CREATE A SPACE TOOL!
Engineers and geoscientists get to design and create items that are used all over the world – and even outside of our atmosphere! In space, astronauts may use tools that allow them to pick things up more easily from a distance and when their space suits limit their ability to grab objects with their hands. Engineers need to consider constraints and make sure that tools are reliable in all types of environments. Think about how you could use a tool to pick up an item that’s far away – could you use barbecue tongs? What about something with a suction cup?
YOUR MISSION:
Create a tool that you could use to pick up an object about the size of a ping pong ball that is 1 metre away from you on the ground. You can’t bend over, and you’re wearing a ski glove or mitten to reduce mobility, like a space suit!
GUIDELINES:
Create a video showcasing the design and function of your space tool. Tell us about what obstacles you faced when you began building and how you improved your design and overcame these obstacles. This shows us your design thinking skills.
Upload this video to YouTube and email the link to stem@apegnb.com with the subject line: Space Tool. In the email include the link to the video, as well as your name, age and school.
You should use objects you can find around the house to build your project (some examples are below).
Try to make your space tool as creative and user friendly as possible. In your video demonstrate how it does picking up lots of different objects to see how versatile it is. Think about how reduced gravity in space would effect your ability to hold an object in your tool.
EXAMPLE MATERIALS:
You can use these or any other types of paper and tape you find around your house to work with
- Paper tubes
- Plastic forks
- Barbecue tongs
- String
- Elastics
- Tape
- Cardboard
- Plastic or metal recycling