Gravity Games Prototyping Kit - North Carolina Science Festival

Transcription

PLANNING GUIDE
Gravity Games
Prototyping Kit
THIS GRAVITY GAMES PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE GENEROSITY OF GOOGLE AND THE TIDES FOUNDATION
ABOUT THE GAMES
The North Carolina Gravity Games is a soapbox derby-style competition
powered by Google and Appalachian State University, and is a Signature
Event of the North Carolina Science Festival, a multi-day celebration
highlighting the educational, cultural and financial impacts of science in our
state. The Games are held annually in Lenoir, NC and will be hosted on
April 25, 2015.
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is crucial
to preparing North Carolina students to lead in the next generation of
innovators. Today’s students will drive the world of tomorrow and in order to
do that, it is our job to make sure we continue to show that science can be fun
and exciting. The Gravity Games offer such an opportunity with educational,
hands-on experiences designed to get young people excited about science
and learning.
The Gravity Games are always looking for the best, brightest and speediest
engineering minds in the state. More than 30 teams of middle and high
school students have participated in past events. To encourage more
statewide participation, the Science Festival designed this program for
middle and high school students.
Your site is one of the 15 selected from across North Carolina to participate
in this program. Being part of the Gravity Games will create a memorable
educational experience and inspire a lifelong passion for science and
learning.
WELCOME
Greetings from the North Carolina Science Festival!
Welcome to the team! By participating in the North Carolina Gravity
Games, you are joining the North Carolina Science Festival in celebrating
and showcasing science across the state. We are delighted to have your
participation, and we are thrilled to see so many teachers deeply committed
to excellent science education. With your help, we will be able to reach
thousands of students and their families, from the mountains to the coast.
The goal of the Gravity Games is to inspire students to not only think
critically, but also creatively. Participating in the Games will challenge your
students to prototype, innovate and experiment with a gravity powered car.
Your students will develop a mastery of the key scientific concepts behind
their cars in a fun and exciting way, which will translate into success at the
Gravity Games on April 25.
We also want to make your life a little easier. Please make use of the
resources in this guide, and don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or
concerns.
Thank you for joining the North Carolina Science Festival in our mission to
engage public audiences in science and technology while inspiring future
generations. We’re glad to have you on board and look forward to cheering
your teams on at the Gravity Games!
Sincerely,
Jonathan Frederick
Director
North Carolina Science Festival
Marissa Hartzler
Statewide Programs Coordinator
North Carolina Science Festival
Gravity Games Planning Guide
North Carolina Science Festival presented by the Biogen Idec Foundation
1
CONTENTS
SECTION
Welcome
Contents
In the Kit
Timeline
Track Construction
Conducting Races
Car Construction
Experiments
Weight
Friction
Design
Full-Sized Car
Evaluation
Contact
Acknowledgements
2
Gravity Games Classroom Guide
PAGE
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
11
13
14
15
16
17
IN THE KIT
HERE’S WHAT YOUR KIT CONTAINS.
GO AHEAD, DIG IN!
• Planning Guide – the one that’s currently in your hands. This guide has
all the information you need to plan a successful and fun Gravity Games
experience.
• Materials for building model cars
• Lesson plans for experiments
• Promotional materials from the North Carolina Science Festival. Your
Gravity Games Prototyping program is an official Festival event, so be sure
to spread the word about all of the other great events that are part of the
Festival.
Please take the time to check through your box. If anything is missing, let us
know as soon as possible so we can send you a replacement.
Contact information is listed on page 16.
3
TIMELINE
HERE’S OUR SUGGESTED TIMELINE FOR MAKING
YOUR GRAVITY GAMES EXPERIENCE IS A SUCCESS!
PROTOTYPING
JANUARY 26
• All Prototyping Kits will be mailed out to participating teachers. When you
receive your kit, please make sure to inventory your box using the materials list
sent via email. If any materials are missing, contact us as soon as possible to get
replacements; contact information can be found on page 16.
• Construct a track. Suggestions for simple tracks can be found on 6.
• Begin working on prototypes! You may want to start simple, building the most
basic cars to get your students thinking about the physics principles, and then
build up to more creative cars.
JANUARY 28
• Join Festival staff and fellow participants for an overview of the program, and to
hear more about the prototyping process via Google Hangout.
• If you haven’t already, decide whether you want to participate in the kit or selfengineered division of the competition; more details can be found on page 14.
• Register your team on ncgravitygames.com.
BY MARCH 2
• Complete the experiments and design new types of cars; encourage your
students to think outside the box!
4
FULL-SIZED CAR
FEBRUARY 13
• Soap box derby car kits will arrive for all groups participating in the kit car
competition. When you receive your kits please make sure to inventory
your box. If any materials are missing, contact us as soon as possible to get
replacements; contact information can be found on page 16.
• Groups wanting to participate in the self-engineered competition should
contact us as soon as possible to discuss your stipend; contact information
can be found on page 16.
• Begin building your full-sized car!
FEBRUARY 18
• Join us for a Google Hangout to discuss car construction. Bring your
questions!
MARCH 18
• Join us for a Google Hangout for a final check-in and race day details.
BY MARCH 19
• Submit initial reimbursement paperwork, if you have not already. Festival
staff will contact you with more instructions.
APRIL 24
• All teams are welcome for a meet and greet reception the night before the
Gravity Games in Lenoir. Details to be announced.
APRIL 25
• Gravity Games race day in Lenoir!
APRIL 26
• Submit all final reimbursement paperwork; Festival staff will contact you
with more instructions.
• Complete evaluation; see page 15 for details.
5
TRACK CONSTRUCTION
GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR YOUR RACES!
• Track design is up to each group,
as you know your space best. Feel
free to design a track that works
for you, or use an existing structure
like an accessibility ramp. However,
it is important to remember and
emphasize that the track(s) must
remain the same throughout the
entire prototyping process. When
the track is constant, it allows
your students to see the results of
changing the independent variables.
• For an easy track that uses only a
few materials, try securing a piece of
sturdy cardboard, plywood or other
flat surface to a desk or table and
run it down to the floor at an angle,
taping that end to the floor. While
easy and inexpensive, the angle
where the track meets the ground will
impact the speed and direction of the
cars.
• A perfect track that we have tested
and highly recommend is made of lap
siding, found at your local hardware
superstore. Look specifically for
HardiePlank 8.25”x12’ beaded smooth
siding, which costs $8 per board.
The material is sturdy but flexible,
allowing for a bend in the track, while
also minimizing the gap at the end of
the track. It has the added challenge
of requiring students to engineer
cars that go straight down the track,
and cars that stay straight tend to
maintain higher speeds.
• For all tracks, pick a standard starting
point, from which all cars will be
released. You can also measure the
track from this point, for measuring
distance traveled. Adding a tape
measure, secured to the ground, will
aid in quick distance measurements
as well.
Tape
Table
Cardboard
Measuring
Stick
Tape
Table
Measuring
Stick
6
Siding
CONDUCTING RACES
HERE’S HOW TO GET YOUR STUDENTS RACING!
• The race process is also flexible, so
do what makes sense for your track
and time constraints.
• Two easy-to-measure dependent
variables include distance traveled
and time to finish line. For both
variables, it is important to
measure multiple runs, averaging
the results; each car should be
run ideally a minimum of 3 times.
However many runs you pick
should be the standard throughout
the prototyping process.
• To measure distance, add the
distance traveled to the length of
the track. Be sure to remind your
students to measure straight from
the front of the car to the tape
measure for the most accurate
results; an additional meter stick
can be helpful.
have students test their timing
skills, or designate a timekeeper
for all races to keep measurements
similar. While more challenging
than measuring distance,
optimizing the speed of a prototype
yields important lessons for race
day!
• Have your students brainstorm
other dependent variables to
measure - what is important to
making a winning car, and how is it
measured?
• Depending on your track, try
racing each car individually or if
you have a double track, try your
own March Madness tournament,
racing pairs until you have a
winning car.
• To measure time, use stopwatches
or smart phones. Manually
measuring time can be tricky, so
7
CAR CONSTRUCTION
TIME
INTRODUCTION
30-50 minutes
The materials provided in your kit will build
very basic cars, but even these prototypes
obey the same laws of physics as the fullsized car for the Gravity Games.
BIG IDEA
Students will create an initial prototype of
their car and take it for test runs down the
track.
ITEMS YOU PROVIDE
Each car will be powered only by gravity
and cannot use any outside propulsive
forces, including a push at the starting line.
Instead, they will rely on the gravitational
potential energy created by the car’s
elevated position on the track. This energy
is stored until the car is released, at which
point it is converted to the energy of motion,
kinetic energy.
• Race track
CONSTRUCTION
• Screwdrivers
Students can design on their own or in
teams. For their initial car, construction
should be basic: determine where on the
body the wheels should be positioned, and
mark with a pencil. Place a wheel on one
screw. Using the screwdriver, carefully screw
axle into the foam, keeping as centered
as possible to prevent piercing the foam.
Repeat for the three remaining axles and
wheels.
MATERIALS
• Foam blocks
• Wheels
• Screws
• Pencils
Allow time for a few races down the track,
measuring distance and/or time. Teams
should find that each car is similar, but allow
time to brainstorm why there are slight
differences in results and how to improve on
the overall design to maximize conversion
of potential into kinetic energy.
8
EXPERIMENT: WEIGHT
TIME
EXPERIMENTS
30-50 minutes
Does weight matter?
BIG IDEA
Allow students to experiment with the
addition of weight by attaching washers to
the body of the car. Tape is provided, but
care should be taken when removing weights
so as to not damage the body of the car.
Your students can brainstorm other ways of
affixing weight to their cars as well.
Students will add weight to their base cars to
determine how it affects performance.
MATERIALS
• Designed prototype cars
• Washers
• Tape
ITEMS YOU PROVIDE
• Scale
• Markers
• Rulers
Each car should be weighed on the scale
without any washers; this is the baseline.
Next, add a washer to any point on the car
and weigh; record the new weight. Do 2-3 test
runs down the track, recording the distance
for each run. Add another washer to the same
spot and re-weigh; repeat the track runs.
• Graph paper or computers
After a few additions, have your students
average the test and then plot weight versus
distance and weight versus time. How did
weight impact the car?
INTRODUCTION
Does position matter?
Adding weight to the prototype is one of the
easiest ways to dramatically improve the car,
but the placement depends on your goal.
If you want a stable car that drives straight
down the track, weight in the front is critical,
but it will sacrifice speed. By adding more
weight to the back, students are increasing
the car’s potential energy, but it could
decrease stability. This is an important race
day trade-off to consider!
Students should mark their car bodies at
2 inch intervals using rulers and markers.
Next, weigh the car and record as the starting
point.
• Race track
IF THEY LOVE IT
Challenge students to design a way to
maximize potential energy at the start, while
also shifting the weight to front during the
run. This change in weight distribution can
have big results during the race. Is there
strategy to be learned for the soap box derby
car?
Starting at one end, add two weights and run
2-3 tests down the track; record the distances
and times and average. Carefully remove the
weights and place them on the second test
location, repeating the race procedure.
After students have completed tests at each
of the weight locations, have them examine
their data: how did the cars’ performance
change?
9
EXPERIMENT: WEIGHT
1. Hypothesis: Will weight affect prototype performance? How?
2. Does weight matter? Pick one spot on your car to add weight - anywhere you think it might
help. Incrementally add weight, weighing and testing each. Record your data below and plot the
relationship between weight and distance, and weight and time.
WEIGHT
TEST 1
TEST 2
TEST 3
AVERAGE
CONTROL
WEIGHT:
1 WASHER
WEIGHT:
2 WASHERS
WEIGHT:
3 WASHERS
WEIGHT:
3. Does location matter? Mark your car at 2 inch intervals. Attach 2 weights to each position, testing
after each addition. Record your data below and examine: is there a better spot to add weight?
POSITION
TEST 1
TEST 2
CONTROL
2” FROM FRONT
4”
6”
8”
10”
10
TEST 3
AVERAGE
EXPERIMENT: FRICTION
TIME
EXPERIMENTS
30 minutes
ITEMS YOU PROVIDE
Begin with a discussion of the potential
energy equation - each time students were
racing their cars, there was another force
at play: friction, potential energy loss as
dissipated heat. Ask your students how
friction impacts the performance of their
cars, and where potential sources of friction
are found on their prototypes. The friction
is found where the wheel spins on the
axle. This axle design is the same on the
full-sized cars, so understanding ways of
reducing friction will be important for race
day.
• Race track
Smooth axles
• Graph paper or computers
Distribute 4 nails to each group to replace
their original screw axles. Using the
screwdriver, carefully unscrew the existing
axle. By using the same hole, students are
able to directly compare axle styles. Thread
each wheel onto a nail and then insert into
the foam. After swapping all 4, complete 2-3
test runs, averaging at the end.
BIG IDEA
Students will experiment with methods of
reducing friction on the wheels of their cars.
MATERIALS
• Nails
• Graphite
INTRODUCTION
Reducing friction is also an important tool
for improving car performance. Which
is better, a smooth, sanded surface or
lubricating? Both! Reducing friction allows
more of the potential energy to be converted
to kinetic energy, thereby making faster
cars.
IF THEY LOVE IT
While these axles are already smooth, you
could use rougher, galvanized nails. Allow
students to test nails as-is, and then sand to
a smoother surface. To do so, cut fine grit
sandpaper into long strips. Place the nail
point side down in a cordless drill; tighten
and hold the sandpaper against the nail.
When you turn on the drill, it will easily
sand the surface.
Or, test out different axle lubricants. There
are many on the market that claim to be
best. You can also try household products
like WD-40 or oil. Just remember to clean
the axle after each test!
Compare distance and time results to that
from the initial runs with the screw axles.
Did the smooth axles make a difference?
Graphite
Using the graphite tube, puff a small
amount to the axle near the head of the nail.
Take care to avoid applying near the end of
the axle in contact with the car body, as it
could make the axle fall out during the race!
After applying to all 4 axles, complete 2-3
test runs, averaging at the end.
How did graphite improve results? Would
graphite improve the screw axles?
11
EXPERIMENT: FRICTION
1. Define friction:
2. Hypothesize how sanding may impact friction.
Replace each screw axle with a nail; complete test runs, recording results below.
TREATMENT
TEST 1
TEST 2
TEST 3
AVERAGE
CONTROL
SCREW AXLES
NAIL AXLES
How did the new axles compare?
3. Hypothesize how graphite may impact friction.
Apply a small amount of graphite to the axle near the head of the nail. Replace in car and complete
test runs, recording results below.
TREATMENT
TEST 1
TEST 2
TEST 3
GRAPHITE
What effect, if any, did the graphite have to your car’s performance?
12
AVERAGE
EXPERIMENT: DESIGN
TIME
INTRODUCTION
50 minutes
Everyone wants a car that performs well and
looks good at the same time! This activity
highlights form versus function.
BIG IDEA
Students will take their prototypes to the
next level with new designs.
MATERIALS
ITEMS YOU PROVIDE
• Race track
• Paper or computers
• Embellishments for the cars like paint and
brushes, markers, stickers, etc.
• Additional wood, foam or cardboard
• Carving tools like X-acto knives
• Any other recycled materials you or your
students would like to incorporate into the
design
DESIGN
Students should first brainstorm the
features that they need on their cars such
as a place for a driver to sit, or features that
they want on their car, like a different body
styles or spoilers. Using paper or computer
software, have students sketch their new
design and hypothesize how it will affect
their car’s results.
EXPERIMENT
Once designs are completed, students can
begin making changes to the design. After
each alteration, they should test their car on
the ramp to see how their changes affected
the distance and speed of their cars.
13
FULL-SIZED CAR
MORE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR RACE DAY CAR
Once your students have mastered the concepts behind their prototypes, it is
time to begin thinking about their race day car! The Gravity Games has a few
divisions available for participants, and everyone will compete in one of two
categories:
KIT DIVISION
The Gravity Games official kit car is the All-American Soap Box Derby car,
and participants selecting this option will be given all the supplies to build
this stock car. Typically, assembly take one 6 to 8 hour session, with testing
and tinkering taking an additional 4 hours. Your students can adjust the
wheels, figure out the best weight strategy and decorate the car. Instructions
come with the car kits, and Festival staff will provide support via Google
Hangouts.
ENGINEERED DIVISION
You can also design your own car from scratch, receiving funds for
supplies through the Festival. While this can be a bigger commitment, the
learning possibilities for your students are much greater with this option.
Past entrants have been very creative; encourage your students to design
whimsical, yet aerodynamic designs. Festival staff will be able to provide
some technical support via phone or Google Hangouts.
14
EVALUATION
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK. HERE’S WHAT WE’RE
ASKING YOU TO DO.
WHY
The North Carolina Science Festival is committed to growing and improving
each year. To that end, we are evaluating several initiatives, including the
Gravity Games Prototyping Kit. We will use the results to help guide our
future planning.
WHAT
After your Prototyping lesson, we will ask you to fill out an online survey
evaluating the materials and your experience.
WHEN
Please complete your online survey after the races. We hope to have all
surveys completed by May 1, 2015.
15
CONTACT
QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? SUGGESTIONS? VISIT THE
WEBSITE OR CALL US! WE WANT TO HELP.
WEBSITE
The North Carolina Science Festival website has everything you need.
Visit www.ncsciencefestival.org/k-12-activities to find the following:
• Downloadable PDF’s of the Planning Guide and Experiments
• Links to other handy resources
CONTACT
If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the website, give us a shout!
Marissa Hartzler
Statewide Programs Coordinator
[email protected]
919-962-3274
Jonathan Frederick
Director
[email protected]
919-843-8329
16
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The North Carolina Science Festival team gratefully acknowledges the
contributions of the following organizations and individuals for their
invaluable assistance in developing the Gravity Games Prototyping Kit.
• Appalachian State University Physics Department
• Dr. Duane Deardorff, UNC Physics Department
• Erik MacIntosh, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
• Dr. Fran Nolan, Spartina Consulting Group, LLC
• Dr. Keron Subero, UNC Physics Department
17
April 10–April 26, 2015
The North Carolina Science Festival is made possible by
the generous support of its sponsors.
Sponsors as of Jan. 23, 2015
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Google
BRONZE SPONSORS
BioNetwork • Cree • FedEx • UNC Health Care • UNC Nutrition Research Institute
SUPPORTER
North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives
Proudly produced by
© 2013, 2014 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to duplicate for educational purposes only.

Gravity Games Prototyping Kit - North Carolina Science Festival

Transcription

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