Pinball Design - Physics

Grade 12 Practical Physics Project
Pinball Machine Design

Objective: Design a Pinball machine using springs, metal, plastic or wooden barriers and various cushioning devices. A scoring apparatus is needed. The game board should be no larger than 1m by 1m in size (can have adjuncts for scoring and a base that are not included in the board size). Outline all the physics principles involved in the game, provide a schematic for the structure of the game board, illustrate and describe all regions of significant energy transfer and design the game so that it has visual appeal.

Significant Due Dates:

2nd Monday in October: Provide a rough schematic of the design to the teacher.
3rd Monday in October: Sign up for group discussions with teacher
3rd Monday in November: Provide teacher with two page progress report.
7th January 2011: Game Testing Day and Submission of Report Documents.

Final Report Document must include:
Work Log (who did, what, when)
Description of Physics Principles Involved
Neat drawing of game schematic (preferably AUTOCAD)
Outline of all regions of energy loss. Must include one sample calculation based on reasonable assumptions.

Group Size:
No more than three people per group. No singlet groups.

Marks:

The project will count for 10% of your final grades. Even though the students will work as a team – each student will be evaluated individually (therefore it is critical that the work log reflect accurately the levels of effort).


Sample Sites to look at:

http://www.marvin3m.com/fix.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/design-your-own-pinball-machine-919500/


Marking Checklist

Game

Movability of Barriers……………………. /5
Smoothness of Impacts…………………… /3
Effectiveness of Cushioning……………….../2
Spring Release Method…………………….../2
Number of Barriers…………………………. /5
(less than 1=1, 2=3, 3=4, 5 or more = 5)
Sound Effects………………………………../3
Light Effects…………………………………/4
Scoring Mechanism Accuracy………………./5
Originality and Creativity of Design…………/6

Total: /35


Documentation:

Lead Abstract…………………………………….../2
Quality of Worklog………………………………../5
Visual Schematic…………………………………. /3
Sample Energy Calculation………………………. /3
Outline of all Physics Principles Involved
Factors to consider……………………………….. /7
Individual Reflections…………………………….../2
Overall Report (Language, grammar etc)…………../2
Bibliography………………………………………../1

Total: /25


For #4 – Please be concise. Any physics principles missed will result in mark deduction from the 8.

TOTAL MARKS: 35 + 25 = 60