Creative Engineering
Overview
The goal of this project was to research a world-wide project, and then engineer a model or prototype of something that could solve that problem. Me and my group decided to engineer something to help solve the dilemma of trash.
My group and I spent a lot of the time trying to make a good solution for our problem. We originally settled on making a dish that would sit below a trashcan to catch any trash that fell near the trashcan. But after some speculation, we decided that we could do better. After the next couple days of scratching our heads, we remembered that we aren't bound to the problem of trash. So, we changed subjects to a close neighbor, compost.
After researching, we learned that about 45% of food is thrown into compost bins, while the other 55% is just thrown in the trash. We thought about why this might be, and reasoned that it must be because there are only trashcans on the streets. If you have food in your hand out in public, where else will you throw it besides a trashcan? So, we had reached our solution. We decided to engineer an efficient, public compost bin prototype.
Here, you can learn more about our solution:
My group and I spent a lot of the time trying to make a good solution for our problem. We originally settled on making a dish that would sit below a trashcan to catch any trash that fell near the trashcan. But after some speculation, we decided that we could do better. After the next couple days of scratching our heads, we remembered that we aren't bound to the problem of trash. So, we changed subjects to a close neighbor, compost.
After researching, we learned that about 45% of food is thrown into compost bins, while the other 55% is just thrown in the trash. We thought about why this might be, and reasoned that it must be because there are only trashcans on the streets. If you have food in your hand out in public, where else will you throw it besides a trashcan? So, we had reached our solution. We decided to engineer an efficient, public compost bin prototype.
Here, you can learn more about our solution:
Physics
Our project contained a crank which operated somewhat like an axle. If you turned the crank with enough force, you could mix the food within the bin around.
- Axle- A pin, bar, shaft, etc., on which itself, or a wheel or pair of wheels rotates.
- Force- Any interaction which tends to change the motion of an object.
Reflection
In the beginning, before we had even started working on this project, I had a feeling I had made a bad choice of group partners. I chose to be in a group with all my friends, and from past experiences, I've learned that almost never turns out well. But surprisingly, this time went great. It was my best project of the first semester.
During this project, I learned that good planning makes the difference between a good and bad project. If you collectively discuss and plan before you start to even think about beginning the building phase, then you will have time to detect errors and to fix them. I also learned that when it comes to working, everyone needs to stay serious and focused. When people are joking around all the time, then you can run out of time, or you can have something bad happen to the project.
This project only escalated in success. At the planning phase, our group was struggling. We couldn't create any ideas that could solve our problem. As the planning phase came to an end, we still didn't know what to do. We took two extra days for planning while the other groups started building. Once we changed our problem, however, things started to escalate quickly. We got our plan, researched it well, and started planning to build. The peak of this project was the day that we built our compost bin. We did it all in one day over the weekend, and it was easy and quick. Overall, I liked this project a lot.
During this project, I learned that good planning makes the difference between a good and bad project. If you collectively discuss and plan before you start to even think about beginning the building phase, then you will have time to detect errors and to fix them. I also learned that when it comes to working, everyone needs to stay serious and focused. When people are joking around all the time, then you can run out of time, or you can have something bad happen to the project.
This project only escalated in success. At the planning phase, our group was struggling. We couldn't create any ideas that could solve our problem. As the planning phase came to an end, we still didn't know what to do. We took two extra days for planning while the other groups started building. Once we changed our problem, however, things started to escalate quickly. We got our plan, researched it well, and started planning to build. The peak of this project was the day that we built our compost bin. We did it all in one day over the weekend, and it was easy and quick. Overall, I liked this project a lot.