Nomkhosi Nkomo

ST10122214
TNST7411

TASK 1
Technology plays a huge role in natural science, in this essay I will discuss the role
of mechanical systems in Natural Sciences and Technology in the intermediate
phase, grade 7 per say. I will also discuss the knowledge strands in the Intermediate
phase and Grade 7 for Technology, emphasise the differences between Grade 4 - 6
and Grade 7, mention the key concepts associated with mechanical systems and
also analyse the principles that mechanical systems are based on.
According to the caps document (2011) the knowledge strands for technology for
grade 4-6 are structures, processing and systems and control only, and the
knowledge strands for grade 7 technology are structures, processing, electrical
systems and control and mechanical and control. Each grade has its own strands in
grade 4 they major in structures and systems and control only, the 1 st and 2nd term
are for structures and the last two terms are for systems and control. In these
strands they learn content like structures for animals and strengthening materials
along with strong frame structures. The grade 5’s strands on the other hand are
processing, structures and systems and control only (DOE, 2011). The 1 st term
focuses on structures, like skeletons and other structures, the 2 nd term focuses on
processing which talks about processed materials and the process of processing
materials and the last two terms are for systems and control which mostly talk about
systems for moving things. The grade 6 strands are just processing for the first two
terms and systems and control for the last two terms (DOE, 2011). The Grade 7
strands as mentioned above contain content like simple mechanisms like levers,
Pneumatics and Hydraulics, Types of structures, shell, frame or solid structures and
different types of permanent magnets and simple circuits and pulleys (DOE, 2011)
A mechanical system is a collection of physical components that convert an input
motion and force into the required output motion and force (the IIE, 2023).
Mechanical systems have at least three key components which are Input, Process
and Output. The input part of the system is any type of motion and force that drives
the mechanical system. The input motion and force may be from any power source
including human effort, energy from the wind, water, heat etc., from a chemical
reaction or from an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic device. The process part of the
system is where mechanisms are used to convert the input motion and force into an
output motion and force and the output is the change created in the input motion and
force by the mechanism (the IIE, 2023). Most items rely on movement to function, for
example, in a pair of scissors, the blades must move together to cut. This movement
is known as a motion, and a product's motion might be hidden or obvious. A visible
motion is represented by scissors. Alternatively, while the movement of a sewing
machine needle is visible, the mechanism that moves it is hidden inside its
casing and is an example of hidden motion.
For products to move and give an output motion, a force or an input motion is
required. Squeezing the scissor handles provides the input motion, which pushes the
blades together, and the output motion is the blades cutting the material. Forces
don’t just push, they can twist or pull as well. These forces are measured in units and
are called Newtons (N) (Bezuidenhout, 2013). In the example of a push bike, input is
the force applied to the pedals by the cyclist’s feet, process is that the chain turns the
gear system, converting the energy produced to cause and output is that the wheels
turn and the bike moves. There are many different types of mechanical systems,
from Variable Air Volume (VAV) Rooftop Units to Boiler/Chiller Systems, Variant
Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems, Air-Source Heat Pumps and Ground Source Heat
Pumps and many more (Bulman, 2022). The purpose of these mechanical systems
is that they provide ventilation, reduce air infiltration, and maintain pressure
relationships between spaces. The design, installation, and control systems of these
functions are often integrated into one or more systems.
Mechanical advantages allows humans to perform tasks much easier in terms of the
force they need to apply, but must always obey the conservation of energy.
Mechanical advantage is a measure of the ratio of output force to input force in a
system, used to analyse the forces in simple machines like levers and pulleys
(Bulman, 2022). We have quite a few mechanical systems in our daily lives. One
examples would be a wrecking ball, a wrecking ball is a large round structure that is
used for the demolition of buildings. When the ball is held at a height, it contains
some amount of potential energy (stored energy) and as soon as it falls, it gains
some amount of kinetic energy too. When the wrecking ball hits the building to be
demolished, it applies the force (in the form of mechanical energy), which causes the
work to be done, as in this case, the demolition of buildings. Another common
example would be a windmill, Windmills are the structures that convert wind energy
into electrical energy and this energy is then supplied to our homes. But from where
does this energy in the wind comes and moves the large blades of a windmill?
Windmills run on the principle of mechanical energy and work. Moving air (wind)
possesses some amount of energy in the form of kinetic energy (due to motion). This
energy gives the air the ability to do work on the blades of the fan. The moving air
applies force on the blades and enables the work to be done, hence, resulting in
their rotation. Therefore, the mechanical energy gave wind the ability to do work on
the blades of the fan.
In conclusion Mechanical systems form a very important part of any building (Janis
2008). They are needed for heaters, fans, elevators and lifts and so much more. On
the other hand, mechanical system plays a great role in the provision of various
services. Mechanical systems are responsible for the running of elevators, lifts,
plumbing, heating, and air conditioners.

TASK 2
Part 1:
Investigate:
I am required to build a pulley system with a mechanical advantage to lift a heavy
load
Design:
Materials used:
 Wood
 2 pulleys from old disk drive
 Thin Wire as the rope
 Can cut to make container to load weight
 Straws
 Hammer
 Wood glue
 Ruler for measurement
 Pencil
 Hacksaw for cutting wood
 Nails
 Matching screws
 Bendable metal wire for hook

A rough draft of the sketch of the pulley system:

I am building a 2 pulley single rope pulley system, there are 2 pulleys. One pulley will
be fixed to the structure I made with the crit plank and the other pulley will be a
moving pulley that will be moving with the load. I will apply my rope running through
both pulleys making it a double pulley. As I pull, im applying the effort. My rope will
run from the fixed pulley to the moving pulley. There will be two sections of ropes,
one on the right hand side and one on the left hand side running through these two
pulleys. Since my rope pulley system has 2 pulleys it means that the mechanical
advantage will be equal to two. That means that when you apply 1 newton the
machine will multiply that 1 newton to 2 newton. So when your effort is 1N then the
machine will double your effort so to make work easier.
Firstly I cut the wood for the base, 39cm long and 20cm wide. Then I added a
vertical wood on the base that was 39cm and attached a horizontal wood on the
vertical one with a hammer and nail, I took the crit planks and added them to support
triangulation and to make the model stronger and steadier.
Once my base and poles were steady and strong I then proceeded to attach the crit
plank at the end of the pole facing vertically downwards, on that crit is the first pulley
and a matching screw where the string wire could be connected. On the sides of the
plank I broke a pen inner into two halve and stuck them on the sides of the plank
with super glue. I cut another plank where I stuck two straws on its sides and added
a second pulley and drilled a whole on the bottom of it to insert my hook on it. The
straws are supposed to go inside the holes of the pen inner when pulled
The vertical wood attached from the base has a nail half drilled in the middle where
the string rope will be pulled from.
The straws are for directing the pulley so that it moves in a linear position because it
swings, the straws will help avoid a swing action when the pulley is lifted.

I built the pulley model so that it may achieve a mechanical advantage in which was
a success.
The making of model:
The final pulley model
Link to the video of the pulley showing that it works properly:
https://www.facebook.com/100009234188611/posts/pfbid023GyPPmUu
weHArzb2S5d7Chziif8uuB6EpxgcjqJfP4TKK1tMqJR4V3QbeHxH2gl/?
app=fbl

Part 2
a) A how to video:
b) I would play this video through a projector in class for my grade 7’s only so
they can get a clear view and understanding of the pulley systems properties
and structure. I think it will help a lot since I can also send the students the
video so they can go and look at home and it may be a guide to them for
when they build their own pulley system. They will not only know the
properties of pulleys and mechanicals advantage in paper but this video will
put what I teach them from their textbooks to life.
Advantages of using videos on teaching practise for grade 7’s is that:
 The videos are easier to be accepted by students.
 They also stimulate class activities and engagement
 Videos also bring more information about the topic at hand.
 They integrate the outside world into the classroom
 Videos are also easy to understand.

As much as using videos have a lot of advantages they also have a share of their
disadvantages, below are a few:
 Videos are time consuming to set up, especially in the classroom, videos are
to be watched at home to avoid wasting class and curriculum time.
 If the videos are not fun and engaging, your students might not pay attention.
Some educational videos are just as dull as textbooks, so you have to make
sure you’re using the right ones if you want to keep your students engaged.
 Some videos might have issues with clarification of topics.

Task 3
Part 1
Material used to build the crane are:
  Matching screws
 Crit plank
 Wood flat surface
 Hacksaw
 Syringes x2
 Pipes
 Cable wires
 Can of coke cut in half as a load for loading weight.
I cut the base of the wood to 30cm long and 25cm wide, I the cut two crit planks one
10cm and the other 17cm

Part 2

TECHNOLOGY
2023
GRADE 7 MINI PAT ASSIGNMENT: HYDRULICS
TERM 2
MARKS 50

SECTION A: [25 MARKS]

QUESTIONS BASED ON A CRANE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
Figure 1.1: two plunges filled with water of a crane pushing device with load
1) Based on the image above name all the materials used to build the crane ( 8 )
2) What will happen to the crane when pressure is applied on the 1 st syringe? (2)
3) Will the crane move if the tubes were not filled with water? If not why? (3)
4) The bottle of water placed on the opposite side of the crane is used for what?
(2).
5) If the plunger on the base is pushed in 1cm, will the crane lift by 1cm or not?
See the figure above and explain your answer. (5)
6) In your own words explain what you thing a hydraulic pushing device is (5)

SECTION B: ( 25 )
Build your own crane using recycled materials, it must be able to move and lift
weight. Provide your design brief and a video clip with a link for your teacher to
watch you demonstrating the movement of your crane.

RUBRIC
SECTION A
MARKS 2 4 6 8 10
Q1 Student did Students Student Student
not list all listed only 4 only listed listed all
material materials 6 materials the
question materials
Q2 Student 0 marks 1 mark if
answered awarded for answer
the wrong was not
question amswer explained
correctly to detail
Q3 Student 3 marks for
gave the answer
answer but and correct
did not explanation
explain
Q4 Student 0 marks
understood student has
what the no idea what
use of the the bottle
bottle of works as
water was
for
Q5 Student did Student
not explained
understand with no
question profound
details
Q6 Student did Student has a
not explain sound
what the understandin
question g of hydraulic
insisted systems and
their
properties

SECTION B

marks criteria
10 The model is accurate and all properties
of hydraulic/pneumatic devices are
achied
5 The design brief is explained to detail,
with sound understanding.
5 Used a variety of natural recycled
materials for the project, the student
must go all out to build a the crane with
recycled materials
5 The model neat
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Department of Basic Education, Republic of South Africa. 2011. Natural
Science and Technology. Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement
Grade 4-6. Pretoria. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=IzbFrpzoQ44%3d
&tabid=572&portalid=0&mid=1568 [Accessed 10 June 2023].
 Department of Basic Education, Republic of South Africa. 2011. Natural
Science and Technology. Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement
Grade 7-9. Pretoria. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/CD/National%20Curriculum%20
Statements%20and%20Vocational/CAPS%20SP%20%20TECHNOLOGY
%20 GR%207-9.pdf?ver=2015-01-27-160218-077 (accessed 10 June 2023)
 Bezuidenhout, W., Bosh, D., Engelbrecht, R., Marchant, J., Scott., A. and
Volker, A. 2013. Solutions for all Natural Science and Technology. Grade 5.
Gauteng: Macmillan.
 Janis R (2008). Mechanical & Electrical Systems in Buildings (4th Ed). New
York: McGraw-Hill.
 Bulman, J. 2022. Types of Mechanical Systems. Neumann monsonn
architects. [Blog]. [Online]. Available at :
 https://neumannmonson.com/blog/types-mechanical-systems (accessed 10
June 2023).
