Energy: Past, Present, and Future

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 24.04.08

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Content Objectives
  2. Demographics
  3. Force to Energy
  4. Gears as Levers
  5. Gear Technology Advancements Improving Society
  6. Mechanical Drive Systems
  7. Power Source
  8. Robotics
  9. Strategies
  10. Activities
  11. Reading list
  12. Appendix of Standards Implemented
  13. Citations
  14. Notes

Force to Energy: Increased Efficiency through Intelligent Design

Donavan Spotz

Published September 2024

Tools for this Unit:

Demographics

As the science lead at Carver Middle School, I collaborate with all science instructors on lessons for grades sixth through eighth, and I have eighth grade classes that this material is designed for to get them ready for high school at Booker T. Washington. Since many of our students come from low-income families, exposing them to interesting experimentation is essential to creating a wonder-filled environment in science. Students today live in a culture of instant gratification and believe that all it takes to obtain the answers is a quick internet search. Even the most disinterested kids can and frequently will become curious when given something to handle, as their peers' reactions to the stimulation of wonder do.

With 33,211 kids enrolled, Tulsa Public Schools is the largest school system in Oklahoma. Of these, 37.2% are Hispanic, 22.7% are Black, 22.2% are White, 4.8% are American Indian, 1.5% are Asian, and 1.1% are Native Hawaiian. With 656 students enrolled in grades 6 through 8, Carver Middle School is a magnet school located in the Greenwood district of north Tulsa, Oklahoma. Of these students, 29.1% are White, 28.1% are Black, 25.8% are Hispanic, 10.7% are two or more race, 4.4% are Native American, and 1.5% are Asian. The only school where students can start their participation in the International Baccalaureate program is Carver Middle School that they will continue through at Booker T. Washington High School. Most curricula do a great job of illustrating how we generate power, exposing students to the plethora of methods that include fossil fuels, solar, wind, geothermal, and a host of other possibilities. We have a great opportunity to teach force and physics when it comes to the application of generated or harvested power.

By introducing this level of comprehension into our lessons, students will be able to go above the foundational requirements established by regulatory authorities and get a grasp of how force is applied, rather than just memorizing Newton's equations of motion. Students will get a genuine understanding of Newton's Laws of motion and how they relate to practical experiments in this lesson. The mechanical components of motion and how force is delivered via a system and converted into something useful will be covered in this curriculum. Students will be instructed how advances in scientific understanding have led to the improvement of similar energy harvesting systems across time. Examples of these technologies include improved windmill airfoils and gearboxes that control and increase the efficiency of captured energy.4 Modern hydroelectric facilities are the result of the innovation that made it possible to harness the power of moving water, starting with a basic water wheel. Since the generation of energy is essential to many aspects of Oklahoman life and contemporary culture, it is critical that we prepare our students to be responsible environmental stewards. Examining every option to boost productivity is a great way to encourage scientific methods like experimentation and design cycles and critical thinking abilities.

Students’ engineering knowledge equips them with the knowledge and abilities needed to assure community growth, it plays a significant role in reshaping communities. Students in these communities are given the technical knowledge and engineering expertise that grows to support everyone. The appropriate use of force is crucial in the subject of robotics, particularly when it comes to keeping a unit's position. Engineers understand that increasing power alone is not always the same as applying it correctly. Whether it's more force or speed, this may be accomplished in a variety of ways by utilizing gear ratios and a large range of gear choices.

Additionally, students will develop creative answers to problems like failing to recognize electricity transmission infrastructure flaws. The critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities that engineering education promotes are also crucial for advancing social justice and economic growth in low-income communities.

When we consider our lesson from a global perspective, we find that engineering studies have a big influence on low-income communities by generating jobs. People who are proficient in engineering fields can acquire higher-paying employment and enhance their overall quality of life by increasing their competitiveness in the job market. This promotes general economic growth in addition to lessening poverty in these places. By bridging the wealth gap between richer and poorer areas, this economic expansion advances social justice and inclusivity.

Additionally, engineering education makes it possible for people to launch their own companies, encouraging self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship in the neighborhood and bringing about beneficial changes. A more just and wealthy society is the result of engineering education's positive effects on low-income communities, which open doors for socioeconomic growth, female emancipation, and general quality of life enhancement.

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