Objective
Students will design and build a field goal kicking machine that propels a football (paper, foam, or small rubber ball) through goalposts. This project will introduce students to core engineering concepts such as force, motion, energy transfer, and mechanical advantage while encouraging creativity and problem-solving.
Challenge
Design and construct a working field goal kicking machine that can accurately and consistently launch a football through a goalpost from a set distance. Students can start with simple designs and progress to more complex mechanical or programmable systems.
Project Guidelines
- Design Phase: Brainstorm different kicking mechanisms and create a simple sketch or blueprint of the design.
- Material Selection: Use available materials to construct a functional kicker.
- Prototype & Testing: Build a prototype, test it, and refine the design based on results.
- Final Presentation: Demonstrate the machine in action and explain the engineering principles involved.
- Data Collection: Record success rate, launch angles, and force applied to analyze performance.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this project, students will:
- Apply Newton’s Laws of Motion to understand how force, acceleration, and energy impact movement.
- Explore energy transfer by using stored potential energy (springs, rubber bands) to create kinetic energy.
- Investigate mechanical advantage by incorporating levers, gears, or pulleys into their design.
- Analyze trajectory and angles to improve accuracy and consistency.
- Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills through iterative design and testing.
- Gain hands-on experience in engineering design and prototyping.
Various Project Levels
Beginner Level: Paper Football Flick
- Objective: Build a simple goalpost and use a flicking motion to score field goals.
- Materials: Paper (for football), ruler or cardboard (for goalposts), tape.
- Focus: Understanding force application and angles for accuracy.
Intermediate Level: Manual Kicker with Mechanical Assistance
- Objective: Construct a kicker using simple mechanical components.
- Materials: Craft sticks (levers), rubber bands (energy storage), cardboard, glue/tape, small foam football.
- Focus: Exploring energy transfer from a stored source to propel an object.
Advanced Level: Mechanized Kicking Machine
- Objective: Design a more complex field goal kicking system using mechanical or programmable elements.
- Materials: Springs, gears, servo motors, microcontrollers (Arduino optional), 3D-printed or wooden components.
- Focus: Precision engineering, force control, automation, and data analysis.
This project allows students to progress at their own level while applying engineering principles in a fun and engaging way! 🚀🏈