The challenge was to use a motor and various other materials to create a drawing machine. Victoria and I decided to use a yogurt cup at first because it is small and light weight. We attached 3 markers as feet and tried a large popsicle stick to throw off the balance and send the machine moving. The larger popsicle stick was scratched, because it didn’t move quick enough (at all really), and we used a much smaller, wooden stick.
After it started to move around the paper, we noticed that the angle of the markers and the variety of points touching the paper would have an effect of stippling or dragging. We then started to experiment with using different types of materials to cause an imbalance on the motor. We used spools and tape as the propellers, we changed the position of the markers from outside to inside, we moved the motor and the battery to change its balance.
After the break we tried to make another machine using a box. The cool part was that the box top flapped and wiggled when the motor turned on.
When reflecting on this project I would really like to maybe use this as a vehicle to make random marks on paper that are then drawn over. I think kids might have a fun time creating a machine that would mark paper before starting another project.
I have some videos published on youtube.
wbta.ART 