Pneumatic

Design a Pneumatic or air-powered machine Invent your own air-powered machine. Draw a picture of what your machine might look like. What kind of air source will you use? Balloons, hair dryer, fan, your breath etc ... Find materials around your home or classroom that you can use to build it. Test your machine as you build.

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There is more than one solution.

Our Challenge: Build a machine that uses water.	My Challenge: Build a machine that makes a ride.	Our Challenge: Create a machine that spins and makes you dizzy.
Our Challenge: Create a machine to launch an airplane.	Our Challenge: Create a machine that shoots in the air.	Our Challenge: Make a machine that serves food.
Our Challenge: Create a machine that rolls and serves food.	My Challenge: Make a machine like a merry-go-round.	My Challenge: Create a machine that moves a ping pong ball.
Our Challenge: Build a truck with a lift.		My Challenge: Make a machine that spins and makes a sound.

 

Air-powered Machines is a project developed by Karen Thimmesch for her 4th grade students. See her Students as Designers cluster for more project ideas.

What other sources of air can you think of? Try building a machine that creates wind. What air-powered machines have you seen? Visit a hardware store and look for pneumatic tools.