Pop Pop Boat Lesson Plan and Straw Stoppers

thingiverse

This is a comprehensive lesson plan for teaching heat engines and thermodynamic cycles using putt-putt boats as a hands-on example. The project-based approach allows students to design, build, and test their own putt-putt boat engines while learning about the underlying scientific principles. **Key Concepts:** * Heat engines * Thermodynamic cycle (including vocabulary relevant to changes in temperature, pressure, and volume) * Components of the thermodynamic cycle * Graphing the cycle * Energy transfer and conservation **Teaching Strategies:** 1. Have students design, build, and test their own putt-putt boat engines. 2. Ask students to develop models of the system, drawing diagrams or illustrations that identify key components and events that cause the transfer of energy from the heat of the flame to the propulsion of the boat. 3. Ask students to determine the work done by the engine (through the change in kinetic energy) and calculate its efficiency. 4. Have students conduct experiments involving water temperature, straw diameter, or other adjustments. 5. Encourage students to design a better version of the putt-putt boat engine. **Assessment:** * Lab reports or presentations on applying the scientific method to determine the influence of water temperature, straw diameter, or other adjustments. * Accuracy and precision in analysis and calculations of work and efficiency. * Understanding of thermodynamic cycles and heat engines through drawings and/or diagrams. **Resources:** The lesson plan includes a list of references, including links to websites, PDFs, and online resources. The resources cover various aspects of heat engines, thermodynamics, and energy transfer. **Objectives:** Upon completion of this project, students will be able to: * Demonstrate an understanding of heat engines and the thermodynamic cycle. * Identify components that are actors in the thermodynamic cycle. * Create a graph of the cycle that occurs. * Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer. **Standards:** The lesson plan aligns with various science standards for different age groups, including: * K-2-ETS1-1 (asking questions and gathering information about a situation) * MS-PS3-3 Energy (applying scientific principles to design and test a device) * HS-PS3-1 Energy (creating a computational model to calculate energy changes) **Handouts and Assets:** The teacher developed a worksheet on conceptual physics questions about putt-putt boats.