Alternative Projects
Stable/Unstable Structure
Design and build an interesting, unstable structure from foam-board, cardboard, K'NEX, Tinker Toys, etc. (Hint: roofing nails and pushpins work well as pin connections for foam/cardboard bars; a cardboard box can be used as the ground) Also figure out an interesting way to make it stable (by adding another bar?). You do not have to show any calculations. The goal is simply to create an interesting structure and show the sometimes subtle difference between a stable and unstable structure.
An example of modeling planar mechanisms from cardboard can be found here.
Photograph your model in its unstable and stable forms, and place the photographs in the group's wiki along with a short explanation. Also, bring the model to the lab period in which the assignment is due and demonstrate it to the rest of your classmates.
Jumping on the Bed