Project Information

Carolyn Chong
Grade Category: 7-9
Team Size: 1
Subject Area: Engineering
Project Type: Experimental
Language: English
Software Tools Used: Microsoft Excel, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft FrontPage
Hardware Tools Used: Digital Camera
Source of Idea: Back pain caused by walking to school with a backpack.

Last Updated: 05/02/2007

Project Summary

In today’s modern times, we see a backpack as an everyday necessity.  However, we underestimate the problems that this accessory can cause to our bodies. 

In this science project, the researcher will attempt to investigate the relationship between the positioning of the load in a backpack to the forces required to support and keep it stable. 

Where the load is positioned on our body, specifically, the back’s spine and shoulder, is discussed.  Experiments are designed and performed to see how much force is needed to bring our spine back to its neutral position once the spine is loaded with a weighted backpack.  To perform the experiments, a custom experimental apparatus called the Spine Simulator is designed and built.  As well, a custom backpack with variable compartments is designed in order to survey a sampling of individuals’ subjective evaluation of the load placements.

The study confirmed that the force to support the backpack is dependent on the  positioning of the load within the backpack; specifically the most force required to bring it back to neutral is when the load is furthest from the spine and highest in the backpack.  The force is the least when the load is closest to the spine and lowest in the backpack.  However, the real backpack experiment did not support this completely.  The findings led the researcher to suggesting novel design ideas of the next generation of backpacks.

Awards

April  2007: Canada Wide Science Fair Trip Award

April  2007: Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
Gold Merit Award
Investigative Science Award - First Place
Primary Fluid Systems Engineering Award - Second
Dofasco Creativity and Innovation Award
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Innovation Award

February 2007: HWCDSB System Science Fair 2004
Bishop Ryan High School
Hamilton, ON
Gold Merit Award