Popsicle Dragon

Popsicle Dragon  is an experiment where popsicles are placed in a criss- cross pattern to build a structure to lift things. You can also customize it to look like a dragon!

Popsicle Dragon  is an experiment where popsicles are placed in a criss- cross pattern to build a structure to lift things. You can also customize it to look like a dragon!

It is a fun way to learn about scissor lifts as this experiment works on the same principle.

So, let’s build this dragon and learn some interesting concepts!

Safety First! Adult Supervision Required. Don’t Eat/Drink your Experiments, Wear safety goggles where ever required

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Materials and tools required.

In the box

• Popsicles
• Puncher
• Screw driver
• Long screws
• Dragon jaw template
• Sun- board
• Scissors
• Spray paint/ paint
• OHP marker
• Marker
• Transparent tape
• Ruler
• Black tape
• Electric tape

Video on Youtube for the Experiment

What to Do!

1. Take a popsicle and mark 1 cm away from both the edges.
2. Mark one spot at the centre of the popsicle (7.5 cm from both the edges).
3. Punch hole on the marks made.
4. Place the popsicle one over the other.
5. Take a long screw and insert it in the hole.
6. Take a nut and tighten the screw.
7. Keep the cross structure upside down and place a nut till 1 cm.
8. Place one popsicle over the other and insert it.
9. Place the nut and tighten it.
10. Using a marker, color all the right side popsicles of the cross structure.
11. Join the 2 ‘X’ structures one above the other and match the holes.
12. Insert a long screw into the hole and tighten it with nut.
13. Insert another nut till 1 cm.
14. Join the 2 legs of the ‘X’ structure and tighten it with a nut.
15. Put the dragon jaw template over the sun-board and fix it with a transparent tape.
16. Cut along the pattern.
17. Color the cut outs.
18. With the help of a cutter, make partial cuts on the edges and fold.
19. Secure the folded edges using an electric tape.
20. Take a double tape and stick it on the folded edges of the dragon jaws.
21. Stick both the jaws on the ‘X’ structure.

 

Images for Instructions for Experiment

Working Principle of Popsicle Dragon :

The structure formed uses a specific ‘X’ pattern. The pressing and pulling of the structure makes the dragon work. The mechanism to achieve this is the use of linked, folding supports in a criss-cross “X” pattern, it is known as the scissor mechanism.

This structure is also used in scissor lifts. A scissor lift is a type of platform that can usually only move vertically. The contraction of the scissor action can be hydraulic (by water pressure), pneumatic (by air pressure) or mechanical. They are generally used for temporary, flexible access purposes such as maintenance and construction work or by firefighters.

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