text and art by Sylvia Spain
TEEGAN: Wow, what's this crazy contraption?
PERSIA AND AKANE: It's our latest invention!
TEEGAN: What's it supposed to do?
AKANE: Watch. You turn on the radio which wakes the squirrel.
PERSIA: The squirrel grabs the nut which pulls the rope which opens the trapdoor.
TEEGAN: I still don't get it.
AKANE: Wait, there's more. The weight lands on the teetertotter, and the ball bounces and tips the ramp. The roller skate rolls and kicks the bowling ball into the basket.
- How is chemical energy part of this machine?
[anno: Chemical energy is part of this machine because the dog, in order to power its muscles, must convert food to chemical energy.]
- Describe two places in which the state of energy changes from potential energy to kinetic energy. Describe how the kinetic energy is released.
[anno: Answers may vary but could include that when the weight is sitting on the board, the weight is in a state of potential energy. When the board is lowered, the weight enters a state of kinetic energy and falls downward. When the roller skate is at rest at one end of the board, it is in a state of potential energy. When the board is hit by the baseball, the roller skate enters a state of kinetic energy and moves across the board.]
- Think about whether or not this invention saves time or energy. Is this a good invention or a bad invention? Write a few sentences to explain your answer.
[anno: Answers will vary but could include that this is not a good invention because there are extra parts to the contraption that are not necessary.]