The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Electric Car/Rover

Electric Car/Rover

A 6-8 grade STEM lesson

Part 2

Steven Booher

12/20/23

Notes for teachers

Context: This lesson takes place in a classroom for two or three hours.

Review electric circuits.

Review Newton’s three laws of motion.

Students should work in groups of 2-3 students.

If using white glue this will take 2-3 days.

If using hot glue guns it will take 1-2 days.

If you buy motors without wires you will need to also buy and solder the wires to them

You can reuse most of the supplies.

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List of Materials

Note the car built for rubber band car can be reused for this lesson.

• Craft sticks 15 per group
• Craft ½ “cubes with holes 4 per group
• Wheels 4 per group
• Metal 2mm x 10cm axle 2 per group
• .7” white silicone bands 2 per group (put on drive wheels for traction)
• Elmers glue or hot glue guns
• 3 volt electric motor & wires if needed
• AA battery holder
• 2mm 8 tooth gear
• 2mm 50 tooth gear
• on/off switch

Supplies from Amazon

• Wood blocks for axles to go through
• Craft sticks for car frame
• Small silicone bands for wheel traction
• Wheels and axles
• Motors

Arizona Science Standards

8.P3:P4:U1 Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.

P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.

8.P4U2.5 Develop a solution to increase efficiency when transferring energy from one source to another.

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MC-ETS1 Engineering Design Standards

ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution

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Science and Engineering Practices

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• ask questions and define problems
• develop and use models
• plan and carry out investigations
• analyze and interpret data
• use mathematical and computational thinking
• construct explanations and design solutions
• engage in argument from evidence
• obtain, evaluate and communicate information
• iteration: use the results to make new hypothesis or predictions

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Objectives:

Today we will explain how stored chemical energy (battery) can be used as a force to cause movement.

Today we will collaborate and communicate effectively with our peers to complete an engineering design challenge.

Today students will be able to design and engineer a electric powered car/rover.

Agenda

Science

What are Newton’s three laws of motion?

What is stored electric energy?

Share design and present how fast and far the car can drive.

Engineering

Design and build an electric car.

Test and evaluate the car and see if improvements can be made.

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Can an electric car be more efficient that a rubber band car.

How can adding gears change the speed and torque (power) of the electric car.

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Students should work in groups of 2 or 3.
• Start the class by reviewing Newton's laws of motion and circuits focusing on stored chemical energy.
• Tell the students what materials they can use and explain the design constraints.
• Have students brainstorm design ideas.
• After the students have had time to draw a sketch of their ideas pass out the supplies.
• Walk around the class to keep students on task.
• Have students test, evaluate, and make improvements as needed. (Iteration)

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Assessment

Test the electric powered car

• Did the design stay within the constraints?
• Did the electric car travel further and faster than the rubber band car?
• If yes how far did the car travel?

Differentiation

One way to differentiate in this lesson is to provide a few pictures or youtube videos of rubber band cars.

Another way to differentiate in this lesson is to team up higher level students with lower level students.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Can the car be redesigned to improve its performance?

If so how? Draw some ideas.

What else could be used to power the car?

write down a list of ideas.