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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering How a Car Works

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the four stroke process in internal combustion engines. In this physics lesson, students role play this process and present their reenactment in class. They draw and label the diagram of an internal combustion engine.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils research the causes and effects of air pollution. Using the internet, they examine the specific effects of carbon dioxide on the environment and discover the benefits of using solar power. In groups, they build a model of a...
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Activity
It's About Time

Cushioning Collisions (Computer Analysis)

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did you know the car bumper is specifically designed to save the car and not the passengers in case of an accident? Young scientists use a computer, a force probe, and a sonic ranger to experiment with external cushioning on cars. 
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Activity
It's About Time

Accidents

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Did you know that cars weren't designed for passenger safety until the 1960s? The lesson starts with a quick quiz on automobile safety. Then, scholars evaluate three cars for their safety features. This is the third in a set of nine...
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Activity
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Museum of Science

Balloon Racers

For Students K - 6th Standards
Watch those balloon cars go! Scholars build racers that run using the power of balloons and conduct races with the cars. They learn about Newton's third law of motion and how it applies to their balloon racers.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fuel Cell Experimentation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
With rising oil prices and increasing concerns over global warming, the pressure is on for engineers to develop alternative sources of energy. Among the new technologies being developed are hydrogen fuel cells, which young scientists...
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Activity
It's About Time

The Doppler Effect

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
In 1842, Christian Doppler proposed a theory relating the change of wavelengths based on motion. Young scholars observe the Doppler Effect on a small scale in a ball, on a larger scale from a car, and on the largest scale studying the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What? No Cars?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners consider a world in which cars are banned. They work together to develop a sketch of transportation alternatives. They share their ideas with the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Methods of Power- Hybrids

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students list the reasons why people chose hybrid cars over traditional cars. In this technology lesson, students create a poster describing how hybrid cars work. They discuss ways to save fuel and improve a car's efficiency.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

So You Want To Be A Mythbuster?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers recognize the parts used to construct a car.  In this mythbuster lesson, students will use the scientific method to complete an experiment with student constructed cars to bust a myth. Middle schoolers will reflect on...
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Activity
It's About Time

The Rear End Collision

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did you know one in every four car crashes are rear end collisions? The lesson explains what happens to your neck when you are involved in a rear end collision. Scholars experiment and apply Newton's Second Law of Motion. 
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Angular Speed Simulation

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Can you time the speed of your car perfectly so you only hit green lights? The challenge in the simulation is to alter the timing of the lights or the speed of the car in order to do just that. Scholars learn about angular speed as they...
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Lab Resource
US Department of Energy

Go Far Cars Ramp: A Basic Ramp with Four Height Settings

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Precise measurements make the job easier! One of the challenges when using an inclined plane for testing comes from pupils not using exact measurements. They often rely on books that slide or different ramp lengths when experimenting. By...
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Lesson Plan
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Purdue University

Bottle Racers

For Teachers 6th Standards
Bottle up pupils' energy to complete a great resource. Scholars design toy cars out of plastic water bottles. They consider different sources of energy to power the cars, such as rubber bands, balloons, and chemical reactions.
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Lab 2: Nanocatalysts Clean Your Car Emissions

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Surface area certainly surfaces as a variable for chemical reaction rates. Scholars perform an experiment to discover how the size of catalysts affect the rate of a chemical reaction. They record their results in tables and graphs to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ethanol

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Young scholars explore how to fuel cars with corn and then test different items to explore the process of fermentation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design and Race a Solar Car

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design, construct and evaluate a solar powered model car.  In this solar power instructional activity students compete in a "solar sprint" race once their car is created. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Air Car

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students, in groups, design and construct an air car capable of acceleration. They view a video on acceleration, test their cars and make adjustments as desired.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Describing the Motion of a Battery Powered Cars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore distance a toy car travels by changing the amount of batteries used to power the toy car.  In this force and motion lesson, students calculate the average speed of a car while investigating the power from various...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Powered Race Cars

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine Newton's Law of Motion and use the formula to calculate speed.  For this laws of motion lesson students create a balloon powered car and calculate its speed and distance. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Dymaxion Car

For Students 5th - 8th
In this motion worksheet, students read about the invention of the Dymaxion car that was designed to achieve high speeds. Students complete 2 short answer questions based on the reading.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Go-Car" Lab

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students construct a car based on directions given. In this physics lesson, students calculate average speed using distance and time information. They collect data and create a graph of distance vs. time.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton Car

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners demonstrate Newton's Second Law of Motion by showing the reaction of a rolling car by increasing its mass and propulsion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Car Wash

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine the most appropriate site for a car wash, based on each site's soil characteristics (chemical, physical) and topographic features. They perform an experiment to determine the changes to three different soil types when...

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