|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Have students build a "spaceship frame" out of of paper. The frame must be at least 40 cm tall and wide enough at the top to balance a selected weight. (The course textbook is a good choice, since all students should have a copy.) Give students 20 minutes to complete their frames. In testing, weigh the frame and record its cost. Charge students $10 million per sheet of paper and $100,000 per centimeter of tape used. Explain that those costs are fairly reasonable for material and labor charges of actual space craft. You may also compute the strength-to-weight ratio of the frames, (using the textbook weight as the strength and the frame weight as the weight).
Because this activity is so quick, it is particularly suited for redesign, and can be done two or even three times in the same class period. Calculate the average cost on each of the trials, and see how the class improves. Try to find a material limit. Discuss what separates a good frame from a bad one.
This activity requires little instructor time. Make sure to have enough paper and tape. If the class is large, consider the logistics of getting materials to all students or groups. You may want to cut the tape in advance. Be sure to have a clock, timer, or stopwatch to ensure that students do not go over the allowed time; a balance or kitchen scale for weighing the frames; and a small prize for the winning frame. Record the cost on a chalkboard or butcher paper, or, if the class is big, have the students fill out a card with their names in advance, and record the cost and collect the card when the frame is tested. Like most in-class activities, grades based on participation only are recommended.
This project is appropriate for the following variations (most are described in the section how to make design projects more meaningful):
|
introduction | in class projects | short term projects | long term projects | related sites |
|