This unit provides students an opportunity to explore the physics of motion and to apply those concepts to technological design. From their experiences, students are introduced to the following concepts, skills, and attitudes.

• A force is any push or pull on an object. An unbalanced force is needed to make a resting object move, to bring a moving object to rest, or to change the direction of a moving object.
• A force can change the speed of an object. Greater forces can change the speed of an object faster than smaller forces.
• Friction is a force that occurs when two surfaces rub together. Friction opposes motion.
• If the same force is applied to a lighter vehicle and a heavier vehicle, the speed of the lighter vehicle will change more than the speed of the heavier vehicle.
• Energy can be stored in a rubber band and released to turn an axle or spin a propeller to make a vehicle move.
• A spinning propeller exerts a force that pushes air back and moves a vehicle forward.
• Friction must be considered when a vehicle is being designed.
• Air resistance is a force that can slow the speed of a moving vehicle.
• Design requirements specify how a vehicle or other product must perform.
• Cost is often an important consideration in designing a product.
• Engineers develop, modify, and improve designs to meet specific requirements.

• Designing, building, testing, and modifying vehicles to meet design requirements.
• Building vehicles from technical two­ and three-view drawings.
• Recording vehicle designs through drawing.
• Observing how an object moves and describing its motion and changes in motion.
• Measuring the time it takes a vehicle to move a given distance.
• Collecting and recording data and analyzing it to determine representative values.
• Predicting the effect of an applied force on how a vehicle moves.
• Recording and comparing distances a vehicle travels under various conditions.
• Designing a vehicle that is propelled by stored energy.
• Solving design problems using previously collected data.
• Communicating results of an investigation through record sheets, written observations, drawings, and class discussions.

• Recognizing the role that technological design plays in daily problem solving.
• Appreciating how science can be used to solve practical problems.
• Recognizing the importance of repeating trials to gain valid test results.
• Valuing the application of test results to future investigations.