The Stomp Launcher Challenge

Hi Boys and Girls - 

It's me STEM Dog with yet another family home challenge. Since the weather has been so cold recently, I haven't gotten as much exercise as usual. When the weather is warm, my mom (Mrs. Hansen) will stand in the yard and throw my tennis ball for hours because I love to retrieve! However, she doesn't like to play fetch with me when it is snowy and cold outside. I am hoping that you will be able to engineer a solution for me. I would like you to create a solution that will enable me to throw the ball myself. 

I saw a great video (Play Me) that explains how to make an air cannon. I am hoping that you will be able to improve this idea a bit, as the air cannons in the video are all fired with your hands, which is problematic for a dog. However, I do have 4 very powerful legs, so I could stomp on it. Can you please engineer a prototype of a "stomp launcher" that will allow me to throw my own tennis ball?

I hope you can, because I really do miss playing fetch!

Your Friend,

STEM Dog

P.S. I am a very smart dog! If I could learn how to carry my own leash when I go for a walk, I am sure that I can learn how to stomp on a ball launcher. Check out this video of me walking myself!

A Note from Mrs. Hansen

You have been challenged to engineer a prototype of a stomp cannon that can launch a ball for STEM Dog to chase. The link below will bring you to a video and a set of written directions that will give you many suggestions and strategies for building an air cannon. Your challenge is to modify this information so that your cannon works by stomping on it! Please take pictures or a video of your stomp cannon, so that I can share your creations on this blog. You may either email them  or share them with me using your google drive.  Your challenge is due by Friday March 6th, 2015.
mary.t.hansen@student.dodea.edu


Design Challenge
Engineer a stomp rocket that will shoot a pom pom or cotton ball.

Criteria/Constraints

• The pom pom must travel at least 24 inches.
• The pom pom must be launched by the force of the air.
• A stomping action must be used to release the air and launch the pompom.
• You must submit video or picture documentation of your stomp launcher to Mrs. Hansen by March 6, 2015.

Build an Air Cannon

The December STEM Dog Family Home Challenge

The Newspaper Table Engineering Challenge

Due by December 19th, 2014

Goal:
Construct a table completely out of newspaper and scotch tape that can support the weight of a book. (The heavier the book the better!)

Constraints and Criteria:

• You may use no more than 15 full-size pieces of newspaper.
• You may use no more than 24 inches of scotch tape.
• The table must be constructed on a flat surface.
• The table must be free-standing, which means you may not tape it to the surface upon which it is constructed.
• You may not use any other materials to complete the challenge.
• You must submit a picture that clearly shows the table supporting the weight of a book. Try to include everyone that participated in the picture. This is a family challenge, so the more the merrier!

Materials:

• Up to 15 full-size pages of newspaper.
• No more than 24 inches of scotch tape.

The October/November STEM Dog Family Challenge

The Toilet Paper Roll Challenge

Structural Engineering

Goal: 

• Construct a free standing tower out of 20 empty toilet paper rolls that is at least 50 centimeters or 20 inches tall.

Constraints and Criteria:

• You may use no more than 20 empty toilet paper rolls.
• The tower must be constructed on a flat surface.
• You may not use any other materials to complete the challenge.
• You may cut or tear the toilet paper rolls.
• You must take a picture that clearly shows the height of the tower in centimeters. Try to include everyone that participated in the picture. This is a family challenge, so the more the merrier! 
• Email your picture to my gmail account at mary.t.hansen@students.dodea.edu. Be sure to include the height of your structure in your email.

Materials:

• 20 empty toilet paper rolls
• Scissors (if needed)