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== Contact details ==
== Contact details ==


Any questions or comments about the machine contact GID at: mde120@humboldt.edu, csa146@humboldt.edu, nac373@humboldt.edu, esw108@humboldt.edu.
Any questions or comments about the machine contact GID at: csa146@humboldt.edu, esw108@humboldt.edu, mde120@humboldt.edu, nac373@humboldt.edu.


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[[Category:Projects]]
[[Category:Projects]]

Revision as of 18:32, 12 April 2015

Template:ENGR215inprogress

Abstract

The quincunx probability machine fits within the walls confined of STEAM. STEAM is a motto set for Zane Middle school which stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The quincunx machine sorts balls by replicating pascals triangle to make out the bell curve and to demonstrate to Zane Middle School students how probability manifests in several ways.

Problem statement and criteria

Criteria Importance Constraints
Educational Value 10 Demonstrates probability to 6-8th graders.
Safety 10 Students must not be injured by the machine.
Ease of Interaction 8 Students must take some part in using the machine.
Durability 8 Remains operational and scratch resistant.
Aesthetics 6 Attracts and keeps the attention of 6-8th graders.
Portability 4 Easily moved by one adult.
Ease of Implementation 6 Less than 10 minute set up time.
Cost 6 Does not exceed $400.

Zane Middle School focuses on the STEAM curriculum for students from sixth through eighth grade. STEAM stands for: science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Zane strives to give students an effective education by focusing on hands on activities. Zane Middle School asked Humboldt State engineering 215 class to help improve there campus and teaching implements for the second consecutive term. Our goal is to design and build an effective demonstration model that helps to teach students probability in a hands on way.

Description of final project

The quincunx machine sorts balls replicating Pascal's Triangle which is based on probability. The machine is three feet wide and five feet tall in order for it to be seen by large audiences. The backboard of the quincunx is made of aluminum sheeting along with the collection chute which collects the balls once the demonstration is done. The front viewing sheet is made of acrylic, and the collection chute is an aluminum box. The rubber bouncy balls used to make the curve will be one inch in diameter. The pins that the balls will bounce off of will be aluminum rods cut into two inch sections that are half inch in diameter.

Costs

You may describe your costs here.

Item Quantity Price
Aluminum Sheet 15'X 5'X 1/8" 1 Donated
Acrylic Sheet 4'X 3'X 1/4" 1 $81.00
Bouncy Balls 150 Donated
Aluminum Round 1/2"X 12' 2 $30.00
Acrylic Glue 1 $9.99
Paint 3 $30.00

See Help:Tables and Help:Table examples for more.

Testing Results

The quincunx machine creates a bell curve using bouncy balls that the students place in the hopper. The machine demonstrates probability using a basic template by only using the 50/50 probability of a ball going one way or another. The continuous chance of the ball falling one way keeps the probability from getting messy with no whole numbers.

How to build

Construction steps

Use Template:How_to

Discussion and next steps

Although the quincunx machine is not the most interactive probability machine that could have been made, it demonstrates the highest safety and educational value. The machine will be stored at Zane Middle School in Eureka California. It will also be present at the 2015 math festival located in Eureka's Bayshore Mall on April 25th.

Contact details

Any questions or comments about the machine contact GID at: csa146@humboldt.edu, esw108@humboldt.edu, mde120@humboldt.edu, nac373@humboldt.edu.

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