Water splashes over the tabletop, and laughter fills the air in room 551 as Principles of Engineering students showcase their compound machines through a demonstration.
Principles of Engineering teacher Katie Widen said this was the first time the students showcased their machines.
“I really like giving them [students] the chance to build stuff and apply what we’ve learned for the last 12 weeks into a project,” Widen said. “This year is the first year we’re doing a big demo day.”
Senior partners Jack Spitzer and Sean Lehman said their machine was designed to water plants by releasing weights through gravity.
“We’re making a machine where dropping a one-kilogram weight waters a plant,” Spitzer said. “We used a pulley, a wheel and axle, a gear system, and a lever.”
The goal of students’ compound machines is to complete a task by connecting different types of motion and simple machines. Working in small groups, students at every table in the room were prepared to present and explain their machines.
Junior partners Meghana Konduri and Elaine Kim said their machine uses different mechanisms to draw lines with a pencil.
“We chose to make our project consist of drawing lines on a piece of paper,” Konduri said. “Essentially, it starts with a pulley, where it transfers motion to a lever, which turns a gear system that finally brings the pencil down.”
Kim said their idea for a drawing machine came to mind after their unsuccessful attempt to erase lines on paper.
“Originally, we were going to do a project where it [the machine] would erase a straight line, but we found that the friction force was too big,” Kim said. “So, we changed our design to draw a straight line instead, which worked out for us.”
Widen said that seeing everyone’s project unfold is a moment she takes pride in.
“I really like today because of them [students] showing their projects off and seeing everyone be really proud of the work they’ve done,” Widen said. “It wasn’t until today that some of the projects really fully worked for the first time, so it’s just been exciting watching the power of perseverance.”
Junior Leonardo Arroyo said it was his first time attending a demonstration workshop like this, and it made him more interested in engineering.
“It’s my first time seeing something like this,” Arroyo said. “I liked seeing the different projects that the kids have come up with. I think what they’ve done is very creative, and it’s also very interesting to see how they’ve done it.”
Widen said that some goals for next year include a larger demonstration day to reach more audiences.
“I want to have a bigger demo day where we can maybe set up in the gym,” Widen said. “I’d like to get more people to see what we’re doing.”
According to Widen, the goal of the demonstration day was to see how her students’ work can inspire others.
“I’m very proud of my students,” Widen said. “They work really hard and really applied what we learned in class. I hope everyone is inspired to take one of my engineering courses because they’re super fun and super hands-on.”
