NASCAR’s Acceleration Nation
Posted on February 22nd, 2015 by Mary Lord
NASCAR, the National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing, is speeding into STEM education. Acceleration Nation is a new learning program created in partnership with Scholastic to teach elementary and middle school students about math and science behind the Three D’s of Speed: Drag, Downforce, and Drafting.
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Tags: badges, car, Class Activities, engine, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Internet Resources, Math, NASCAR, online games, Resources for Teachers, Scholastic, STEM education
In this hands-on activity, teams of students in grades 3 to 12 learn how engineers design tire treads to increase safety and reliability, then follow the design process to construct, test, and evaluate treads sculpted from clay that will be safe when driving in heavy rain.
Shell Eco-marathon is a global challenge that motivates students to drive farther than their peers on one gallon of fuel. Student teams participate in one or both of the Prototype and UrbanConcept classes. The Prototype class invites student teams to enter futuristic streamlined vehicles focused on maximizing fuel efficiency through innovative design elements, such as drag reduction.
Do your summer plans include a road trip? You’ll spot lots of cool engineering sights along the way – if you know where to look. Which you will if you consult A Sightseer’s Guide to Engineering before setting off. Created by the National Society of Professional Engineers and National Engineers Week, the site offers a sampling of iconic structures, fun activities, historic sites and other engineering-related landmarks.
An ethanol-powered electric vehicle that can travel the equivalent of 81.9 miles per gallon clinched the EcoCAR Challenge for a team of Virginia Tech engineering students. They beat 15 other student teams in the three-year competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors, to design a more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly car with the same consumer appeal and safety as today’s models.
