Our Go Karts in Action!

2 Types of ENERGY...

Potential Energy - Energy that has NOT been used... YET! (Think of a wound up rubber band!)

Kinetic Energy - Energy that is used! (Think of letting the rubber band go!)

Go-Cart Vocab...

Design - Simply put, it's the way that something is put together!

Engineer - Someone that uses scientific knowledge to design useful things.

Words to come...

Axle - A rod that rotates. The hubs and wheels are attached to it.

Bearing - The axle rotates around the bearing.

Hub - Attached to the axle, it is an object to put a wheel on.

Traction - Grip that helps movement, so that the wheels to not slip!

Investigation 3 Begins! 

Today, student groups began the third (and final!) investigation of this unit. Their initial job is to create a go-cart that can freely roll down a ramp. They had the following materials to work with...

Students were required to act as engineers and create a design of their proposed go-carts before beginning construction...

Models and Designs Investigation 2 Comes to a Close...

We have just wrapped up our hum-dinger creation, as well as the doorbell challenge! During these investigations, groups had to work with a set of materials to replicate two working devices by creating physical models of them. For the hum-dinger creation, students did NOT initially get to see what the hum-dinger looked like. (It was hidden in a paper bag!) They only knew that when you pulled a string, it made a humming noise. When you let the string go, it made a dinging noise. Students had to use their knowledge of circuits and switches to make a working physical model. Then, our groups had to use the same knowledge and experience to construct a working doorbell!

         

Hum-Dinger Investigation Vocab...

Collaborate  - Sharing ideas to solve a problem together (Example: Asking members of other teams about their ideas for creating the Hum-Dinger)

Circuit - An unbroken flow of electricity (Example: Connecting both wires of the motor to the ends of the battery to make it run)

Switch - Breaks and connects the flow of electricity

Conceptual Model - A model that is made up of a drawing, words, or even math!

Example...

Physical Model - A 3D construction that can be observed using the senses

Example...