How Can You Build a Crane Arm With Straws to Support a 500g Plumb Bob?

[pierretong199]

Homework Statement

I have no idea how to solve this project. Here are the requirements/details:

Your design team must build a "boom" (crane arm) that meets the following specifications:

1. The boom must support a plumb bob of at leat 500 grams a minimum distance of 10cm from the table edge. No kinks caused by the weight of the plumb bob in the straw boom are allowed (you can bend the straw as part of the design if you want).
2. No materials other than those provided (straws, string, masses, tape) are permitted
3. The design team is allowed to hold the boom to the table at one point. You may only hold your boom at table height. The boom may not touch another support (another table or the floor).

Homework Equations

No idea!

The Attempt at a Solution

We tried attaching various strings (running to a post on the table) to the end of the crane arm to counteract the torque of the crane arm from bending the straw. However, we have found that we can only support 200g using this method.

 

[lippyka]

We are at a loss as to how to increase the weight capacity of our design. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[thomate1]

I understand the frustration that can come with a challenging project. It sounds like you have already made some attempts at solving this problem, which is great. One possible solution could be to use multiple straws taped together to create a stronger arm that can support the weight of the plumb bob. You could also try using different types of tape or reinforcing the joints with extra tape to prevent kinks in the straw. Additionally, experimenting with different angles and lengths of the boom could also help with supporting the weight. Remember to also consider the forces acting on the boom and how they can be balanced to achieve the desired result. Good luck with your project!