Transportation Activities
Kinetic Energy of Travel
Kinetic Energy of Travel
Students will be measuring their kinetic energy to get to school. This will be related to the movement of atoms.
Students will be measuring their kinetic energy to get to school. This will be related to the movement of atoms.
Dotson Kinetic Energy Worksheet - CJ Dotson.docxKinetic Energy of TravelSTEM Lesson Plan 6302020 - alfreda beasley.docxGraphing Speed and Acceleration
Graphing Speed and Acceleration
The scope of this lesson (activity) is to compare and contrast speed, velocity, and acceleration. In order to bring real world understanding of speed, velocity and acceleration, student will view several videos related to transportation and the jobs of that industry.
The scope of this lesson (activity) is to compare and contrast speed, velocity, and acceleration. In order to bring real world understanding of speed, velocity and acceleration, student will view several videos related to transportation and the jobs of that industry.
velocity-acceleration-lab-1q251fn (1) - alfreda beasley.pdfIt’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It's a Drone.
It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It's a Drone.
The purpose of this activity is to use drones to review trigonometry and to use that to introduce vector diagrams.
The purpose of this activity is to use drones to review trigonometry and to use that to introduce vector diagrams.
Drone-Intro - Maxine Dawson.pptxSTEM Activity - Maxine Dawson.docxSupplementary Angles in Car Accidents
Supplementary Angles in Car Accidents
Learn about the relationship between supplementary angles in car accidents as it is used by transportation engineers (ex: need for guard rails). Addresses transportation systems, infrastructure planning management, and regulation.
Learn about the relationship between supplementary angles in car accidents as it is used by transportation engineers (ex: need for guard rails). Addresses transportation systems, infrastructure planning management, and regulation.
Exploring Horizontal Curves in Railroad & Highway Design
Exploring Horizontal Curves in Railroad & Highway Design
Students will study horizontal curve design in railroads & highway design by exploring the importance of mathematical concepts when creating new roads and railways. Students will watch videos about civil engineering, basic highway design, and horizontal curve geometrics, then apply what they’ve learned to create new roadways or find missing information (length of a road or curvature) using high school mathematics.
Students will study horizontal curve design in railroads & highway design by exploring the importance of mathematical concepts when creating new roads and railways. Students will watch videos about civil engineering, basic highway design, and horizontal curve geometrics, then apply what they’ve learned to create new roadways or find missing information (length of a road or curvature) using high school mathematics.
The design process is simplified in contrast to actual roadway design, but hopefully, students will see the connection of algebra/ geometry skills and road design. This lesson is student-driven and the teacher should provide guidance and help if needed.
The design process is simplified in contrast to actual roadway design, but hopefully, students will see the connection of algebra/ geometry skills and road design. This lesson is student-driven and the teacher should provide guidance and help if needed.
This lesson is designed for students in Integrated Math III or Geometry that have mastered constructions and circle theorems.
This lesson is designed for students in Integrated Math III or Geometry that have mastered constructions and circle theorems.
Match the Graph: Using Vernier Motion Detectors to Model Technology Used in Traffic Enforcement
Match the Graph: Using Vernier Motion Detectors to Model Technology Used in Traffic Enforcement
This activity will introduce students to the similarities between Vernier motion detectors and the LiDAR guns used by law enforcement to catch speeding motorists. Students will then apply their understanding of how these detectors work to match a series of position-time and velocity-time graphs using their bodies and handheld detectors.
This activity will introduce students to the similarities between Vernier motion detectors and the LiDAR guns used by law enforcement to catch speeding motorists. Students will then apply their understanding of how these detectors work to match a series of position-time and velocity-time graphs using their bodies and handheld detectors.
Tire Size...What a “revolution”!
Tire Size...What a “revolution”!
In this activity students will be asked to determine the number of revolutions a tire makes per minute when traveling at a given speed. To calculate the number of revolutions, students will first need to determine the circumference of a tire, this can be done by taking students outside to measure or asking students to measure a tire at home prior to the day of the activity. Students will think about how changing the size of the tire affects the speed at which the car is traveling and the accuracy of the speedometer. During the activity, students will be required to convert between units using dimensional analysis.
In this activity students will be asked to determine the number of revolutions a tire makes per minute when traveling at a given speed. To calculate the number of revolutions, students will first need to determine the circumference of a tire, this can be done by taking students outside to measure or asking students to measure a tire at home prior to the day of the activity. Students will think about how changing the size of the tire affects the speed at which the car is traveling and the accuracy of the speedometer. During the activity, students will be required to convert between units using dimensional analysis.
This activity uses standards found within Bridge Math, but can be used with other grade levels and subject areas.
This activity uses standards found within Bridge Math, but can be used with other grade levels and subject areas.
Fuel-Conscious Car Salespeople: How does your car compare?
Fuel-Conscious Car Salespeople: How does your car compare?
With so many fuel options today, it’s not always easy to make a choice about what vehicle type to purchase. In this activity, students investigate cars that run on different types of fuels: gasoline, sunlight, ethanol, electricity, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, etc. Students work together in small teams to develop an initial sales pitch about a new model car that runs on a particular fuel type. The pitches will be given to the whole class in a presentation format, and individual students work to collect information about “the competition”. Then, students will update their pitches with information that compares their type of vehicle to other fuel vehicles. The purpose of this activity is to develop critical thinking skills, Internet research skills, chemical content knowledge, and communication skills of students in high school Chemistry II classes.
With so many fuel options today, it’s not always easy to make a choice about what vehicle type to purchase. In this activity, students investigate cars that run on different types of fuels: gasoline, sunlight, ethanol, electricity, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, etc. Students work together in small teams to develop an initial sales pitch about a new model car that runs on a particular fuel type. The pitches will be given to the whole class in a presentation format, and individual students work to collect information about “the competition”. Then, students will update their pitches with information that compares their type of vehicle to other fuel vehicles. The purpose of this activity is to develop critical thinking skills, Internet research skills, chemical content knowledge, and communication skills of students in high school Chemistry II classes.
Do You Speak Math?: Learning to Use the Language of Mathematics to Represent Real-World Situations
Do You Speak Math?: Learning to Use the Language of Mathematics to Represent Real-World Situations
This activity will guide students through modeling a real-world situations involving distance using equations.
This activity will guide students through modeling a real-world situations involving distance using equations.
Paper Fold to the Moon
Paper Fold to the Moon
When someone is asked how far and how long it would take to get to the moon, I am sure the automatic thought is that it depends on how fast rocket ships are. What if there was a way to transport to the moon through folding a single piece of paper? This activity gives students a hands-on chance to see how things grow exponentially..so much that it grows to 384,000 kilometers!
When someone is asked how far and how long it would take to get to the moon, I am sure the automatic thought is that it depends on how fast rocket ships are. What if there was a way to transport to the moon through folding a single piece of paper? This activity gives students a hands-on chance to see how things grow exponentially..so much that it grows to 384,000 kilometers!
Collisions, Momentum, & Math
Collisions, Momentum, & Math
In this activity, students simulate vehicle collisions using three different size balls and examine how the balls react when colliding with different surfaces. Students will learn how to calculate momentum, and understand the principle of conservation of momentum. This activity incorporates skills from Algebra 1 (or Integrated Math 1) and Physical Science.
In this activity, students simulate vehicle collisions using three different size balls and examine how the balls react when colliding with different surfaces. Students will learn how to calculate momentum, and understand the principle of conservation of momentum. This activity incorporates skills from Algebra 1 (or Integrated Math 1) and Physical Science.
Investigating Urban Trees
Investigating Urban Trees
There are many disturbances to the environment that are caused by transportation, this activity will investigate how trees could help with this issue. Trees provide ecological services, such as habitats for wildlife and food sources. Trees also remove common pollutants from the air, improving air quality. Trees also prevent erosion and cut down on the amount of runoff entering surrounding water sources. These are just a few ways the trees, especially in urban areas, can improve the surrounding environment. The purpose of this activity is to enhance internet research skills, develop critical thinking skills, and to get to students thinking about the different ways that technology and transportation affect the environment. This will be a research project and presentation.
There are many disturbances to the environment that are caused by transportation, this activity will investigate how trees could help with this issue. Trees provide ecological services, such as habitats for wildlife and food sources. Trees also remove common pollutants from the air, improving air quality. Trees also prevent erosion and cut down on the amount of runoff entering surrounding water sources. These are just a few ways the trees, especially in urban areas, can improve the surrounding environment. The purpose of this activity is to enhance internet research skills, develop critical thinking skills, and to get to students thinking about the different ways that technology and transportation affect the environment. This will be a research project and presentation.
Spaghetti Soapbox Derby
Spaghetti Soapbox Derby
Student pairs design, build and test model vehicles capable of rolling down a ramp and then coasting freely as far as possible. The challenge is to make the vehicles entirely out of dry pasta using only adhesive (such as hot glue) to hold the components together. Creativity is encouraged and different types of pasta are provided to support different functions such as round pasta for wheels and sheet pasta for the chassis. Students become familiar with the concepts of gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and rolling resistance. Teams follow the steps of the engineering design process as they design, test and redesign their small-sized vehicles, working within the project's material constraints.
Student pairs design, build and test model vehicles capable of rolling down a ramp and then coasting freely as far as possible. The challenge is to make the vehicles entirely out of dry pasta using only adhesive (such as hot glue) to hold the components together. Creativity is encouraged and different types of pasta are provided to support different functions such as round pasta for wheels and sheet pasta for the chassis. Students become familiar with the concepts of gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and rolling resistance. Teams follow the steps of the engineering design process as they design, test and redesign their small-sized vehicles, working within the project's material constraints.
Spaghetti Soapbox Derby - Bethany Stevens.docxucd_derby_activity1_prepost_quiz_v2_tedl - Bethany Stevens.pdfBiodiesel Preparation
Biodiesel Preparation
Biodiesel is a renewable diesel fuel which is made by a process called transesterification. This process involves combining a natural oil (such as cafeteria fryer oil) with an alcohol and a catalyst. Large batch (40 gal) mixers are available for purchase, and I have used one in our school greenhouse. But due to equipment limitations and safety concerns, this activity will involve only a mathematical calculation of alcohol amounts and a lab determination of catalyst amounts.
Biodiesel is a renewable diesel fuel which is made by a process called transesterification. This process involves combining a natural oil (such as cafeteria fryer oil) with an alcohol and a catalyst. Large batch (40 gal) mixers are available for purchase, and I have used one in our school greenhouse. But due to equipment limitations and safety concerns, this activity will involve only a mathematical calculation of alcohol amounts and a lab determination of catalyst amounts.
The purpose of this activity is to learn about biodiesel as a possible fuel source, to learn the chemistry behind its production, and to determine the amount of reactants needed to process 20 gallons of fryer oil.
The purpose of this activity is to learn about biodiesel as a possible fuel source, to learn the chemistry behind its production, and to determine the amount of reactants needed to process 20 gallons of fryer oil.
Engineering Car Crash Safety with Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Engineering Car Crash Safety with Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Combine Newton's third law of motion with engineering design in one fun lesson! Your students will learn about equal and opposite reaction forces as they design and build a bumper to protect a toy car during a crash.
Combine Newton's third law of motion with engineering design in one fun lesson! Your students will learn about equal and opposite reaction forces as they design and build a bumper to protect a toy car during a crash.
Copy of Copy of STEM in Motion Activity Template - Willa’s Funtime.pdfScienceBuddies-CarCrashSafety-worksheet - Willa’s Funtime.pdf