Get in Gear (activity)
Mike Hernandez · TeachEngineering Digital Library Submission Portal · 2014
Seventh-grade students are introduced to the idea of gear ratios and how they are used in everyday life and in robotics. Students discover how gears work and how they can be used effectively in robot designs to increase speed or torque. Students quickly recognize that some tasks require a faster robot while others are more suited for slower, more powerful robots. They are introduced to torque and speed, the two traits of the robot affected by using gears. Once the students are introduced to the principles behind gear ratios, they are put to the test in two simple activities. One of the activities is better suited for a quicker robot while the other calls for a more powerful robot. A set of worksheet questions follow to ensure that the students understand the way gears work and the balance between torque and speed. Attachments include a worksheet and a robot program.