Mechanical energy is the most easily understood form of energy for students. …
Mechanical energy is the most easily understood form of energy for students. When there is mechanical energy involved, something moves. Mechanical energy is a very important concept to understand. Engineers need to know what happens when something heavy falls from a long distance changing its potential energy into kinetic energy. Automotive engineers need to know what happens when cars crash into each other, and why they can do so much damage, even at low speeds! Our knowledge of mechanical energy is used to help design things like bridges, engines, cars, tools, parachutes, and even buildings! In this lesson, students will learn how the conservation of energy applies to impact situations such as a car crash or a falling object.
This lesson covers the topic of muscles. Students learn about the three …
This lesson covers the topic of muscles. Students learn about the three different types of muscles in the human body and the effects of microgravity on muscles. Students also learn how astronauts need to exercise in order to lessen muscle atrophy in space. Students discover what types of equipment engineers design to help the astronauts exercise while in space.
This activity helps students understand the significance of programming and also how …
This activity helps students understand the significance of programming and also how the LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robot's sensors assist its movement and make programming easier. Students compare human senses to robot sensors, describing similarities and differences.
In a class demonstration, students observe a simple water cycle model to …
In a class demonstration, students observe a simple water cycle model to better understand its role in pollutant transport. This activity shows one way in which pollution is affected by the water cycle; it simulates a point source of pollution in a lake and the resulting environmental consequences.
Students are introduced to the parameters of an engineering challenge in which …
Students are introduced to the parameters of an engineering challenge in which their principal has asked them to devise an invisible security system to cost-effectively protect a treasured mummified troll, while still allowing for visitor viewing during the day. Students generate ideas for solving the grand challenge, first independently, then in small groups, and finally, compiled as a class.
This activity helps students learn about the three different types of muscles …
This activity helps students learn about the three different types of muscles and how outer space affects astronauts' muscles. They will discover how important it is for astronauts to get adequate exercise both on Earth and in outer space. Also, through the design of their own microgravity exercise machine, students learn about the exercise machines that engineers design specifically for astronaut use.
Students are introduced to the field of biomechanics and how the muscular …
Students are introduced to the field of biomechanics and how the muscular system produces human movement. They learn the importance of the muscular system in our daily lives, why it is important to be able to repair muscular system injuries and how engineering can help.
Students' understanding of how robotic touch sensors work is reinforced through a …
Students' understanding of how robotic touch sensors work is reinforced through a hands-on design challenge involving LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT intelligent bricks, motors and touch sensors. They learn programming skills and logic design in parallel as they program robot computers to play sounds and rotate a wheel when a touch sensor is pressed, and then produce different responses if a different touch sensor is activated. Students see first-hand how robots can take input from sensors and use it to make decisions to move as programmed, including simultaneously moving a motor and playing music. A PowerPoint® presentation and pre/post quizzes are provided.
Students are introduced to various types of hearing impairments and the types …
Students are introduced to various types of hearing impairments and the types of biomedical devices that engineers have designed to aid people with this physical disability.
Students are introduced to the futuristic concept of the moon as a …
Students are introduced to the futuristic concept of the moon as a place people can inhabit. They brainstorm what people would need to live on the moon and then design a fantastic Moon colony and decide how to power it. Students use the engineering design process, which includes researching various types of energy sources and evaluating which would be best for their moon colonies.
NASA eClips is an incredible resource for educators, designed to increase STEM …
NASA eClips is an incredible resource for educators, designed to increase STEM literacy through the lens of NASA. Here’s what you’ll find on this platform:
Grade-Level Segmentation: Grades 3-5 (Our World): Explore videos that supplement elementary learning objectives in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, reading, writing, and visual and performing arts. Grades 6-8 (Real World): Connect classroom mathematics to 21st-century careers and innovations. These videos foster an appreciation for math through real-world problem-solving. Grades 9-12 (Launchpad): Support project-based and problem-based learning experiences in science, mathematics, and career and technical education classrooms. Spotlite Student Productions: These videos address common science misconceptions and are paired with interactive lessons and expert interviews, providing real-world connections. Educator Guides: Integrate video segments into formal and informal educational settings. Spotlite Design Challenge: Guides student teams through producing videos that confront and disprove science misconceptions. Ask SME (Subject Matter Expert) videos broaden learners’ perspectives about STEM careers. Learning Resources: Implement best practices in the classroom and learning environment. Bringing STEM alive through NASA real-world connections.
On Sept. 23, 2008, three leading experts from academia and industry hosted …
On Sept. 23, 2008, three leading experts from academia and industry hosted a panel discussion at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to highlight how far researchers have come, and how far they still need to go, to bring plant-derived gasoline to market. This is the webcast of the green gasoline briefing.
NSF and Dr. Subra Suresh welcome two ambassadors to a workshop for …
NSF and Dr. Subra Suresh welcome two ambassadors to a workshop for NSF RAPID grantees. Remarks from the ambassadors of New Zealand and Japan will open the Feb. 9 -10 NSF workshop on investigations concerning the recent earthquakes and ensuing tsunamis that deeply affected their countries.
This activity helps students understand how a motor in a LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) …
This activity helps students understand how a motor in a LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robot uses electricity produced by the battery to move a robot to do useful work in the form of throwing a ball. Students relate the concepts of electricity and battery to the movement of the LEGO NXT motor and connected links.
Student pairs experience the iterative engineering design process as they design, build, …
Student pairs experience the iterative engineering design process as they design, build, test and improve catching devices to prevent a "naked" egg from breaking when dropped from increasing heights. To support their design work, they learn about materials properties, energy types and conservation of energy. Acting as engineering teams, during the activity and competition they are responsible for design and construction planning within project constraints, including making engineering modifications for improvement. They carefully consider material choices to balance potentially competing requirements (such as impact-absorbing and low-cost) in the design of their prototypes. They also experience a real-world transfer of energy as the elevated egg's gravitational potential energy turns into kinetic energy as it falls and further dissipates into other forms upon impact. Pre- and post-activity assessments and a scoring rubric are provided. The activity scales up to district or regional egg drop competition scale. As an alternative to a ladder, detailed instructions are provided for creating a 10-foot-tall egg dropper rig.
Given an assortment of unknown metals to identify, student pairs consider what …
Given an assortment of unknown metals to identify, student pairs consider what unique intrinsic (aka intensive) metal properties (such as density, viscosity, boiling or melting point) could be tested. For the provided activity materials (copper, aluminum, zinc, iron or brass), density is the only property that can be measured so groups experimentally determine the density of the "mystery" metal objects. They devise an experimental procedure to measure mass and volume in order to calculate density. They calculate average density of all the pieces (also via the graphing method if computer tools area available). Then students analyze their own data compared to class data and perform error analysis. Through this inquiry-based activity, students design their own experiments, thus experiencing scientific investigation and experimentation first hand. A provided PowerPoint(TM) file and information sheet helps to introduce the five metals, including information on their history, properties and uses.
These are companion exercises for two lectures offering practical guides to the …
These are companion exercises for two lectures offering practical guides to the use of a general device simulator (PROPHET) available on nanoHUB.org. PROPHET is a partial differential equation (PDE) solver that offers users the flexibility of integrating new models and equations for their nano-device simulations. The first lecture covers the basics of PROPHET, including the set-up of simulation structures and parameters based on pre-defined PDE systems. The second lecture uses examples to illustrate how to build user-defined PDE systems in PROPHET. Exercise problems: 1-D Poisson Equation and 2-D Poisson Equation
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