Technichal Specifications
How to use this exercise?
The model will be used to support students’ exploration of the physics laws of kinematics and dynamics.
Number of pieces of this exercise
9
General description
The model represents a toy car able to host a smartphone, which will be used as a device for collecting movement data (velocity, acceleration etc.). It is composed of 9 independent pieces. The larger one represents a model car frame. Then, the model needs 2 axes, 1 aileron composed by 2 pieces and 4 wheels. The model car frame must be printed in order to host a horizontal-positioned smartphone with 5.5 inches display.
Additional Material
Models used:
License Info
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
for any purpose, even commercially.
Under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Learning Specifications
How can the model be used in class?
The model will be used by the students to explore the physics laws of kinematics and dynamics. The smartphone inside the model will be used to collect the data about velocity and acceleration of the toy car, by mean of suitably applications installed on the phone (as “Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite”, for example).
(for further details see: http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2015/01/your-smartphone-can-do-physics.html)
The model car can be pushed by the students or let it go down an inclined plane at different angles. The model can be used to estimate the all the forces (propulsion, friction, gravity) acting on it.
What benefits can its use have?
The benefits are mostly related to the opportunity of a hands-on exploration of the physics laws governing the moving objects. The tactical sense, in addition to the optical one, and the practice of the different kinds of movement of the toy car will help the students to understand the difference between velocity and acceleration. The analysis of the data collected by the smartphone will foster student comprehension of the kinematics and dynamics concepts. In particular, the learners will have the opportunity to better understand the concept of inertia (by observing and quantifying the differences on velocity and acceleration due to the use of smartphones having different weight). The students also will use the model to estimate the gravity acceleration by analysing the data collected during the motion in the inclined plane. The data collected through the smartphone will be used to quantify the energy transformation and the amount of energy lost with friction. The process of data collection, making plots and analysis will improve student logical, mathematical and ICT skills.
Can it be used in other subjects?
Science, Mathematics and ICT (data analysis).