Digestive System Project Proposal

Jason Franks, Archer Leida, Cate Guempel, Jonathan Stickle, Jessica Walters
Description of Model: The crusher is like the mouth and teeth. Tube between the
crusher and container of chemicals is the esophagus. The containers of chemicals
represents the stomach and intestines and how they break down food.

Picture:

Functions it will perform: Break down food.

Materials Needed:
-Medium size plastic container flattened funnel shape
-3 rods or pipe
-Sprinkler tubing
-4 valves
-Peristaltic pump
-Polyurethane sealant
-Lever
-3 fist sized containers (clear)
-Handle to spin crusher
-Bowl to catch excrements
Construction Plan:
Build the Crusher:
-Hammer nails or studs into the rods
-Take container and drill four holes into a parallel side the same size as the
rods and handle
-Insert rods and handle into container and connect all of them with rubber
bands one one side of the container
Prepare Chemical Containers:
-Drill a hole into the three clear containers (one hole on two of the sides)
Connect All the Systems:
-Prepare the tubing and cut lengths to connect the crusher to the chemical
containers and short tubing to connect each chemical container to the other
and finally another longer length to end the tubing from the chemical
container
-Add a lever between where the crusher would connect to tubing and
connect in order of: crusher, lever, tubing. Add another lever to the very end
of all the tubing
-Take the tubing connected to the crusher and connect to a chemical
container add a valve to the other end of the container and connect a piece
of short tubing to that. Add another chemical container to that tubing and

another valve to that container. Add another piece of short tubing and
another container. Add the final valve to the last container and attach the
final longer piece

Biology/ Chemistry/ Physics Principles Used

-Chemical Reactions- enzymes break down food
-Pressure- food is pushed through system
-Diffusion- nutrients absorbed through intestine wall
Special Needs:
-Outlet? (if needed by pump)

Unresolved Issues:
-What will we use as a lever for the crusher