The Candy Machine

Amanda Bowen

Elizabeth Kennedy

ZZ Hoch

Purpose

The purpose of the Candy Machine is to convert the potential energy of a golf ball to kinetic energy which transfers through several steps to open a bottle holding the candy. A rubber band with elastic energy transfers more kinetic energy to cause the lever that stops the candy to close.

Summary of Energy Conversions

1. PE ball to KE ball

2. KE ball to KE left side Lever 1

3. KE left side Lever 1 to Uelas rubber band

4. KE right side Lever 1 to KE weighted bucket

5. KE weighted pulley to +KE string

6. +KE string to –KE string (around pulley)

7. –KE string to +KE string (through hook)

8. +KE string to KE Lever 2

Overview: Step 1

Golf ball rests on nail, nail is removed

1

Overview: Step 2

Golf ball strikes Lever 1

2

Overview: Step 3

Lever pivots Rubber band pulls back

pivot

Rubber band

Overview: Step 4

Lever 1 lifts a weighted bucket

4

Overview: Step 5

Lifting the weighted bucket causes slack in the attached string.

The upward Kinetic energy moves around the pulley through the slack in the string.

5

Overview: Step 6

Slacked string loops through hooks

6

Overview: Steps 7 and 8

Lever 2 Raises on left end Lowers on right end

Releases Candy

Overview: Final Step

Rubber band pulls down on Lever 1

Weight lowers Tightens string Pulls left end of Lever 2

down Right end of Lever 2

goes up Closes candy

dispenser

Conclusions

We found that the Candy Machine works consistently, but there are a few ideas that we had to discard and a few things that we would change.

The Candy Machine