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In this engineering activity, learners examine bicycle mechanics and gear ratios. Learners determine which gears will help them bike a set course in the shortest amount of time.
- Under 5 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- bicycle with gears that can be changed
- helmet
- marker
- pencil and paper
- tape measure
- stopwatch
- chalk
- calculator (optional)
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
-
Engineering
-
Mathematics
- Algebra
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
-
Measurement
- Rate
-
Number and Operations
- Fractions
-
The Nature of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Research and Development
- Invention and Innovation
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
-
The Design Process
-
Physical Sciences
-
Energy
- Energy and Power
- Work and Machines
-
Motion and Forces
- Machines
- Momentum and Velocity
- Rotation Motion
-
Energy
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Outdoor Activity
- Physical Activity
- Sports and Exercise
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Culture, ethnicity, and gender
-
Girls
- Explicity developed for this group
- Acknowledges this group's contributions to STEM
- Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
- Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
- Uses inclusive images of people from this group
Other
Foreign language versions of this resource:
Components that are part of this resource:
- SciGirls Engineering Design Process
- "Pedal Power" Episode
- Example table for calculating gear ratio
- Bike coloring book
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2013
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, DRL-1114739
- L'Oreal USA For Girls in Science
- Northrop Grumman Foundation
- PPG Industries Foundation