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Hint: Parameters for redesign are necessary. Recommend combining students or pairs to
help students that had difficulties in the project.

2. Make a video with a camcorder of fan cars in motion to analyze results. Videoing more than one fan car in motion at the same time lets students make observations and inferences the difference between fan car's. Rarely do fan cars travel at the same speed.

Hint: Let students do the video recording. Also computer screen projection equipment allows engagement of entire class in discussion.

3. Add weights to the cars to investigate if how extra weight impacts the motion of the fan cars.

Hint: Metal washers work well, because they easily slip onto K'NEX straight pieces.

4. Calculator-Based Probeware collects real-time data in graph form using the motion sensor. This eliminates the need to manually graph data, because students can print the graphs. Additionally, student data collection can be projected on an overhead screen for entire class to view and discuss.

5. Using books and current literature to investigate cars and motion.

Example: Time Magazine dated March 3, 2008 has an excellent article, "The Physics of NASCAR" by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, and may capture the attention of many students.

6. Simulation websites provide another level that is difficult to reproduce in most middle school classrooms.

Example: The website Explore E-Learning as an excellent "Fan Cart Physics" simulation for middle school. The URL is http://www.explorelearning.com / index.cfm? method=cResource.dspResourcesF orCourse&CourseID=310

This project meets goals of the National Science Education Standards as students:

identify scientific concepts and relationships;
provide cause and effect explanations;
critically review data, and communicate understanding;
unify concepts and processes in science, science as inquiry, physical science,
technology, science in personal experiences, and nature of science.

For more information about science inquiry and technology visit http://www.science-inquiry.org

Learn more about this author, David Wetzel.
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