Back to School STEM Activity: Paper Hydraulic Lift Challenge (BTS20) | Middle School Physics Lab (Grades 6-8)

? BACK TO SCHOOL STEM ACTIVITY: PAPER HYDRAULIC LIFT CHALLENGE (BTS20)

2-Page Printable STEM Packet | Print-Ready PDF Format

Discover fluid power mechanics, Pascal's Principle, and mechanical advantage! The Paper Hydraulic Lift Challenge (BTS20) challenges middle school student teams to act as mechanical engineers, constructing a paper scissor-lift mechanism powered by a water-filled syringe hydraulic system to raise heavy payloads vertically.

Students explore Pascal's Principle, fluid incompressibility, scissor linkage mechanics, hydraulic displacement ratios, and force-distance trade-offs!

? WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS 2-PAGE PACKET?

• ? Page 1: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world fluid power engineering and heavy machinery scenario. Clear material constraints box (2 syringes, tubing, water, cardstock strips, brads, platform, payload weight, 10 cm lift goal). Dedicated Hydraulic Piston & Scissor Linkage Schematic sketching zone for planning master/slave syringe placements, fluid conduits, and pivot points.

• ? Page 2: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track fluid volume, vertical lift height in cm, and supported payload mass across 3 trial runs). Applied Math Connection (calculate mechanical piston displacement ratios: Input Distance / Output Lift Height). Physics reflection questions analyzing Pascal's Principle, fluid incompressibility, and force/distance trade-offs.

? CORE STEM SKILLS COVERED:

• Fluid Mechanics, Pascal's Principle & Incompressible Hydraulics

• Mechanical Linkages, Scissor Mechanisms & Force Transmission

• Data Logging, Metric Lift Measurements (cm), Mass Math (g), and Displacement Ratios

• System Troubleshooting and Fluid Power Calibration

? WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS RESOURCE:

• High-Impact Mechanical Physics Lab: Watching a paper scissor lift smoothly elevate a heavy payload with fluid power is an unforgettable classroom moment!

• Accessible Materials: Uses simple plastic syringes, clear tubing, water, cardstock, and metal paper fasteners.

• Clean 2-Page Layout: Keeps student schematics, displacement ratio math, and fluid physics reflections organized on a single front-and-back printable sheet.

• Format: High-resolution, print-ready PDF format (2 Pages).

Target Grades: 6th, 7th, 8th / Middle School

Subject Area: Physical Science, Physics, Fluid Mechanics, Hydraulic Engineering, Back to School Activities

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