ScienceSource 8 - Unit B

Rock Climbing - an amazing sport that makes heavy use of mechanical systems:

• How Rock Climbing Works - step by step through an incredible sport.
• Rock Climbing - activities that will give you a feel for climbing.
• Outfitting an Ice Climber - an interactive tour of an ice climber's tools.

Remote and Robotic Surgery - surgery's "cutting edge" techniques:

• How Robotic Surgery Will Work - there are actually several different approaches to robotic surgery.
• Remote Surgery - there are technical hurdles, but this technology is advancing rapidly.
• Robotic Surgery - you'll be surprised how many applications robotic surgery has.

Unit Task: Design, Construct, and Test a Mechanical System - using a mousetrap as your only stored energy source, what will be the functions and components of your mechanical system?

• Mousetrap Physics - learn the parts of a mousetrap, discover how energy is stored and released, and create some simple mousetrap devices for practice.
• Mousetrap Car - most of us have heard of a mousetrap car; see how to build one here, along with some other interesting devices.
• Cool Mousetrap Contraptions - another name for a "mousetrap contraption" is a "Rube Goldberg™ device".

Mass, Weight and Force - how are they related?

• Mass and Weight - includes conditions of "weightlessness".
• Weight, Mass and Gravity - a great explanation.

Triple Beam Balance - - here's how to learn how to measure mass properly (ExploreLearning login is required).

Reading a Triple Beam Balance - get some practice determining mass with this neat activity.

Different Scales for Measuring Force - there are different technologies for measuring:

• Inside a Bathroom Scale - simple, but effective.
• Spring Scale - what is it? How does it work?

Mechanical Systems Use Forces to Transfer Energy - do you how forces and energy interact in a mechanical system?

Section 4.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Watt's a Joule? - great explanation of work and energy, and power too!

Devices That Transform Energy - many devices change energy from one form to another:

• Energy Transformation - explains the concept well, with a good example.
• Energy Transformation on a Roller Coaster - transforming energy on a coaster!
• Mechanical Equivalent of Heat - Joule's famous energy conversion device.

Work And Energy - what are work and energy? what do they do?

Section 4.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Determining Mechanical Advantage - try it out for yourself!

Mechanical Advantage - can you determine the mechanical advantage of a machine?

• Mechanical Advantage - a detailed explanation.
• How Hydraulic Machines Work - a mechanical advantage + hydraulics = amazing work.

Section 4.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Mechanical Advantage - do you know what mechanical advantage is, or why it's important?

Artificial Limbs - the technology behind prostheses continues to improve:

• Artificial Limb - fascinating information about different kinds of limbs.
• Oscar Pistorius - learn all about the "Blade Runner".
• How Prosthetic Limbs Work - an excellent multi-page tutorial on how artificial limbs work.

Unit Task: Design, Construct, and Test a Mechanical System - using a mousetrap as your only stored energy source, what will be the functions and components of your mechanical system?

• Mousetrap Physics - learn the parts of a mousetrap, discover how energy is stored and released, and create some simple mousetrap devices for practice.
• Cool Mousetrap Contraptions - another name for a "mousetrap contraption" is a "Rube Goldberg™ device".

Sailing With Simple Machines - sailing makes heavy use of pulleys and winches:

• Block and Tackle - a system of multiple pulleys.
• How a Block and Tackle Works - an interesting page that explains how force and distance are traded off while accomplishing a task.
• Block - the important pulley part of the system.

All Kinds of Simple Machines - learn more about simple machines by checking out these great links:

• How Bicycles Work - all the details of bike function are provided, plus a good discussion of gears.
• How Gears Work - many types of gears and how they work are explained in these pages.

See-Saw Torque - - can you balance the system? What does this tell you about the distance from the fulcrum and the force needed to complete a task? (ExploreLearning login is required).

Levers of the Human Body - levers are an excellent way to allow humans to increase speed or strength:

• Levers Work to Create Movement in the Human Body - many excellent examples of our levers, and how we use them.
• Biomechanics of the Body - Levers - a great short video on levers in the human body.

Simple Machine Simulations - try these simple machines for yourself:

• Inclined Plane - try this activity - what is the effect of changing the angle (the force needed to pull the object up the plane?) Try several angles and record the results before you make your conclusions.
• Pulley System - change the number of pulleys and see the effect on the force necessary to lift the block. What have you learned? Explain why a pulley system works to reduce necessary force.

Section 5.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Simple Machines and Mechanisms - do you know your simple machines?

Building Windmills - wind power is becoming a very popular form of generating electricity, but building efficient wind turbines is very important.

• How Does a Wind Turbine Work? - understand the engineering puzzle of wind turbines.
• Wind Power - a PBS news page on wind power, get all the latest reliable information.

Dry Lubricants - learn more about dry lubricants and where they are used:

• Dry Lubricant - what exactly is a dry lubricant?
• Solid Lubricants - not all lubricants are liquid.
• Solid Lubricants/Dry Lubrication - in-depth information on dry lubrication and why it is used.

Increasing Efficiency - some devices are better than others at converting energy:

• Office of Energy Efficiency - tons of efficiency information, you can get all sorts of purchasing and usage tips.
• How Fluorescent Lamps Work - the answer is here!
• EnerGuide Program - a good description of all the benefits of EnerGuide.

Section 5.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Mechanical Engineer - many of you reading this love to take apart things, then (sometimes) put them back together again; you can get paid to do this as a mechanical engineer!

• Mechanical Engineer - this should answer just about every question you might have about this occupation.
• The Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering - read about mechanical engineering in Canada.
• Canadian Mechanical Engineering University Programs - many universities in Canada offer mechanical engineering programs.

Unit Task: Design, Construct, and Test a Mechanical System - using a mousetrap as your only stored energy source, what will be the functions and components of your mechanical system?

• Mousetrap Physics - learn the parts of a mousetrap, discover how energy is stored and released, and create some simple mousetrap devices for practice.
• Cool Mousetrap Contraptions - another name for a "mousetrap contraption" is a "Rube Goldberg™ device".

Canadian Standards Association - keeping your products safe!

• Canadian Standards Association - the basics of the CSA.

Non-mechanical Systems in Society - just how does society work?

Section 6.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Rube Goldberg™ Machines - named for the famous cartoonist who used to draw complex machines for whimsical tasks, these creations demonstrate inefficient methods for completing a simple task.

• Rube Goldberg - a large collection of information about Rube Goldberg and his devices.
• Rube Goldberg machine - good background information

Automated Teller Machines - how do they count cash?

• How ATMs Work - all the details, you'll be an ATM expert after reading this!
• Automated Teller Machine - amazing amount of information about ATMs.

Section 6.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Assessing the Impact of Automation and Alternative Systems - do machines make things better or just easier?

Trebuchet - learn more about this fascinating device:

• Trebuchet - the ultimate in lever technology!
• Medieval Siege - make sure you check out the "Nova Builds a Trebuchet" link.

Trebuchet Design & Build Challenge - teachers, the this page is really for you, it has ALL the information, order lists, and resources you need to conduct a great trebuchet challenge for your students.

Unit Task: Design, Construct, and Test a Mechanical System - using a mousetrap as your only stored energy source, what will be the functions and components of your mechanical system?

• Mousetrap Physics - learn the parts of a mousetrap, discover how energy is stored and released, and create some simple mousetrap devices for practice.
• Mousetrap Car - most of us have heard of a mousetrap car; see how to build one here, along with some other interesting devices.
• Cool Mousetrap Contraptions - another name for a "mousetrap contraption" is a "Rube Goldberg™ device".

How Car Engines Work - if you are unfamiliar with how an internal combustion engine works, it basically uses the explosion of a fuel-air mixture to drive a piston for motion, giving off pollution, noise, and heat as well.