. This requires technical cooperation between the railway vehicles, tracks, and signal systems. There is a large demand for high speed tracks.

The biggest different between high-speed tracks and normal tracks is that there are no rocks applied between the sleepers. This is to prevent any “rock splash” from the air flow caused while the train is moving at high speeds, which may damage the train.


Daily

Application

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x240

01

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What ways can produce a ver y high speed?

Parts List


Steps

55

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1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

56

ArtAttack

Try to use the high speed track and design a launcher which hitting the ball upon trigger.

Place the ball onto the high speed track. Making sure none fal l of f of the t rack, observe how far the balls can push the obstacles away.

Experiment

Time

57

Try using the models and the theories we have learned so far to create a model that consists of more than two tracks, which allows a ball to roll in one track for a certain distance and go to the other track.

315

11. Spiral Rolling

13. Ski-jump Ramp

12. Bifurcated Track

14. High Speed Track

S e s s i o n

G r e e n M e c h

ModelReview

1

ModelDesign

2

ModelCreation

3

Winner!

Evaluation

58

DesignConcept

My Artwork

59

16PendulumP e n d u l u m

C l o c kEven though Galileo Galilei and some other 16 century scientists knew the pendulum’s potential for use in timekeepers, the first person who invented the pendulum clock was Christiaan Huygens.

In 1656, Christiaan Huygens exploited the pendulum’s isochronous characteristic, and made the first pendulum-powered mechanical clock. This greatly improved the accuracy of clocks. Christiaan Huygens discovered that the frequency of a pendulum’s swing can be used for calculating time. In 1673, he was also the first person to bring up the famous pendulum calculator.

Christiaan Huygens also got the exact value for the acceleration of gravity with his pendulum swing . He also suggested using the pendulum “second” as the standard metric length for time. However, the cycle of a pendulum swing is impacted by the acceleration of gravity in different locations. This made the standard length required for a pendulum to different. As a result, this second-based swing definition wasn’t accepted by the French Academy of Sciences, which was developing the metric system at the time.

A clock and pendulum mechanism combined constitutes a pendulum clock. However, since the

arrival of the Electronic Age, it is very rare to see this kind of antiquated device nowadays. Therefore, this device is also called an antique mechanical-pendulum clock, or better known as a “grandfather” clock. A pendulum clock utilizes the period of a bob’s pendulum cycle to measure time. Generally speaking, the weight of the bob is fixed. To adjust the swing cycle, one only needs to change the length of the bob string. When the string is shorter, the clock goes faster; when it is longer, the clock moves slower.


Daily

Application

60

1. ㄨ

Parts List

Brainstorming

What app l i c a t i ons in da i l y l i fe apply the pendulum theory?

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Assembly

Steps

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ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

62

Try to discover the relationship between the speed of a clock and its pendulum swing.

ArtAttack

Design a mechanism where when a pendulum device swings, it also drives the clock at the same time.

Experiment

Time

63

17Lever and GravityGoing Through

The WallIn the past, in order to prevent an external invasion, people dug deep channels around castles, and then guided water into the channel. This channel became a moat. In order to make it convenient to travel in and out of the castle, a suspension bridge would be built outside of the gate. The bridge itself also serves as a preventive measure. Its pivot is built on the border of the gate and the bridge.

To travel in and out of the gate, one only needs to lower the bridge down on the moat by using its gravity. It then became a passageway, allowing people to enter and exit the castle. If there were enemies coming, the bridge could be pulled up by string with a lever to move the bridge against

its own gravity. The bridge would be pulled up and the gate would be closed.

The b r idge a t t he ga te applies both a lever action and its own gravity to open and close.

A dog door is a typical example of an application which uses both a lever and gravity.

It is a small portal, where a hinge attaches with a flexible flap. When a dog door is installed on a door, the flexible flap is

closed by its own gravity. When a dog wants to enter or exist the house, he doesn’t need to wait for his owner to open the door for him. He can use his head to push the flap. With this motion, the hinge on the top of the flap becomes the pivot point, activating the lever motion needed to lift up the flap. Therefore, the dog can go enter and exit through it. After the dog passes through, the flap closes from its own gravity. With the application of levers, and the gravity of the dog door, this flap can be both opened and closed.


Daily

Application

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Have you ever played with pull-up bars before? What moves can be done on the bars?

Parts List


Steps

65

05

09

07

06

11

10

12

08

1 2 3

ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

66

How fast or heavy of a ball is required to be able to flip the brick over?

ArtAttack

Try using tools, other than a ball, to flip the brick over.

Experiment

Time

67

18Elastic CollisionNewton’s

CradleAfter school, Tony and his friends went to play billiards together. This was Tony’s first time playing. After seeing his friends continuously knocking balls into the corner pockets, Tony felt like a loser. It seemed that he couldn’t get the technique down right.

Tony’s friend told Tony that in order to hit the a ball into one of the pockets, you have to imagine the hit-point of the cue ball first. Then, you must predict the trajectory of the target ball after it gets hit by the cue ball. Basically, you can assume a two-dimensional strike; the striking angle and force of the cue ball will decide the direction and

distance the target ball will travel. After their explanation, Tony finally understood the trick behind playing billiards.

A Newton’s cradle is a device which consists of five identically-sized steel balls suspended on

a metal frame. The steel balls are touching each other at rest. This limits the movement of the steel balls in a one-dimensional elastic collision. Therefore, if you were to lift up the right-end ball and release it freely, it will strike the second ball beside it. Because every steel ball’s mass is the same, the first ball stops and transmits its energy to the second one. Now the second ball has the same speed that the first ball had before striking. Because the second ball touches the third ball, the same elastic collision as before happens again. When the energy transmits to the left-end ball, the ball swings upward. When the left-end ball strikes back, the same sequence happens again. Only the end-balls swing. The balls in the middle stay still.


Daily

Application

68

Is it possible to feel an impact from the other side of a wall?

64

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Steps

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ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

70

Try to add up a many pieces of block in the middle as you can. What is the maximum number you can have?

ArtAttack

How can we adjust the point of impact in order to make the shock waves travel further?

Experiment

Time

71

19Lever and TensionP e a c o c k

Tony and Grandpa Rudolph went to the zoo together. They saw a peacock, which made a very attractive sound as he opened his beautiful tail feathers.

Grandpa Rudolph explained to Tony that the peacock normally hides his colorful tail, but when mating season arrives, the male peacock will open up his beautiful feathers in a fan-shape, displaying them for a peahen.

Additionally, male peacocks have many eye-spotted tail feathers. Their purpose is to intimidate enemies. When a peacock faces a threat, he will open his tail feathers. Confused by the number of “eyes”, the enemy will retreat.

The closest example from daily life, of how a peacock opens his tail feathers, is the folding

fan. These fans are foldable and easy to carry around. When using one, all you need to do to open the fan is to push the bottom frame with your hand. The frame acts as a lever, while the fan’s nail acts as its pivot, allowing the surface of the fan to unfold. This makes the frame of the fan fling out in an arc. Since the fan’s surface is attached to the frame, its tension limits the frame’s range of movement. This surface tensions causes each part of the surface to unfold, just like how a peacock opens his tail.


Daily

Application

72

What methods could be used to separate br icks that are init ial ly together?

57

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49Parts List

Brainstorming

01

03

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04

Assembly

Steps

73

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ModelAssembled

ExperimentComplete

Model Creation

Evaluation

Experiment

Time

74

Draw a picture on a plain piece of paper, and then stick them on the bricks. Then assemble the bricks to see the end result when opened.

ArtAttack

Try to modify the model so that it opens at a different angle.

Experiment

Time

75

Try to use the models and the theories we have learned before, to connect two or more tracks together, which allows the bricks to flip over and activate the next track.

420

16. Pendulum Clock

18. Newton’s Cradle

17. Going Through The Wall

19. Peacock

S e s s i o n

G r e e n M e c h

ModelReview

1

ModelDesign

2

ModelCreation

3

Winner!

Evaluation

76

DesignConcept

My Artwork

每個包裝皆含 20 堂課，每堂課 40 分鐘。

30 mins/ session; 30 sessions/ package



#1230 Wonderful World1

#1249 Construction Set20

#1231 Theme Park2

#1232 Little Artist3 #1233 Fun Cube4

#1248 Basic Set19

#1245 Vibro & Gyro16#1244 Robot15

#1246 Programmable Controller

17 #1247 S4A Interactive Bricks

18

Creative World

Technology Explorer

Brick Contraption40 mins/ session; 20 sessions/ package

#1238 Gas & Pneumatics9

#1240 Light & Solar Energy11

#1242 Chemical Battery13

#1234 Force & Simple Machine

5 #1235 Motion & Mechanism

6

#1236 Electricity & Circuit7 #1237 Electromagnetism & Motor

8

#1239 Wind Power10

#1241 Liquid & Hydraulics12

#1243 Optical Devices14

Scientific Experiment

Learning Lab- Individual Packages

77

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30 mins/ session;

120 sessions in total

Target: age 10+ (Jr. & Sr. High School)

50 mins/ session;


Target: age 7+ (Elementary School)

40 mins/ session;


Target: age 7+

40 mins/ session;


Target: age 7+ (Elementary School)

40 mins/ session;


#1250 Creative World Set#1251 Scientific Experiment Set- Power Machine

#1252 Scientific Experiment Set- Green Energy

#1253 Technology Explorer Set

#1254 Brick Contraption Set

Creative Classroom

Learning Lab- School Packages

78

Education

#1249 Construction Set Student workbook