NEWTON SCOOTERS
Due date: January 8 and 9
WORTH 100 POINTS (One-fifth of your science grade)
PROBLEM: Build a vehicle that will travel a distance of 1.5 meters, within a 1 meter wide space using Newton's 3rd Law of Motion. In order to qualify as a "vehicle", there must be a compartment or area for a driver &/or passengers.
RULES:
- Vehicle must be teacher-approved before construction begins.
- Vehicle must move forward by pushing backward on the floor, another object or the air.
- Vehicle must be built from scrap materials. No pre-made vehicles or "kits" allowed.
- You cannot interfere with your vehicle once it leaves the starting line. You cannot give it a push as you launch it, and you cannot make adjustments after it is launched.
- You may not power your vehicle with a any form of electricity, fire, explosions, burning fuel or gravity.
- You may use a "track" to keep your vehicle within the 1 meter wide area. You must supply the track yourself, and can use pre-made parts, like toy car track, toy train track, or make your own.
- Your vehicle does not have to move on the ground. It may travel through the air. A string or fishing line stretched between 2 chairs could be used as an air "track."
- Your class presentation must include diagrams of your vehicle that illustrate the forces that act upon it. You should be able to explain any modifications that you made to your vehicle to improve its performance.
MATERIALS: Try to use recycled materials from home. You may also take parts from pre-made items, but you cannot use a pre-made vehicle or power source. Ideas include film cans, toilet or paper towel tubes, springs, balloons, straws, fishing line, empty cans or plastic bottles, spools, etc.
DUE DATES:
- List of materials you can use from home (by January 6)
- One sketch submitted for teacher approval (by Jan. 6)
- all forces added to 1 large, semi-final drawing, be able to explain all forces to class (by Jan. 6)
- primary construction of vehicle completed (not checked in class—should be done by December 31 so you can begin testing it)
- all improvements and modifications completed (not checked in class—should be done by Jan. 6)
- bring vehicle & support materials to class, give class presentation (January 8, 9)
GRADING:This is the grading rubric given to all students. Please help your student focus on important details, and not spend the majority of their time on one aspect of the project that will not be worth many points.
Planning 25 points possible
25 pts Student thoroughly considers the forces that would affect the vehicle. Sketch of the vehicle is useful and includes measurements.
15 pts Student adequately considers the forces that would affect the vehicle. Sketch of the vehicle is useful.
10 pts Student considers some of the forces that would affect the vehicle. Sketch of the vehicle is rough.
5 pts Student minimally considers the forces that would affect the vehicle. Sketch of the vehicle not made.
Vehicle Building 25 points possible
25 pts Student follows all Project Rules, and work shows evidence of having thoroughly tested and modified the vehicle.
15 pts Student follows most of the Project Rules, and work shows evidence of having adequately tested and modified the vehicle.
10 pts Student follows some of the Project Rules, and work shows evidence of having tested or modified the vehicle.
5 pts Student did not follow many of the Project Rules, and work shows little evidence of having tested or modified the vehicle.
Project Presentation50 points possible
50 pts Presentation is thorough and well organized. Student communicates all appropriate features of the vehicle.
35 pts Presentation is adequate. Student communicates most of the appropriate features of the vehicle.
20 pts Presentation is appropriate but is hard to follow. Student communicates some of the features of the vehicle.
10 pts Presentation is inappropriate and hard to follow. Student communicates a few features of the vehicle.