Invented by Elisha Otis in 1852, elevators illustrate various interesting scientific principles. A model elevator science project can help students understand phenomena such as gravity, pulleys and counterweights. Also, elevators can illustrate Isaac Newton’s second law of motion. This law says that when a force acts on an object, it will accelerate.

Simple Box Elevator
A simple model elevator can be made using a long piece of string attached to a cardboard box sitting on top of a table. Cut a small hole in the middle of the box top and insert the string. The string should be tied in a knot on the inside of the box so that it does not come out of the hole. The string should be long enough so that you can lower and raise the elevator from the opposite side of the table. Cut two flaps off so that only two flaps remain, looking like elevator doors. One student should go to the other side of the table and hold the string while the other lowers the box off of the table. Students can take turns lowering and lifting the elevator. This project helps students understand the up an down movement of an elevator. Explain to the students that it takes more force to raise an elevator than to lower it, because gravity pulls things down.Escalator manufacture

An Elevator with Spindles
All Science Fair Projects describes the use of spindles and a counterweight to create a working elevator. Attach four spindles to the top of a piece of plywood using nails. Be sure to space the spindles evenly across the top and label them "a", "b", "c" and "d" from left to right. Attach two more spindles to the bottom of your plywood under the left two top spindles and label these "e" and "f" from left to right. There should be at least 3 feet of space between the top and bottom spindles. Tie one piece of string to the top and one to the bottom of a small cardboard box that will be your elevator car. The bottom string should loop around spindles "f", "e", "a" and "b" in that order. Attach that string to the top of the box. The other string should loop around "c" and "d" and the loose end should be tied to a counterweight that will hang on the right side of your plywood. Turning spindle "a" will make your elevator car go up and down. Counterweights are used to balance the weight in the box car so it can move up easily and won't fall to the ground.