A short presentation of my project "Pangaea - the world in motion" with which I won first price in the Duracell (about the competition) /  NSTA  science competition. Here is the News Release. And here are some pictures from the Events in Boston, Massachusetts, March 24-28, 1999!

How I started-

• I joined the science club ( Teachers, Mr. Davis and Mr. Carter in WMS)
• They encouraged us to enter the competition
• I got started on my project after looking at a poster in the class room
• I searched and found a lot of information on the Internet, and I knew something about the continental drift already
• I started to realize how to go on with my idea - a lot of hard work
  tools from my uncle Barry and then I had to investigate hardware stores around Frederick, as well as my uncle's garage

Pangaea, the world in motion ©, is a learning tool to help educate children of all ages. It visually illustrates the Pangaea theory in action. The theory states that at the end of the Paleozoic period the continents or landmasses of today were one, most of the continents and landmasses touched each other. The formation was located in the middle of what is today called the Atlantic Ocean. Pangaea is believed to have broken up due to a major upwelling of the mantle.

In my device the continents or landmasses of today are split up and moved by a motor, powered by batteries, into their new position according to the Pangaea theory. Then moved back, with a flip of the switch. Two "C" Duracell alkaline batteries power the motor, which pulls a large lever back and forth on the back of the model. A toggle switch and micro switches control this. A gearbox is used to reduce the motor’s speed to a level appropriate for viewing. The continents and landmasses are connected to this lever with strings, several of which go through pulleys. Rubber bands are used to pull the continents and landmasses back to their present day position. The lever also pulls the time line back and forth, helping the viewer to understand the actual speed of the movement.

This device gives children of all ages a hands on experience with the movement of the continents and landmasses. The spectator observes the dynamics of the Pangaea movement. The way the landmasses are painted together with their movement makes the experience both breathtaking and dramatic. My device shows the continents’ and landmasses’ movement, which makes it easy to understand the different stages of the formation and positioning of the continents.

The idea for my device originated from a poster in my science classroom. In the science club the members were given the Duracell competition as a project. I was looking around the classroom; there was a poster showing the elevations of the oceans that made me think of Pangaea. I first made a paper model to test my idea, and it worked, so I made the final copy in wood.

   
Here I am with the router and the scroll saw

During this project not only did I learn about the movement of magma and continental drift. I also acquired practical skills such as using a scroll saw, router, and drill. I also learned a lot about gear ratios, levers, serial electrical circuits, and much more.