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Week 11 · Lift It

Monday

The lift it challenge
// A lever or pulley that lifts a small load
⏱ about 20 min

Monday: The Lift It Challenge

Raven's toy bucket is stuck on the floor. It is full of coins.

"Let's lift it with a machine!" Rocket says.

Raven opens her notebook. "First, what counts as success?"

Nova hovers. "Would you like a hint? Count how much push it takes."

The challenge

Criteria (what success means)Constraints (the limits)
Lift a cup with 6 coins off the tableUse a ruler, a round marker, cups, string and tape
Use as few push coins as you canDo not lift the load with your hand

How we measure effort

Effort is the push you use.

We measure it with coins in a second cup.

Fewer coins means less effort. That is the goal!

CRITERIA OR CONSTRAINT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Lift a cup with 6 coins. Criteria or constraint?
Do not lift it with your hand. Criteria or constraint?
READ THE GOAL
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Design A needs 6 push coins. Design B needs 3. Which is better?
Draw an idea for lifting the cup.

Load and effort

The load is what you want to lift.

The effort is the push you use.

In this challenge, the load is a cup with 6 coins.

The effort is coins in the push cup.

NAME THE PARTS
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
What is the load in this challenge?
How do we measure effort?
Which tools are allowed?
IdeaTrue or false?
Fewer push coins means less effort.?
You may lift the load with your hand.?
The load cup holds 6 coins.?
More push coins is the goal.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEKnowing the goal helps you judge each design.
Try it
Lift a book with one hand.
Now push a toy car across the floor.
Which one took more effort?
Safety first
Lift a small, light book.
Keep your back straight.

You defined the problem with criteria and constraints!

Tomorrow, we meet two simple machines.