OYAP Kidder Cars Promote Mathematics Learning
Posted on 01/11/2021
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is helping to promote learning in mathematics with a fun and engaging building activity.
In the fall, kidder car kits were provided by OYAP to a group of intermediate teachers across Bluewater District School Board.
John Diefenbaker Senior School in Hanover is one example of engagement in this experiential learning opportunity as Grade 8 students built and tested a variety of forces acting on their kidder cars. By measuring the distance travelled and time elapsed, the students were able to calculate the maximum speed and acceleration of their cars.
Kit materials included an elastic powered car, a meter stick, a stop watch, and a triple beam balance. Students were then required to follow a step-by-step procedure:
Step 1: Build the car according to directions.
Step 2: Have one group member wind up and release the car. Have another group member measure the time from start to maximum speed, and then maximum speed to stop. Have a third group member carefully identify the location of maximum speed and measure total distance travelled.
Step 3: Use the triple beam balance to measure the weight of the car.
Step 4: Calculations
»Top speed = distance from stop to maximum speed / time from stop to maximum speed
»Acceleration = (maximum speed – starting speed) / time to reach maximum speed
»Force to move car = mass of car x acceleration
»Deceleration (slowing down or negative acceleration) = (ending speed – maximum speed) / time to reach ending speed from maximum speed
»Force of friction to slow car = mass of car x deceleration
Step 5: Repeat measurements and calculations with the car driving in reverse.
Students were also asked to record their observations, conclusions, and details on how they applied their learning.