Hooked on Science: Scribblebot

With a few items from around the house, you can engineer a scribblebot and create a masterpiece.

Materials

• Four markers
• One Popsicle stick
• One disposable 18 oz drinking cup
• 1 AAA battery holder with switch
• 2 AAA batteries
• 1 motor with spinner
• Duct tape
• Super Glue

Instructions

STEP 1: Using the Super Glue, attach the AAA battery holder with switch to one end of the Popsicle stick and the motor with spinner to the other end of the Popsicle stick.

STEP 2: Glue the Popsicle stick to the drinking cup. Connect the AAA battery pack with switch to the motor with spinner. Add the AAA batteries to the AAA battery pack with switch.

STEP 3: Using the duct tape, evenly secure the four markers inside the open end of the cup, so the markers are pointing toward the ground.

STEP 4: Place your Scribblebot on a white piece of paper, turn on the AAA battery holder with switch and observe.

Explanation

The vibrations created by the motor moves through the cup to the markers, causing the Scribblebot to move, creating a work of art.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.