Wheels Laboratory
Names: __________________________________________________________________
Date: ____________
About this Laboratory
In this laboratory, you will explore how the diameter of a wheel and its number of rotations
affect the linear distance it travels. First you are asked to do an initial hands-on activity in the
pre-laboratory to get a feel for what you will see in the applet. Then you will use technology to
assist with further discoveries. Note that numbers given in the applet are approximations.
******************************************************************************
I.
Complete the Wheels Pre-laboratory sheet.
II.
Using the Wheels Applet
!
!
Notice that in the applet the radio button is selected to show one wheel.
The slider bar under Diameter can be pulled to give a diameter between 20 units and 100
units inclusive.
Point to the horizontal slider bar under Diameter and then hold down the left mouse
button to drag the diameter to 100 units.
Point to the horizontal slider bar under the wheel and then hold down the left mouse
button to drag the wheel one complete revolution.
Record the distance traveled by a wheel with a diameter of 100 units in one revolution
into the given table.
By changing the values in the applet, fill in the distance values for wheels of diameter of
50 units and 25 units.
Find a pattern that will help you to determine the distance value for a wheel with a
diameter of 12.5 units.
!
!
!
!
!
Diameter
in units
Distance
in units
100
50
25
12.5
WV Robotics Project:
Wheels Laboratory Sheet Pyzdrowski, 9/27/2010 -1
!
Describe the process you used to find the distance value for a wheel with a diameter of
12.5 units in the table.
!
Use the applet to fill in the following table for wheels with diameters of 99 units, 66 units
and 33 units. Then find a pattern that will allow you to fill in the missing value for
diameter.
Diameter
in units
Distance
in units
414.6904
99
66
33
!
Describe the process you used to find the diameter value for a wheel that travels 414.69
units in one revolution.
!
The linear distance that a wheel travels in one revolution is equal to the
of the
wheel. (Hint: Think about the parts of a circle.)
Fill in an equation that relates the Circumference and Diameter of a Circle.
Fill in the following table using an equation. Then find an algebraic expression to allow
you to determine a missing number in either column. (You can use the applet to check
your first three solutions.
!
!
Diameter
in units
Distance
in units
60
80
100
120
d
C
WV Robotics Project:
Wheels Laboratory Sheet Pyzdrowski, 9/27/2010 -2
!
If a wheel with a diameter of 100 units makes two revolutions along a surface, what
would be the distance traveled? Explain your solution. Give your solution in both an
exact and approximated form.
!
If a wheel with a diameter of 20 units needs to travel approximately 314.2 units along a
surface, approximately how many revolutions must it make? Explain your solution.
!
Select the Radio Button for 2 Wheels in the applet.
!
Use the applet to find the diameter for each of two wheels so that if each wheel is rolled
for one revolution along a surface, the larger wheel travels four times as far as the smaller
wheel.
Diameter
larger
wheel
in units
!
Distance
larger
wheel
in units
Diameter
smaller
wheel
in units
Distance
smaller
wheel
in units
Using the applet, find two more examples so that the larger wheel travels four times as
far as the smaller wheel in one revolution; and, then find expressions that will allow you
to determine the missing number in either column.
Diameter
larger
wheel
in units
Diameter
smaller
wheel
in units
n
x
WV Robotics Project:
Wheels Laboratory Sheet Pyzdrowski, 9/27/2010 -3
Challenge:
!
If you are told that a wheel with a diameter of 10 centimeters must travel approximately
4.7 meters, approximately how many revolutions will it make? Explain your solution.
!
To the nearest centimeter, what diameter wheel will cover the same distance of 4.7meters
in one revolution? Explain your solution.
WV Robotics Project:
Wheels Laboratory Sheet Pyzdrowski, 9/27/2010 -4