The Launchball blocks

This list shows all of the blocks used within Launchball. The preset levels will usually only allow you a limited selection of blocks to use, however all the blocks are available to play with within the 'Create and Share' mode.

Icon	Name	About the block
	Square	This block is used in the structure of most of the games. You can bounce the ball off this block but it doesn’t conduct electricity or heat.
	Slope	This block is used in the structure of many of the games. You can roll the ball off this block but it doesn’t conduct electricity or heat.
	Curve	You can roll the ball off this block but it doesn’t conduct electricity or heat.
	Copper	This copper block conducts heat and electricity and can be used to transfer both to other components e.g. linking a battery to a fan or a heat source to a water tank and steam generator.
	Ice	Heat this ice block and it will turn into water. Place a water turbine underneath and you’ll produce electricity, which can be used to power other components. This block won’t conduct electricity.
	Bomb	As you might expect, this bomb will explode on impact from the ball. This results in an automatic Game Over.
	Rubber	This rubber block is really bouncy but it doesn’t add any energy to the ball and won’t conduct electricity or heat. The higher you drop the ball from, the higher it will bounce, but a little energy is lost each time.
	Compressed spring	This spring block gives the ball additional energy. Unlike the rubber block, if the ball continues to bounce on the spring it will go higher and higher.
	Seesaw	With this block you gain a second ball that you can catapult into the air by dropping the first ball on to one end. You choose position the new ball; the further from the centre you position it, the higher it is launched.
	Magnet	The ball will be attracted to this ordinary magnet, even through other blocks, but only if it is within its small magnetic field. The further away it is the weaker the attraction.
	Electromagnet	This is similar to the ordinary magnet except that it needs electricity to work. It is adjustable and can become seriously strong. Add a switch and it can be turned on and off.
	Cushion	This foam block absorbs energy and so will stop a ball from bouncing, but it won’t conduct electricity or heat.
	Treacle	This sticky block also absorbs the ball’s energy and can stop it in its tracks, but it won’t conduct electricity or heat.
	Battery	A simple way of powering electrical appliances such as the fan, conveyor belt and escalator. In games that limit these, students need to use more creative methods of generating electricity e.g. a melting ice cube and water turbine or a wind turbine and fan.
	Switch	Use in conjunction with a power source and appliance e.g. a fan or electromagnet. Bounce the ball off the switch to turn it on or off.
	Tesla coil	Use one of these blocks linked to a power source to spark electricity to other tesla coils in other parts of the game, allowing them to power other appliances.
	Conveyor belt	Connect this conveyor belt to an electricity supply to move the ball horizontally in either direction.
	Escalator	Connect this escalator to an electricity source to move the ball upwards.
	Gate	This gate needs to be connected to an electricity supply to open and allow the ball to pass through. Switch off the power to close the gate.
	Torch	This torch doesn’t need any additional electricity supply to work, and if it’s part of your toolkit you can choose its direction. Create electricity by pointing it at a solar cell.
	Mirror	This mirror block reflects on all three sides and can be rotated. Use it with the torch to reflect the light beam to the goal or solar cell (or just bounce the ball off it).
	Lens	This lens has an adjustable focal length and concentrates the light to produce heat. Try using it to melt an ice cube to power a water turbine and create electricity.
	Solar Cell	Direct or reflect a light beam from the torch at this block to produce electricity.
	Heat	This block conducts heat in all directions but it won’t conduct electricity. The heat can be used directly e.g. to boil water in the water tank to drive a steam generator, or can be transferred through the copper blocks.
	Fan	Attach this fan to an electricity source to blow the ball towards the goal. Alternatively put a wind turbine in its path to produce electricity.
	Wind turbine	Place this in the path of the fan to produce electricity to power other appliances.
	Water tank	Heat this water tank on any side to make steam that will drive a steam generator.
	Steam	Put this steam-powered generator above a heated water tank to produce electricity.
	Water turbine	Place this below a melting ice block to produce electricity.