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| Title: | Mathematics at DEC |
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| Moderator: | RUSURE::EDP |
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| Created: | Mon Feb 03 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2083 |
| Total number of notes: | 14613 |
1750.0. "Teaching Math With Pinewood Derby Cars" by GLDOA::RBROWN (Hmmmm .... A note ...) Mon May 17 1993 12:33
Hi !,
This might seem odd, but ... My son and I built a pinewood derby
car for his AWANA Father and Son Banquet. While we didn't quite come
in first, we did spend some time together learning how to use tools,
etc. That is the real point of the project.
I'd like to incorporate some further learning into next year's
entry by trying to compute the "best design", "center of gravity",
"best location of extra weight", etc. It would be a great opportunity
to use math and see the results. Kids respond better when they can see
the results. While counting the number of apples Mr. Smith has, and
then figuring out how they would bring at .05 each is OK, if I could
use math to show how the car can be designed, that would really get his
attention.
Can anyone offer any suggestions on how one might do this as well
as any other interesting math ideas ? Anyone have any formulas for
things that can be measured in a kitchen or garage that apply to the
design ?
It may seem odd, but the results will lasting ...
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
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| 1750.1 | can get complicated | SSDEVO::LUNT | HSC Engineering | Mon May 17 1993 18:29 | 17 |
| In my humble opinion -- this is not just a math problem. Its a statics
and dynamics problem. You want both a stable car (by stable I mean
that the car must 'like' to go straight down the track) and a car with
low friction (body to wheel, wheel to axial, wheel to center bar of the
track). Each time the car bumps the center bar it will loose speed.
This is also true when the wheels bind. Set it up like a statics and
dynamics problem and I think you'll both learn alot. BTW -- Aligning
the car with the track when your boy places it on the track is half the
race.
My opionion of the priorities:
Car as close to 5oz as possible in weight plus Reduce friction are key
and should be your top priority. BTW -- placement of the weight is
CRITICAL.
dave
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