Power, Energy & Transportation

T&E

Curriculum

Course Title: Power, Energy & Transportation

Department: Technology & Engineering

Units of Study:

· The student will become familiar with the proper technology lab procedures, and the correct and safe use of materials and equipment.

· The student will be able to compare and contrast the terms power and energy and explain how they are interrelated yet different.

· The student will be able to describe and apply the problem solving/design loop.

· The student will be able to explain the importance of, and be able to develop, documentation of the problem-solving process.

· The student will be able to differentiate between the four categories of transportation systems.

· The student will be able to explain the different types and forms of energy and discuss the positive and negative aspects of each.

· The student will be able to explain the positive and negative aspects of producing energy.

· The student will be able to list various support and structural systems within transportation technology and explain the need for these systems.

Learning Activities

A. Marble Race (Simple Machines)

G. Hydro-Electric Dam

B. Mousetrap Car

H. Hydraulic Arm

C. Solar Car

I. Hydrodynamics (Boat Hull)

D. CO₂ Dragsters

J. Flight

E. Mag-Lev Vehicles

K. Rockets

F. Monster Trucks

L. Hovercrafts

Curriculum-Based Assessments: N/A

Standardized Assessments: N/A

Description of Course: In this hands-on, activity-based course in which tools and machines will be used to create potential solutions to problems, students will explore a variety of transportation systems and the power and energy systems associated with them. Students will use the "Technological Design Process" to master these concepts through various projects including, but not limited to, magnetic levitation trains, mouse trap cars, model rocketry, boat hull design, marble mazes, and CO2 dragsters. Students in this course will also gain skills and practical experience working safely with the basic tools and machines found in the materials lab. Transportation systems are used as a vehicle to explore different power and energy uses. Mechanical systems, hydraulic power systems, power generation and alternative fuels are examined in detail. In addition, science concepts such as Newton’s Third Law, mechanical advantage, force and work are examined and applied to solve everyday problems.