Curated OER
Stepper Motor
Students compare a stepper motor from a traditional motor. In this physics instructional activity, students summarize how it works. They build their own stepper motor and explore its uses.
Curated OER
Science: Building an Electric Motor
Learners build their own electric motors and use them to conduct experiments. Following a step-by-step procedure, they make wire coils by wrapping wire around disc magnets and complete the process with clay, paper clips, alligator clips,...
Curated OER
Swamp Thing
Students create a build-it-yourself boat that runs on two small electric motors. Swamp Thing has an electronic brain that can be controlled and steered with a flashlight.
Curated OER
Junior Solar Sprint Series: Gears and Drive Belts
Activate middle schoolers' minds with this physical science activity. Learners vary the diameter of gears and the number of teeth on them to find how energy output is affected. This writeup features well-developed background information...
Curated OER
Maglev Trains
Students explore how Maglev trains work. In this technology lesson, students discuss the pros and cons of Maglev compared to conventional trains. They build a simple Maglev train model.
Curated OER
How Gear Systems Work: A Research Project
Students apply information regarding simple machines along with the math concept "ratios." The teacher introduces the concept that technology is the application of scientific knowledge and mathematics concepts to solve a problem. This is...
Curated OER
The Fall of the Ruler
Students determine their reaction time using a ruler. In this Physics activity, students calculate the class' means and variances. They plot the graph and analyze if there are outliers.
Curated OER
Battery Depletion and Piecewise Linear Graphing
Students examine a recent flight of Pathfinder. In groups, they use the information to create a table of values showing the battery charge of the space machine. They predict what the charge would be further on in the mission. They use...