Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Kinematics: Motion Transmission

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5-10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial for establishing the foundations that students need to explore motion transmission. By clearly defining the objectives, students can direct their focus towards the essential skills that will be developed. This helps maximize the use of time in the classroom, ensuring that each proposed activity is aligned with the learning objectives.

Main Objectives:

1. Recognize and describe the main means of motion transmission, such as belts, pulleys, gears, and chains.

2. Apply kinematic concepts to calculate and predict the transmitted motion in gears, including speed and acceleration.

Side Objectives:

1. Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills by applying theoretical concepts in practical situations.

Introduction

Duration: (15-20 minutes)

The introduction aims to engage students with the content they have studied at home, using problem situations that stimulate reflection and the practical application of motion transmission concepts. Additionally, the contextualization seeks to connect theoretical content with real-life examples and curiosities, increasing interest and relevance of the topic for students' daily lives, preparing the ground for the practical application that will occur in class.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine that a bicycle, when shifting gears, needs to adjust the relationship between the pedal rotation and the rear wheel rotation. How do the transmission systems (chain, gear, derailleur) work together to transform the cyclist's effort into the bicycle's motion?

2. Consider a small table fan. When turned on, the blades start to spin. How is the motor's movement transmitted to the blades through gears, and what is the importance of the different gears in controlling the speed and force applied by the blades?

Contextualization

Motion transmission is present in many aspects of our daily lives, from the functioning of a clock to the performance of a Formula 1 car. For example, the famous Big Ben clock in London uses a gear system to control the hands, demonstrating how mechanical engineering is crucial for precision in time control. Furthermore, the application of these concepts is essential in modern technologies such as robotics and automation, where precise movement is crucial.

Development

Duration: (70-80 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to practically and investigatively apply the concepts of motion transmission, especially focusing on gears. The proposed activities aim to consolidate the theoretical knowledge previously acquired through experimentation and analysis, promoting a deeper and longer-lasting understanding of the principles of kinematics. Through group problem-solving, students will also develop collaboration and communication skills.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Gears in Action: The Wall Clock Challenge

> Duration: (60-70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the relationships of motion transmission in gears and how different gear sizes influence the speed and direction of movement.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people. Each group will receive a set of pieces that simulate a wall clock mechanism, including various gears of different sizes, a hand, and a small motor that simulates the winding mechanism. The challenge is to assemble the gears so that the clock hand moves steadily and correctly, and to identify how different combinations of gears affect the speed and direction of movement.

- Instructions:

• Organize the tables into groups of up to 5 students and distribute the materials.

• Ask each group to create an assembly plan before they start building.

• Instruct students to use the motor to simulate the winding movement of a clock.

• Guide the groups to observe and record the changes in movement caused by different gear configurations.

• Request each group to prepare a brief presentation about their findings and the functioning of the assembled clock.

Activity 2 - Car Race: Speed and Gears

> Duration: (60-70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply kinematic concepts to understand how gears affect speed and direction of movement, and practice measuring and data recording skills.

- Description: In this activity, students will use construction kits for gear-driven cars. Each group will receive a kit with gears of varying sizes and a small motor. The challenge is to build a car that can be modified to test how different combinations of gears affect speed and direction of movement.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students and distribute the construction kits.

• Ask each group to build a car that can be powered by the provided motor.

• Guide students to test the car in a straight line and to modify the gears to vary speed and direction.

• Instruct the groups to measure the distance traveled and the time in different gear configurations.

• Request each group to write a report describing their observations and conclusions about how the gears affect movement.

Activity 3 - Bicycle Workshop: Understanding Chain Transmission

> Duration: (60-70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the functioning of chain transmission in bicycles and understand how adjusting tension affects movement.

- Description: Students will have the opportunity to disassemble and reassemble a small demonstration bicycle to explore motion transmission through the chain. After reassembly, they must adjust the chain tension and observe how it affects the movement of the pedals and the rear wheel.

- Instructions:

• Prepare workstations with the demonstration bicycles and necessary tools.

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 and assign each group a bicycle to work on.

• Instruct students to partially disassemble the bicycle and then reassemble it, focusing on chain transmission.

• Guide the groups to adjust the chain tension and observe the impact on the movement of the pedals and the rear wheel.

• Conclude with a group discussion about the observations and functioning of chain transmission.

Feedback

Duration: (10-15 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan aims to consolidate student learning, allowing them to reflect and articulate the knowledge acquired through practical activities. The group discussion helps reinforce the concepts of motion transmission and kinematics, as well as promote communication and argumentation skills. This moment also serves to identify and correct possible misunderstandings, ensuring that all students have a clear understanding of the topics covered.

Group Discussion

Start the group discussion with a brief introduction, explaining that the objective is to share the discoveries and challenges encountered during the practical activities. Encourage students to discuss how the theoretical concepts studied applied in each experiment and what the main lessons learned were. Suggest that each group starts with a brief summary of what they built and the observations made.

Key Questions

1. How do different sizes of gears influence the speed and direction of movement, based on your observations and tests?

2. What practical applications can be derived from the study of motion transmission in gears in everyday life?

3. How does chain tension affect movement in a chain transmission system, and why is this adjustment important?

Conclusion

Duration: (5-10 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning, ensuring that students have a clear and integrated understanding of the concepts studied and practical applications. By summarizing and connecting theory and practice, this stage helps reinforce acquired knowledge and highlight the importance of motion transmission concepts in the real world, preparing students for future explorations and applications of the theme.

Summary

To conclude, the teacher should summarize the main points covered, recalling the different means of motion transmission studied, such as belts, pulleys, gears, and chains, and highlighting the practical applications of each. The importance of understanding how different sizes and configurations of these elements affect movement and direction will be emphasized.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, students were able to directly apply the theoretical concepts of kinematics in practical situations, such as assembling wall clocks and building gear-driven cars. This method allowed for a clear connection between the previously studied theory and its real-life applications, facilitating learning through experimentation and controlled error.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should highlight the relevance of studying motion transmission in everyday life, pointing out how these concepts are fundamental in various technologies and mechanical systems. Additionally, it will reinforce the importance of understanding these principles for future applications in engineering, robotics, and automation.