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LEGO Smart Creativity Contest Entry By Nicole Dougal, Riversprings Charter School
The activity is to build a catapult and then experiment sending different LEGO bricks soaring. Start by explaining what a lever is and how it works, including what a fulcrum is. The detail can be age specific and can go into details such as force and F=MA or it can be very basic. LEGO bricks can also be combined to drop from various heights to send other LEGO bricks into the air.
An example catapult has a base with the fulcrum and a lever arm. For the base you will need two 2x6 LEGO bricks, one 2x8 LEGO brick, one 4x4 flat LEGO brick, one 1x6 LEGO brick, and one angled 2x4 LEGO brick. Start with the 2x8 brick and place one 2x6 or either side so that there are three even flat sides and the 2x8 is sticking out of the bottom. Then the 4x4 flat brick attaches to the tops of these three pieces being centered on the sides and flush with the top of the base. Next the 1x6 brick attaches to the far right side, on the 2x6 brick. Last the angled piece attaches to the top of the 4x4 flat brick even with the top left corner. There should be a space between the angled piece and the left hand 2x6 brick.
For the lever arm you will need the rest of the flat bricks (there should be four) and the 1x4 LEGO brick. The attachments are unconventional for some LEGO users. Start with the 2x6 flat brick and the 2x3 flat brick. Place the 2x6 brick down and insert the 2x3 brick at a 90 degree angle lengthwise in-between the last two sets of knobs so that the pieces are perpendicular to one another. The knobs on the 2x3 flat brick should face away from the center of the 2x6 brick. Now attach the 2x2 and the 2x4 to the 2x3 in a similar manner with the 2x4 on top, in-between the middle and top knobs, with the 2x4's knobs facing downward. The 2x2 brick is attached in-between the middle and bottom knobs, with it's knobs facing up. Last the 1x4 brick is turned upside down and attached to the far end of the 2x4 flat brick. This should cause the lever end to be top heavy and fall back to the side of the 1x4 brick. The 2x4 flat brick and the 1x4 brick form the cup that will hold the other LEGO bricks that will soon be flying and the 2x6 brick is the arm that we will force down. The angled piece is the fulcrum. The lever arm should fit in the base almost as if cradled. It will sit at about a 30 degree angle. Make sure the angled piece is angled inward such that the 2x6 flat brick of the lever arm is against the angled surface and the cup is resting against the 1x6 brick. Now we are ready to go.
Place a LEGO brick in the cup and fire away! The bottom of the 2x8 brick that is sticking out forms a great place to hold or secure the base so that it does not go flying, though the lever arm most likely will fly as well, though not as far as the LEGO brick in the cup. Try different sized LEGO bricks, or combine them. You can also combine the left over pieces and drop them on the lever arm to send the other LEGO bricks flying. Your students will love it. Remember to reinforce what you talked about earlier. Showing them where the lever and fulcrum are on their model and discussing the results of their different experiments (i.e. the different results they get with different amounts of force, heavier LEGO bricks, etc.).
Lesson Learned: Student will learn basic mechanics including levers, fulcrums, distance, force, etc.