How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Here’s an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store, hardware store, and online! You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do!


Shopping List for Unit 4: Pulleys, Levers, and Mechanical Advantage Click here for Shopping List for Unit 4.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.
Pulleys
50’+ Rope (use nylon rope with >200 pound tensile strength that fits through your pulleys)
Pulleys (at least 6 small ones)
Fishing line
Two broomsticks (or use a tree)
Pen (any size)
Large, heavy nut
6” length of ½” PVC pipe
Wire coat hanger
Thread spool
Vice grips and pliers


Optional: Thick slab of wood to make a pulley-swing
Optional: Roller skate (the old-fashioned kind with a wheel at each corner) and a large rubber band


Levers
Stud (2x4x96” or other long, strong piece of scrap wood to play with)


Hydraulic/Pneumatic Earth Mover
Disposable plastic cup
20+ tongue-depressor-size popsicle sticks
6 syringes (anything in 3-10mL size range will work)
6 brass fasteners
Thin wire or narrow zip ties
5’ of flexible tubing (fits over the nose of syringes)
four wheels (use film canister lids, yogurt container lids, milk jug lids, etc.)
4 rubber bands
two naked (unwrapped) straws
skewers that fit inside your straws
hot glue gun (with glue sticks)
sharp scissors or razor (get adult help)
drill with small drill bits (you’ll be drilling holes large enough to fit the stem of a brass fastener)


Optional Additional Items For Advanced Students:

Trebuchet (review shopping list on experiment page so you can watch the video and see how long to cut the wood)


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Comments

6 Responses to “Shopping List for Unit 4”

  1. Yes it’s included with the Science Mastery program kits we sell on our website.

  2. Renata Rosenfeld says:

    Is there a full kit for the earth mover? I couldn’t find it.

  3. The 6 pulleys include the one small one – I modified the shopping list to reflect this change.

    You’re right – it’s not a walnut but rather a nut that threads onto a bolt. Sorry for the confusion!

  5. Mindy Mayhew says:

    Another question: It says under Hydraulic/Pneumatic Earth Mover to see the website for details about ordering the kit. I don’t see a link for that. Where should I look for this and the glassware items?

    Thanks again,
    Mindy

  6. Mindy Mayhew says:

    Aurora,

    I have a few questions about the shopping list here. Under Pulleys one item is 6 pulleys and then another one is fishing line and one small pulley. Does this mean that we need to get 7 pulleys or can we use one of the 6 with the fishing line?

    Also, when you say “large, heavy nut” my first thought was walnut, but now I’m thinking you must mean like nut/bolt type nut. Could you clarify that for me?

    Thanks so much,
    Mindy