How to Build a Model Elevator Science Project

Making a model elevator is a great school project for students.

An elevator lifts people and items up and down inside tall buildings. It works when a spool, powered by an electric motor, lifts and lowers the elevator car to the appropriate location. A strong, steel cable wraps around the spool and attaches to the elevator car for support, and a counter weight balances the weight of the elevator, making it easier for the motor to lift and lower the elevator car. There is a variety of lessons your students can learn when you teach them how to build a model elevator science project.

Things You'll Need

• Plywood
• 6 spindles
• Nails
• String
• Small cardboard box
• Counter weight (about 100 g)

Instructions

1. Attach your spindles to the plywood using nails. You need four spindles evenly spaced across the top of the plywood, and two spindles on the bottom of the plywood parallel to the first two spindles on top.

2. Tie one piece of string to the top of your small cardboard box, then tie a second piece of string to the bottom of your box. This box represents the elevator car in your model elevator science project.

3. Pass the bottom string from your small cardboard box straight down, then under the bottom two spindles. Run the string straight up, wrap it around the first top spindle, then bring the string over the second spindle. Run the string to the top of the small cardboard box and tie the string to the top string.

4. Run the top string over the top of the last two spindles on top. Tie that string to the counter weight.

5. Use your fingers to rotate the first spool in the top row. This should move the "elevator car" up and down.

References

• All Science Fair Projects