COLLEGE HOUSE ENTERPRISES, LLC

Preface to the Mindstorms Edition

LEGO® robotics continues to change and grow. This third edition of Physics by Design uses both different hardware and software than the original book, which was written for the RCX and ROBOLAB. However, I hope that the spirit remains the same.  More that a decade of teaching Physics by Design has made me more certain than ever that engineering is a powerful tool in K-12 education, one that teaches critical thinking and a deeper understanding of mathematics and science concepts. More importantly, engineering gets kids excited—about science, about math, and about engineering itself. The first students who took Physics by Design are now in college and beyond. It gives me special pleasure that a number of them have gone on to pursue engineering--and have told me that their LEGO physics class started them down that path.

Every year, the students in Physics by Design, an eighth-grade science class at the Shady Hill School in Cambridge Massachusetts, design their own pan balances using LEGO pieces, string, and a set of metric masses. The design is left to them. The only requirement is that the finished balance must be accurate to within 0.5 grams. The students design and build, test and modify, until they are satisfied with their balances. When they decide they are ready, they put their balances to the final test—determining the mass of four unknown objects.  These students are doing engineering while at the same time applying what they have learned about center of gravity, stability, and torque. Using the concepts in an actual design project reinforces them more effectively than completing any number of problem sets. In addition, the students have fun building their balances and feel a considerable sense of accomplishment when they successfully complete the challenge.

Physics by Design is a project-based course that teaches classical mechanics through engineering. It covers motion, forces, fluids, stability, work, and energy. The topics are approached from an engineering perspective, with building and designing reinforcing the conceptual physics material and vice versa. Most of the designing and building is done using LEGO bricks, including the Mindstorms NXT. All of the students in the course learn programming as well as physics; by the end of the year, they are adept at it.

Physics by Design was inspired by the work of the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) at Tufts University. The CEEO is dedicated to bringing engineering into the K-12 classroom. They have had great success in integrating engineering into math and science classes, as well as reading, writing, social studies, and art classes, in schools around the world. I have been lucky enough to work with Professor Chris Rogers and the staff and students at the Center for a number of years.

Physics by Design is the most rewarding course I have ever taught. I love seeing the pride that the students feel when they are successful in solving problems and the confidence they gain through the year as they tackle harder design challenges. I love the delight that students feel when they discover a talent for engineering or programming that they never suspected they had. I love that the course lets me be a mentor and a coach, rather than a lecturer and a director.

I hope that this book will help other teachers incorporate engineering into their science courses.

CONTENTS

Part One: Getting Started

1. About this Book………………….………………………..…... 1-1

2. Classroom Management…………………………….….….… 1-1

3. Materials Management………………………….….….….….. 1-3

4. Additional Resources…………………………….………...… 1-4

5. Project Rules………………………………………………….. 1-5

Part Two: Introductory Activities

1. Introduction…………………………………….……………… 2-1

2. Build a Box………………………………………………..…... 2-2

3. Picture Box…………………………………………….……… 2-5

4. Simple Two-Motor NXT Car I……………………………….. 2-7

5. Simple Two-Motor NXT Car II………………………………. 2-11

Part Three: Common Palette Activities

1. Introduction……………………………………………...….….. 3-1

2. Common Sense……………………………………….…...…. 3-2

3. Hello Goodbye………………………………………….……... 3-3

4. Say Cheese………………………………………….….…….. 3-7

5. Mimicry…………………………………….……….………….. 3-10

6. Snake…………………………………………………..….…... 3-13

7. Push-button Car………………………………………..…...… 3-16

8. Cloverleaf……………………………………………………..... 3-20

9. Programming Practice and Quiz…….……………….…….… 3-23

Part Four: Complete Palette Activities

1. Introduction………………………………………………...….. 4-1

2. Complete Understanding…………………………….………. 4-2

3. Clap On……………………………………………………...… 4-3

4. Daytime Fan………………………………………….……..… 4-6

5. Snail Trail………………………………………………...….… 4-9

6. Roll of the Die………………………………………..……..… 4-12

7. Three-Speed Fan……….…………………………………..... 4-15

8. Dog Years……………………………………………..…....… 4-18

9. Programming Practice and Quiz………..……………......… 4-22

Part Five: Projects

1. Introduction…………………………………………….……… 5-1

2. Music Box………………………………………..……….…… 5-2

3. Haunted House………………………………………..……… 5-6

4. Meet and Greet………………………………………..……… 5-10

5. Bug in a Box…………………………………………..………. 5-13

6. Outside the Box……………………………………..………... 5-17

7. Clean Sweep…………………………………………..……… 5-20

8. Applause Meter………………………………………....……. 5-24

9. Mini Golf……………………………………………..………… 5-27

10. Robotic Zoo………………………………………..………….. 5-31

11. Chain Reaction Machine……………………………..……… 5-35

12. EGGcellent Contraption……………………………..………. 5-37

13. Wacky Gumball Machine…………………………..………… 5-40

Part Six: Data Logging Activities

1. Introduction…………………………………………..………... 6-1

2. Light and Dark Scavenger Hunt……………………..……… 6-2

3. I’m Thinking of a Number…………………………….…..….. 6-6

4. Thunderstorm…………..………………………………...…… 6-9

5. Melting…………………....................................................... 6-12

6. Cave Explorer………………………………….……….…….. 6-16

Part Seven: Physics Activities

1. Introduction………………………………………………..….. 7-1

2. Getting Up to Speed…………………………………….….... 7-2

3. Stop for Pedestrians…………………………………….…… 7-6

4. Parking Space…………………………………………..……. 7-9

5. Crossing the Lines…………………………………..……….. 7-12

6. Spinning your Wheels……………………..………..……….. 7-16

7. Zigzag and Diamond………………………………..……….. 7-21

8. No Wheels……………………………………………..……… 7-27

9. Action-Reaction Car………………………………….…….… 7-31

10. How Many Bricks in a Newton?……………………....…….. 7-36

11. Gear Training…………………………………………….…… 7-39

12. Worm Gears………………………………………………..…. 7-42

13. Spinning Colors………………………………………..……… 7-45

14. At a Snail’s Pace……………………………………..………. 7-49

15. Perfect Pitcher………………………………………..………. 7-52

16. Pulley Systems………………………………………..……… 7-57

17. Ramp Up…………………………………………………........ 7-63

18. Peak Performance………………………………………..….. 7-67

19. Balancing Nails…………………………………………..…… 7-71

20. Tightrope Walker………………………………………..……. 7-76

21. LEGO® Balance…………………………………...…………. 7-79

22. Building Pressure………………………………………...…… 7-83

23. Floating LEGO® Bricks………………………….……..……. 7-88

24. Cartesian Diver……………………………………………..… 7-92

25. Stir It Up…………………………………………………..…… 7-95

26. It’s a Breeze……………………………………………..……. 7-99

27. Cool It Fast…………………………………………..…….….. 7-103

28. Hearing Test…………………………………………..…….… 7-106

29. Musical Instrument…………………………………...………. 7-110

30. Ultrasonic Pendulum………………………………..….…….. 7-115

31. Bright Light…………………………………………………….. 7-120

Part Eight: Mostly Mathematics Activities

1. Introduction…………………………………………….…..….. 8-1

2. Random or Not…………………………………………..….... 8-2

3. Voting Machine………………………………………......…… 8-9

4. Do You Have a Sister?.......................................................... 8-13

5. Reaction Time………………………………………….…….. 8-19

6. Which Room?........................................................................ 8-24

7. Grassfire………………………………………………….…… 8-33

8. Logic Gates…………………………………………….……... 8-50

Appendix A: Alignment with the National Science Standards

Appendix B: Activities Listed by Topic

Appendix C: Mindstorms Equipment Used for Each Activity