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You can't combine tasks?
Okay what about a lever moving in an arc (150 degrees), turning on a switch?

Originally my team was planning on running a simple Lego piston, but that just seems iffy right now.

Regardless, we need an alternative. The way I interpreted the task was conversion of angular velocity to linear velocity - so a piston would be the rotating piece causing the arm to move forwards and backwards. A ball rolling down a track seems a bit too simple, though - it's just gravity weighing it downwards, no real conversion since technically it wouldn't need to be spinning in the first place to have that linear motion. I guess another idea would be using a motor to raise a mass on a loop? The circular motion of the loop would translate to the linear motion of the mass, although I really dislike having to use motors. Just a pet peeve of mine. Any other suggestions?

Gooblah wrote:Originally my team was planning on running a simple Lego piston, but that just seems iffy right now.

Regardless, we need an alternative. The way I interpreted the task was conversion of angular velocity to linear velocity - so a piston would be the rotating piece causing the arm to move forwards and backwards. A ball rolling down a track seems a bit too simple, though - it's just gravity weighing it downwards, no real conversion since technically it wouldn't need to be spinning in the first place to have that linear motion. I guess another idea would be using a motor to raise a mass on a loop? The circular motion of the loop would translate to the linear motion of the mass, although I really dislike having to use motors. Just a pet peeve of mine. Any other suggestions?

You don't even need the mass to be on a loop. Just have the motor wind up the string, and you'll be converting circular motion of the shaft into linear motion of the mass. (How were you planning on running a piston without a motor?)

@missionimpossible, no, you can't combine tasks. It's clearly listed somewhere, along with the restriction on parallel tasks.

What about using a motor to turn a disc with a stick spanning the radius? The disc turns while the stick pushes a ball along a ramp, converting linear to circular.

NikitaB wrote:What about using a motor to turn a disc with a stick spanning the radius? The disc turns while the stick pushes a ball along a ramp, converting linear to circular.

I think you have to convert circular to linear, not the other way around.

questionguy wrote:

NikitaB wrote:What about using a motor to turn a disc with a stick spanning the radius? The disc turns while the stick pushes a ball along a ramp, converting linear to circular.

I think you have to convert circular to linear, not the other way around.

What he describes meets the criteria; I think he just mistyped.

Does it? I'm still not at all confident that a rolling ball is going to count as linear.

Sorry, I mistyped indeed. It passed the state tournament judges...

Flavorflav wrote:Does it? I'm still not at all confident that a rolling ball is going to count as linear.

I see it as a rotating motor (circular) moving a ball in a linear fashion. I agree that a rolling ball alone (where you say its rotational energy is converted into its own translational kinetic energy) is questionable.

If I use the winch system for my IMA 3 pulley task, can I use the system again? Not the exact same motor and string, but the same idea.


Also, if i was to use the winch system again, could I use string to lift up a balloon containing baking soda? The balloon will be lying down, connected to a beaker of vinegar.