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TISP:
Spain and
Portugal
September 2010
Corali Ferrer
Yvonne Pelham
14-15 November
2010
Build a Better Candy Bag
Build Your Own Robot Arm
Critical Load
Working With Wind Energy
User Handouts
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2
Build a Better
Candy Bag
Corali Ferrer
R9 TISP Coordinator
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3
Activity Objectives
 Problem
Solving:
 Recognize and apply geometric ideas in areas
outside of the mathematics classroom
 Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate
strategies
Communication:
 Communicate mathematical thinking
coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and
others
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Design Objective
 Design
and implement a candy bag using the
available materials
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Limit of 1 meter of tape per group of 2
 The
bag is to be hand carried
 The
bag is to be sturdy, functional and aesthetically
pleasing
A
design with unusual shape or “twist” is highly
desirable
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Outline and Procedures (1)
 Divide
into teams of two (2)
 Brainstorm
and create a sketch of a
design of a candy bag
 Build
a model of your design with given
materials: a limit of 1 meter of tape per
team
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Candy Bag
Available Materials
3
sheets of plastic
 Tape
 Twine/String
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Outline and Procedures (2)
 Predict
hold
 Test
how much weight the bag might
the strength of your bag
 Only
after all sketches and calculations were
complete
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Outline and Procedures (3)
 Discuss
 Provide
carried
 Rebuild
 Retest
and agree upon a redesigned bag
a sketch and estimate of weight to be
your prototype bag
the strength of your bag
 Answer
reflection questions as a team
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Reflection Questions
 What
was one thing you liked about your design?
 What
is one thing you would change about your design
based on your experience?
 How
did the materials provided impact your design?
 How
might you incorporate this activity into your
classroom instruction?
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Build Your Own
Robotic Arm
Corali Ferrer
R9 TISP Coordinator
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Activity Objectives
 Learn
about technological
design
 Use
mathematical calculations
for design
 Learn
about motion and force
 Practice
communication skills
through written and oral
exercises
European Robotic Arm
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Robot Arm
What will we do today?
 We
will build a robot arm from simple
materials
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Robot Arm
Building the European Robotic Arm
 We
will build a robot arm from simple
materials
 The
arm must pick up a plastic cup from a
distance of 45cm
 Lift
the cup to a height of at least 15cm
 Bring the cup back to rest and release it
 Pick
up cup upside down
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Robot Arm
You cannot get too close…
Robot Arm
Student
45cm
Cup
You cannot get any closer than
45cm to the cup at any time
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Robot Arm
Available Materials
 Hanger
 Paper
 Cardboard
 Golf
 Clothespins
 Tape
 Popsicles
 Paper
 Rubber
 Binder
sticks
bands
clips
clips
pencils
fasteners
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Robot Arm
Outline and Procedures
 Divide
into teams of two (2)
 Review
the requirements
 Discuss
a solution and create a sketch of
your design
 Build
a model of your design with given
materials
 Test
your model
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Robot Arm
Redesign after testing
 Discuss
and agree upon a redesign
 If
needed after testing, or
 to enhance the previous design
 Rebuild
 Retest
your robot arm
your model
 Answer
reflection questions as a team
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Robot Arm
Design requirements
1.
The arm must pick up a plastic
cup from a distance of 45cm
 Lift the cup to a height of
at least 15cm
 Bring the cup back to rest and
release it
2.
Lift and release the cup when it
is upside down
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Robot Arm
Reflection Questions
 What
was one thing you liked about your
design? What is its main weakness?
 What
is one thing you would change about
your design based on your experience
 Are
there algebraic and physical principles
that can be applied to this activity?
 How
would you modify the instructions to
create a better experience for the
participants?
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Critical
Load
Corali Ferrer
R9 TISP Coordinator
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Activity Objectives
Learn
Learn
about structural engineering
how to reinforce the design of a
structure to hold more weight.
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Critical Load
Efficiency
A
high critical load is not the only parameter to consider
 Is
the best bridge made by filling a canyon with
concrete? It certainly would have a high critical
load!
 Consider
also the weight of the structure
 Lighter
 These
is better, given the same critical load
two parameters are combined in an “Efficiency
Rating”:
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Critical Load
Your Turn
 Groups
 Up
of 2
to 10 cards + 1m tape
 Devise
a plan to build a load bearing
structure
 Should have a flat top
 Support load with base area of
10x10cm at least 8 cm above the
table
 No
altering of cards allowed – just
tape!
 No
wrap-ups of tape
 Tape is used to connect cards only
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Critical Load
Your Turn
 Your
efficiency rating:
[Load at Failure] / [# of cards used]
 Predict
be
 Build
 Test
what the rating of your design will
your design
it!
 Discuss
improvements, then repeat
exercise for a second design
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Working With
Wind Energy
Corali Ferrer
R9 TISP Coordinator
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Activity Objectives
Learn
about wind energy conversion
Design
a wind turbine
Construct
Test
the wind turbine
the wind turbine
Evaluate
Performance
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Your Challenge
 Design, construct
and test
your own wind turbine
design
 Lift
weight – 15 cm
as quickly as possible
 Maximum
 No
1 minute
human interaction!
 Blowdryer
at least
30cm away from turbine
> 1ft, 30cm
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Turbine Requirements
 Must
have a rotor shaft
around which to wind up
given weight
 Must
be freestanding
(no human interaction)
 Must
use only materials
provided
> 1ft, 30cm
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Test Procedure
 Blowdryer
at least 30 cm away
from turbine
 No
human interaction with
turbine
 Attach
weight around rotor
 Up
to 1 minute to wind up
weight for 15cm
 Record
time to wind up weight
> 1ft, 30cm
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Materials
 wooden
sticks
 bendable
wire
 string
 paperclips
 rubber
bands
 Toothpicks
 aluminum
foil,
plastic wrap
 tape,
 wooden
 paper,
dowels
cardboard
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Procedure
Teams
of two (2)
Develop
and sketch your design
Construct
initial design
Preliminary
Modify
Final
test
design, if necessary
test
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Evaluate Your Design
 Efficiency
of design may depend on
 Cost
of materials
 Speed (rotations per minute)
 Power (time to wind weight)
 Possible
measure of efficiency:
 Eff. =
(Cost of materials) / (time [sec] to
wind weight)
 Are
two designs that have the same
rotational speed equally as “good”?