grades 3-8 Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing Racing in America Educator DigiKit Transportation in America overview Scientific concepts such as Newton’s laws, inertia, momentum, forces, Bernoulli’s principle, centripetal force, kinetic and poten- tial energy, heat energy, electrical energy and changes of energy are much easier to understand when illustrated with exciting, real-world examples. The Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing Educator DigiKit does just that. Using The Henry Ford’s collections, including digitized artifacts and oral history interviews with famous race car drivers, engineers and innovators, you and your students will explore the questions “How are science concepts demonstrated by auto racing? How do in- novations in auto racing make use of science concepts?” This Educator DigiKit is divided into two sections: a Teacher Guide and a Unit Plan. The Teacher Guide section includes resources to complement the Unit Plan. You will find a glossary, a timelines, context-setting ac- tivities, a bibliography, curriculum links and curriculum-supporting field trip suggestions. The Unit Plan section follows the Teacher Guide and includes les- son plans, student handouts, answer keys, culminating project ideas, extension activities, and review and assessment questions. Many of mission statement the lessons include use of digitized artifacts from the collections of The Henry Ford provides unique edu- The Henry Ford that can be accessed through the hyperlinks in cational experiences based on authentic the Unit Plan or at our website, TheHenryFord.org/education. If you objects, stories and lives from America’s cannot incorporate the whole unit into your schedule, use the les- traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness sons or activities most relevant to your needs. and innovation. Our purpose is to inspire This Educator DigiKit promotes educational use of The Henry people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future. Ford’s extensive Transportation in American Life collections. We hope you and your students will find these resources engaging and relevant. © 2010 The Henry Ford. This content is offered for personal and educational use through an “Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike” Creative Commons. If you have questions or These resources are made possible, in part, by the generous feedback regarding these materials, please contact [email protected]. funding of the Ford Foundation. 2 Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing | Educator DigiKit thehenryford.org/education contents 2 Overview 36 Lesson 3 57 Lesson 5 Forces Involved in Automobile Racing Ground Effects, Innovations and Safety in Automobile Racing 5 Teacher Guide 40 Background Information Sheet for Students 3A: 60 Background Information Sheet 6 Glossary Forces Involved in Auto Racing for Students 5A: 8 Timeline 43 Student Activity Sheet 3B: Ground Effects, Innovations and 10 Context-Setting Activities Forces Safety in Automobile Racing 11 Bibliography 45 Answer Key 3B: Forces 63 Student Activity Sheet 5B: Ground Effects, Innovations and 12 Connections to National Safety in Automobile Racing and Michigan Standards 46 Lesson 4 65 Answer Key 5B: and Expectations Motion and Energy in Automobile Racing Ground Effects, Innovations and 19 Field Trip Learning Safety in Automobile Racing Enhancements 48 Background Information Sheet for Students 4A: Motion and Energy in Automobile Racing 67 Supplemental Resources 21 Unit Plan 51 Student Activity Sheet 4B: 68 Culminating Projects Distance, Velocity and 22 Unit Plan Overview Acceleration (Grades 4-5) 69 Extension Activities 53 Student Activity Sheet 4C: 70 Student Activity Sheet 6: Distance, Velocity and Review/Assessment Questions 25 Lesson 1 Acceleration (Grades 6-8) Life Skills and Automobile Racing 73 Answer Key 6: 55 Answer Key 4B/C: Review/Assessment Questions Distance, Velocity 27 Lesson 2 and Acceleration (Grades 4-5/Grades 6-8) Newton’s Three Laws and Racing 29 Background Information Sheet for Students 2A: Newton’s Three Laws and Racing 32 Student Activity Sheet 2B: These lesson plans have been created for a wide range of ages, abilities and Newton’s Three Laws background levels. Teachers are encouraged to use them as appropriate by scal- 34 Answer Key 2B: Newton’s ing activities up or down to best meet students’ needs. Three Laws Please refer to the online version of the Educator DigiKits for the most updated links and content. thehenryford.org/education Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing | Educator DigiKit 3 4 Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing | Educator DigiKit thehenryford.org/education teacher guide | for grades 3-8 thehenryford.org/education Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing | Educator DigiKit 5 Glossary Acceleration Centripetal force Friction The rate at which an object’s A force toward the center that makes The opposing force between two velocity changes; a = Δ v/ Δ t. an object move in a circle rather than objects that are in contact with in a straight line. and moving against each other. Acceleration due to gravity The downward acceleration of Conversion Gravity an object due to the gravitational Changing from one set of units The natural pull of the Earth attraction between the object and to another, such as from miles on an object. the Earth or other large body. per hour to meters per second. Ground effects Aerodynamics Displacement The effects from aerodynamic The way the shape of an object The distance and the direction that designs on the underside of a affects the flow of air over, around an object moves from the origin. race car, which create a vacuum. or under it. Distance Inertia Airfoil The change of position from one An object’s tendency to resist A wing-like device on a race car point to another. any changes in motion. that creates downforce as the air flows over it. Downforce Joule An aerodynamic force on a car The unit of measurement for Air resistance that pushes it downward, resulting energy; 1 joule = The force created by air when in better traction. 1 kilogram-meter2/second2. it pushes back against an object’s motion; air resistance on a car is Electrical energy Kinetic energy also called drag. Energy derived from electricity. Energy of motion. Kinetic energy = ½ mass * velocity2, or KE = ½ m v2. Artifact Force A man-made object representing Any push or pull. Mass a specific time or culture. The amount of matter in an object. Frame of reference Bernoulli’s principle The coordinate system for specifying Momentum Air moving faster over the longer the precise location of the point or The combined mass and velocity path on a wing causes a decrease in frame to which motion is compared. of an object. Momentum = pressure, resulting in a force in the mass * velocity, or p = m * v. direction of the decrease in pressure. Continued… 6 Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing | Teacher Guide thehenryford.org/education Glossary Continued Potential energy Speed Watt Energy due to position; stored The distance an object travels A measurement of power. One watt energy, or the ability to do work. divided by the time it takes to is 1 joule of work per 1 second. travel the distance. Power Weight Rate of doing work, or work Thermal energy The force of gravity pulling on an divided by time. Heat energy. object; weight equals mass times the acceleration due to gravity. Pressure Trade-off Force divided by area. A term that describes how an im- Work provement made in one area might The force on an object times Relative motion decrease effectiveness in another area. the distance through which the The comparison of the movement object moves as the work is of one object with the movement Velocity converted to either potential of another object. The speed of an object, including its energy or kinetic energy. direction. Velocity = change in Roll bar distance over time, or v = Δ d/ Δ t. A heavy metal tube or bar wrapped over the driver in race cars; the roll Venturi effect bar prevents the roof from crushing The effect produced by narrowing the driver during a rollover. a passage of air as the air travels, causing an increase in the speed of Safety features the air, a drop in pressure and a force In an automobile, things that in the direction of the air passage. make the car safer or that make racing safer. thehenryford.org/education Science, Life Skills and Innovations in American Automobile Racing | Teacher Guide 7 Unit Plan Timeline Important Events in American Automobile Racing 1895 The Duryea brothers enter the first American auto race as a way of testing and advertising Race Cars their car. from the Collections of The Henry Ford 1902 The first top speed runs are held on the 1901 Ford “Sweepstakes” – Henry Ford’s first beach at Daytona Beach, Florida. race car, which gives him publicity that 1910 The first high-banked wooden speedway is helps him gain financing for his company. built at Playa Del Rey in Southern California. 1902 Ford “999” – Henry Ford’s second race car, 1911 The first Indianapolis 500 race is held. first driven by Barney Oldfield, which gains more positive publicity for Henry Ford. 1947 Bill France organizes mechanics and drivers into the National Association for Stock Car 1906 Locomobile “Old 16” Vanderbilt Cup race car, Auto Racing, called NASCAR. typical of pre-WW I race cars. 1955 The National Hot Rod Association begins 1907 Ford “666”– the car that Henry Ford intends holding national championships for drag racing. to set land speed records, but it does not. 1959 Daytona International Speedway opens 1956 Chrysler 300, a real production car, or true in Florida as one of NASCAR’s most “stock car,” sponsored by Karl Kiekhaeffer. popular races.