Name:________________________ Date:_______________

Design-A-Bobsled Mechanical Energy Challenge

This Performance Based Assessment is WORTH A TEST GRADE!

Standard:Engineering Design:
MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4
Massachusetts Adopted Science Standards:
MS-PS2-2,MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-2, MS-PS3-5, MS-PS3-7 (MA)

Introductory Video: http://www.learnxdesign.org/learnxdesign_record/bobsleds/

Objective:

Students will be able to use the Engineering Design Process and their understanding of
Potential and Kinetic Energy to design a device that slides down a hill to pass a finish line
with the smallest amount of Friction and Drag.

Language Objective:

Students will articulate through writing the role of mass and height on the amount of energy
present in an object.

Students will label and illustrate their bobsled design using their knowledge of Potential and
Kinetic Energy.

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 Energy Vocabulary
Kinetic Energy Friction Law of Conservation of Energy

Acceleration Gravitational Potential Energy Weight

Energy Mass Velocity

Force Mechanical Drag

DO NOW: Pre Lab Activity

Vocabulary Matching:
Write the correct vocabulary word from the table above
to its corresponding definition below. You many use a
Google Chromebook and/or your notes to help you.

1. The speed of something in a given direction.

_______________________________

2. Energy of position; energy that is stored due to elevated position.

____________________________

3. The amount of matter that is contained by an object. ________________________

4. Energy of motion. Includes heat, sound, and light (motion of molecules). ____________________________

5. Forces resisting motion between one set of molecules and another due to electrical attraction and repulsion,
usually between two solid surfaces. In many cases results in a release of thermal energy
______________________

6. A push or a pull. An influence on a body or system, causing or tending to cause a change in position.
_______________________

7. The ability to do work. _____________________

8. The rate at which an object changes its velocity ___________________________

9. Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it may be transformed from one form into another, or transferred from one
place to another, but the total amount of energy never changes. ______________________

10. The product of an objects mass multiplied by the magnitude (strength) of gravitational pull.
_________________________

11. A force acting opposite to the relative motion of any object moving. ____________________

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 Word Spanish/Portugese Picture Definition
Translation

The ability to do work.

ENERGY Energa /
Energia

A push or a pull. An
FORCE fuerza/ fora influence on a body or
system, causing or
tending to cause a
change in position.

KINETIC Energy of motion.

ENERGY energa cintica/ Includes heat, sound,
energia cintica and light (motion of
molecules)

GRAVITATIONAL Energy of position;

POTENTIAL energa energy that is stored due
ENERGY to elevated position.
potencial
gravitacional /
energia
potencial
gravitacional

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 Energy cannot be
LAW OF Ley de la created or destroyed; it
CONSERVATION may be transformed from
OF ENERGY
conservacin de
la energa/ Lei one form into another, or
da conservao transferred from one
place to another, but the
da energia
total amount of energy
never changes.

The amount of matter

MASS Masa / Massa that is contained by an
object.

The product of an
Peso / Peso objects mass multiplied
WEIGHT by the magnitude
(strength) of gravitational
pull.

The sum of kinetic and

MECHANICAL potential energy in an
ENERGY object that is used to do
energa work. In other words, it is
mecnica / energy in an object due
Energia to its motion or position,
mecnica or both.

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 The speed of something
VELOCITY Velocidad / in a given direction.
velocidade

The rate at which an

Aceleracin / object changes its
ACCELERATION velocity
acelerao

Forces resisting motion

FRICTION Friccin / atrito between one set of
molecules and another
due to electrical
attraction and repulsion,
usually between two
solid surfaces. In many
cases results in a
release of thermal
energy.

A force acting opposite

DRAG Arrastrar / to the relative motion of
arrastar any object moving.

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 1. Challenge:
A Team of two (2) 7th Grade Engineers must plan, design, build, test
and redesign a model bobsled that travels the fastest down an
inclined plane (see Right) track.

What is Bobsledding?

https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/olympics/bobsled.jsp

2. Research:
How is engineering important in the sport of Bobsledding?
Watch the Video Below. Begin to brainstorm your plan and design to
win the Bobsled Challenge!
https://science360.gov/obj/video/53c11379-241c-460b-b82c-4ed7e4f76631/science-winter
-olympic-games-engineering-faster-safer-bobsleds

-List the materials that you plan on using in your model? Which have the most mass?
How about the least mass? (See Constraints on Page 8)
Why do you think mass has an impact on the Total Energy and Velocity of the bobsled? (Use
the formulas to help you)

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Pause Here for Friction and Aerodynamic Demonstration: (Paper Drop, Match Flick, Hands
Rubbing Together, Hand Out of the Car Window)

- Which materials can you use so that your bobsled slides well.

- How does the Surface Area of the bottom of your bobsled play a role in its
performance? Why?

- (Honors/Pre-AP Extension) Explain how Surface area and lower Coefficient of

Friction will help reduce (make less) friction.(Pre-AP and Honors research
Coefficient of Friction)

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- Examine (Observe) the photos of actual bobsleds. How could you build your bobsled
to look similar.

- Explain how the shape of your bobsled should be strategic to reduce (make less)
Drag.

- Knowing what you know about energy, what factors would you consider when designing your
bobsled to travel down the track with the greatest velocity?

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 3. Plan: (Materials/Constraints)
Answer the following questions to begin brainstorming your preliminary (first) design.

1. Which materials do you plan on using for the body of the bobsled? How does the bobsled shape play
a role in its performance?

2. What factors contribute to the Calculation of Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy of your bobsled?
How are understanding these factors important in your design? Where do you think most of the mass
should be placed in your design (Back, Front, Left or Right)? Why?

3. Define Friction. How can

you use strategic materials in your
design to decrease the force of
friction acting on your bobsled?

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Constraints:

In engineering, a Constraint is a limitation or restriction of a prototype or model. Some constraints

can include size, mass, cost.

For our Bobsled challenge, the Constraints are listed below.

Constraint: Constraint Value:

Bobsled Length: 15 cm Maximum
Bobsled Width: 10 cm Maximum
Bobsled Mass: 75 g Maximum
Materials: At least 5 different Materials

Materials List:
In the table below, work with your group to create a list of materials that you would like to use for each
part of the bobsled. For each material, be sure to describe how the material will help the performance
of your bobsled.
Limited materials will be available for your use including:
Rubber Bands
Aluminum Foil
Popsicle Sticks
Plastic Straws
Toothpicks
Wooden Skewers
Paper Clips
Cardboard
Pipe Cleaners
Students are encouraged to bring in their own materials to make an innovative design for their
bobsled.

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Materials:
List your materials and describe your reasoning behind using them.

Material Description to Why you are using it. Initials of

Engineer who
brings it into
class?

Example: We will use the can as a frame for the body of our
14 oz Aluminum bobsled. This can will allow our bobsled to have BP
Can (Empty the streamlined shape mentioned in the video to
Canned Good) help reduce drag on our bobsled run down the
track.

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 4. Design Phase

Sample Bobsled Shape: Labeled Drawing of Individual Design:

Description of Individual Design:

This design includes

I used the following materials..

Because...

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Sample Bobsled Shape Labeled Drawing of Team Design:

Description of Team Design:

This design includes

I used the following materials..

Because...

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 5. Build:

Vocabulary Word:
Define the following word in the box below

This is the step where you begin to construct (build/make) your prototype using the drawings you
created as a team during the design phase. You will use your gathered materials to complete the
prototype.

6. Test
In order to qualify to test your prototype, you prototype
must abide (follow) the constraints of the challenge.
Please use the digital scale to find the mass of your
prototype, and the meter stick to find the length and
width of your prototype. Lastly, be sure that your device
uses at least 5 different materials.

Constraint: Constraint Value: Measurements of Your Prototype:

Bobsled Length: 15 cm Maximum _______ cm

Bobsled Width: 10 cm Maximum _______ cm

Bobsled Mass: 75 g Maximum _______ g

Materials: At Least 5 different Total Number of Materials

Materials ___

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Use the following Formula Table to complete the Empty Boxes on the data tables below to record the
performance of your bobsled.
Potential Energy PE = mass x gravity x height

PE = weight x height

Kinetic Energy KE = mass x velocity

2

Gravity 9.8 m/s2

Velocity Velocity = distance (m) / time (s)

Bobsled Gravitational Potential

Bobsled Weight (N) Track Energy (J)
Trial Mass (g) [calculated] Height (m) [calculated]
1
2
3
4
5
AVERAGE
Track Velocity
Distance Run Time (m/s) Kinetic Energy (J)
Trial (m) (s) [calculated] [calculated]
1
2
3
4
5
AVERAGE

BE SURE TO INCLUDE WORK FOR AT LEAST ONE TRIAL

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 7. Redesign

Labeled Drawing of Team Design:

Description of Team Redesign:

One thing I changed was:

Because

Another thing I changed was:

Because

The last thing I changed was:

Because

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POST-LAB QUESTIONS:

1. Be sure to fill out the data table above by calculating the average row, weight column,
potential energy column, kinetic energy column and velocity column.

2. Create a Colored Graph the amount of kinetic energy that was calculated for each trial.
a. Trial # (1-5) and Average is the x-axis [independent variable]
b. Kinetic Energy (J) is the y-axis [dependent variable]

(TIP: When creating a scale look at the largest number and the smallest number and go up by
an equal amount.)

Design a Bobsled Challenge: Kinetic Energy (Trials vs KE)

Scale

K E ______

I N ______

N E ______

E R ______

T G ______

I Y ______

C ______

(Joules) ______

______

Scale 1 2 3 4 5 Average

Trial #

Pezzuto, 17
3. Based on your results what effect did mass have on the success of your bobsled?

4. Identify and describe the potential sources of error in testing your device.
(What would you change about the experimental design?)

5. What are TWO things that we can change about this lab to improve (make better) it for
future students?

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