Lesson from Teachengineering.org, contributed by the Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, Tufts University.

Grade level: 3-5

Time: 100 minutes (two or three class periods)

Summary

In this activity, elementary students learn about reverse engineering and how to collect and represent data graphically by investigating the abilities of different balls to bounce.

Engineering connection

Materials scientists and engineers identify the properties of many different materials and recommend their best uses. This activity demonstrates reverse engineering, in which the properties of finished products are determined by performing tests on the products.

Standards

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

• D. Tools, materials, and skills are used to make things and carry out tasks. (Grades 3 – 5)
• J. Materials have many different properties. (Grades 3 – 5)
• L. Requirements are the limits to designing or making a product or system. (Grades 3 – 5)
• D. Requirements for a design include such factors as the desired elements and features of a product or system or the limits that are placed on the design. (Grades 3 – 5)
• C. Compare, contrast, and classify collected information in order to identify patterns. (Grades 3 – 5)
• E. Examine the trade-offs of using a product or system and decide when it could be used. (Grades 3 – 5)

Common Core State Mathematics Standards

• Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step “how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs. (Grade 3)
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used. (Grade 5)
• Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond. (Grade 5)

National Science Education Standards

• Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses. (Grades K – 4)
• Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data. (Grades 5 – 8)
• Identify a simple problem. (Grades K – 4)
• The position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing or pulling. The size of the change is related to the strength of the push or pull. (Grades K – 4)
• Communicate the process of technological design.  (Grades 5 – 8)
• Identify appropriate problems for technological design. (Grades 5 – 8)

After doing this activity, students should know how to:

• Run an experiment
• Collect data
• Present data
• Interpret graphs
• Graph results
• Work in teams

Materials

When engineers are given a design task, whether it is designing a more responsive soccer ball or a new airplane or skyscraper, they must study and analyze the properties of the materials they would like to use. What might be some material properties that they consider ? (Possible answers: Weight, strength, hardness and flexibility.)

Do you think it is important to understand materials and their properties, especially in the design of a ball used in a game? Well, imagine being the goalie in a soccer game that uses a bowling ball instead of a soccer ball. OUCH!

Background Information

This activity coincides well with math graphing practice.

Recommended Resources:

Description of different graph types (line, scatter, bar, pie). Nice example pictures. http://wwwslap.cern.ch/doc/NExS/html/node260.html

This is a link to an online game that teaches mean, median, and mode. http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/numbers/meanmedianmode.html

Allows children to create graphs and experiments with probability. http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/Graphing/

Procedure

1. Gather materials and make copies of the worksheets.
2. Explain the two tests that will be done to determine the bouncing properties of different balls.
3. Divide the class into groups of three students each. One student serves as the recorder, one drops the ball, and one is the timekeeper.
4. Assign each group a ball. After running both tests on that ball, have the groups switch balls (rotate) and test a new ball until all balls have been tested by each group.
5. Conduct tests and record data.

Test 1: Ball Bounce Height Comparison

The first time you drop the ball, do not take a measurement, just watch where the ball goes so the next time the observer knows where to look. This help to greatly increase the accuracy of the experiment. Drop a ball from 1 foot off of the floor, slightly in front of a yardstick. Measure the height the ball reaches after the first bounce and record. Repeat this test from 2 ft, 3 ft, and 1/2 ft. Do this test for each ball and record data. To increase accuracy, you may repeat each test three times and divide by 3 to find an average.

Test 2: Ball Bounce Time Comparison

Drop a ball from a height of 3 ft, timing from when the ball is released until the ball stops bouncing. Record the time. Repeat this test for each ball. Talk with the students about coming up with a system for releasing the ball and starting the stop watch. Possible suggestions are to have the same student drop the ball and start the watch, or have the two students count down from five.

6. Graph group results. (If this activity is not able to be accompanied by a math lesson on graphing, introduce the topic before the activity starts or perhaps after the class has recorded its data and worked through it as a group.)
7. Compare results as a class.

Investigating questions

Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5

Tags: balls, data, graph, Materials Engineering, Mathematics, Reverse Engineering, soccer, Sports