Rolling Vehicle Rationale

Context

As a requirement for my Science Methods course during Block II, I worked with a partner, Krystle Lowery, to design, construct and test a rolling vehicle that would be able to safely transport a family of 5 worms along with their bedding. My partner and I used CD's, posterboard, tape, hot glue, and dowel rods as tools for designing and constructing our rolling vehicle.  Once we had constructed our rolling vehicle, we used wooden ramps of various heights to test the distance, time, and speed of our vehicle.  Afterward, we used the data taken during the testing segment to construct graphs of the data.  Then we completed a report on the process that was involved with the designing, constructing, and testing of our vehicle.  We inserted both pictures and our graphs into this report.

Impact

As a future teacher, I will be able to use the knowledge gained within this experience to instruct and assist my own students with the construction of their own rolling vehicles.  By doing this activity, my students will learn how height effects speed, and how energy is transferred into other forms such as: from the car, into friction, sound, or impact. 

Alignment

I met standard 3, indicator 2 by using my knowledge of basic physical science concepts ,such as the measurements, analysis, and interpretation of data, the waves of sound, and the sources and forms of energy, to construct and test my rolling vehicle.