Paper Hydraulic Lift Physics STEM BTS20

Middle School Back to School Physics: 2-page STEM packet on Pascal’s principle, fluid power mechanics, scissor linkages, & displacement ratio math.

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 Is 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), and a 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 centimeters, and supported payload mass across 3 trial runs), Applied Math Connection (calculate mechanical piston displacement ratios: Input Distance / Output Lift Height), and physics reflection questions analyzing Pascal’s Principle, liquid incompressibility vs. air elasticity, scissor linkage geometry, 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.

Print-Ready: High-resolution, 2-page PDF format ready for instant printing.