The Haunted House ETM!
Made by the Solar Ghostbusters from Winter Springs High School
Team Members: Diya P, Edward C, Jialing C, Emily P, Abhinav M
Why this theme? Our team started brainstorming ideas in October, so it felt necessary to do a spooky theme.
End Goal: Chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar to imitate blood flowing out of the cup.
List of Transfers!
- 1. Chemical to Kinetic Energy: A team member pulls the cardboard spear up and releases it.
- 2. Kinetic to Elastic Energy: The pin attached to the cardboard spear pops the water balloon. The elastic energy in the rubber of the balloon releases its potential energy.
- 3. Gravitational Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy: Water stored in the balloon falls into and down the funnels and tubes with gravity. As it moves, it becomes kinetic energy.
- 4. Kinetic to Gravitational Potential Energy: Water falls into cup, which increased the weight on one side of the pulley system. This pulls the ghost up because of the weight transfer.
- 5. Potential to Kinetic Energy: The ghost taps the car, which holds potential energy. It runs down the rails, triggering a ball, using kinetic energy.
- 6. Potential to Kinetic Energy: The ball triggers a chain of dominoes. They hit another steel ball.
- 7. Potential to Gravitational Kinetic Energy: The steel ball falls directly into a cup. Because of its heavy weight, it is able to trigger a circuit board switch.
- 8. Electrical to Kinetic Energy: The circuit board switch turns on the light bulbs. The switch also pulls 2 strings. One is attached to a curtain that reveals an old picture frame of the haunted house. The other string pulls a small container filled with baking soda.
- 9. Kinetic to Chemical Energy: The baking soda falls into the cup of red colored vinegar, which causes oxygen to evaporate. This makes an impression of flowing coagulating blood.
Strengths
- Every time we needed to do a trial run, the dominoes were placed perfectly because we marked each place down. The rail has “Dooms Ride” written on it, so our team placed the dominoes in certain spaces.
- We used heavy weight steel balls so they would provide the system with sufficient force and speed. We used a slightly rusty steel ball after our domino system because we needed it to stay still without any support.
- Our team is very proud of our initial step design. The cardboard weapon was painting to look real and has been given 3D effects of blood droplets. It works nicely to pop a water ballon.
Weaknesses
- Initially, parts were made out of cardboard. However, when water would splash on them, it would disturb the chain reaction of the car. When the cardboard railing got wet, the car was not able to roll down. SOLUTION: We aligned the rail with plastic film sheets
- Calculating and analyzing how much baking soda would need to fall down was a hard task. SOLUTION: We made a double layered lifted cup, which had indents on the bottom, where the string would inwardly fit through. This would allow the cup to fall forwards.
The theme and colors used on the webpage are amazing. I have never thought about making a haunted house ETM! How creative! Well done!
Thank you!!