Raffles American School Grade 7 students, guided by Mr. Owen, studied the various forces that interact on objects. To apply their understanding of forces and develop their engineering understanding, students were challenged to put their learning to a test.
Students learned how to describe force vectors in scaled vector diagrams and more complex kinematics. They also learned how to add different forces acting on an object in order to determine the resultant vector of that object in the real world. Students made predictions about and described resultant vectors as mathematical functions, which were tested for accuracy.
Students also learned about the six classical machines of antiquity, which introduced them to their culminating project, using applied engineering skills to design and construct a large Rube Goldberg Machine. They utilized the simple machines, as well as magnets, to transfer energy across 19 meters distance, changing form 24 times, and sharpening a pencil at its finish.
