Preparing Children Today for a World of Science Tomorrow!
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Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
Irvine, CA 92617
(949) 721-2222 office/(949) 721-2225 fax
Staff Contact Info
Students explore the physics of motion and to apply these concepts to technological design. Using plastic construction materials, weights, rubber bands, and propellers, students design and build vehicles. Students record their designs using technical two-view and three-view drawings. They test how fast the vehicles move and use their findings to redesign the vehicles to move more efficiently. Cost analysis is one of the students' design requirements. As students design their vehicles, they intuitively apply concepts such as friction and kinetic and potential energy. They also explore the effect of gravity on motion. The unit concludes by challenging students to solve a design challenge and to present their findings to the class.
©1997 STC
Subject: Properties and characteristics of motion,controlling variables
Preparing Children Today for a World of Science
Tomorrow!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arnold
and Mabel Beckman Foundation
Irvine, CA 92617
(949) 721-2222 office/(949) 721-2225 fax
Staff Contact Info