Two toy race cars on a track
Activity

Position and Motion: Hot Wheels

This hands-on, participatory science activity teaches students who are blind and visually impaired about the effect of position and motion using toy race cars.

This hands-on, participatory science activity teaches students who are blind and visually impaired about the effect of position and motion using toy race cars and a race track.

Materials

Preparation

Review:

Technology is any thing humans/people make to solve a problem or make life easier.  Engineers are scientists who use science to come up with technology to solve problems.  Engineers use the “Design Process” to solve problems.

The engineering design process
Engineering and Design Process, Museum of Science, Boston, “Engineering is Elementary”

Explain:  

We will use the design process to think like an Engineer.  We will use what we know about “forces” like pushes and pulls, gravity and friction to move “Hot Wheels” cars.

Procedure

Problem #1:  

Procedure:
  1. Place the end of the 4 ft. track into the 2 in. slot of the measuring box. 
  2. Place the car on the track at the top of the ramp.
  3. Observe the distance and position of the car.
  4. Use guided questions to encourage the student to raise the track higher
  5. Use guided questions to encourage the student to move the bucket as needed.

Problem #2:

Procedure:

Same as problem #1, with the track going THROUGH the tunnel at the end of the track

Problem #3:

Procedure:  

Same as problem #1, with the track going OVER the box

Problem #4:  

Procedure:

Same as problem #1, with the track attached to the loop assembly

By Selma Walsh

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