Let’s Circle Around Pi Day – bESTology Week 6

Image: blogs.edweek.org

Let’s Circle Around Pi Day – bESTology Week 6

 Bladerunner may not be a piece of cake, but it can be as easy as Pi. This week we celebrate pi – not pie, but Pi.  International Pi Day is March 14 (3/14 or 3.14), which is also Albert Einstein’s birthday.  

 We are familiar with Pi and it’s relationship to a circle.  Tires, turbine engines and train wheels are only a few examples of circles that help transport goods and people across America. After all, the wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving” – Albert Einstein.  Let’s gear up to move full speed ahead as we study transportation and energy this year.

References: 

• Mythbusters Testing Square Wheels
• The Science and Engineering involved in manufacturing a tire by Michelin
• Michelin Tires 101
• Rim – According to Wikipedia
• Tire – According to Wikipedia
• Pi – According to Wikipedia
• Pi Music – Sing Along
• Domino Pi – Amazing to watch
• Pi Resource for Activities
• More Pi Resources for Activities
• Do you know your tires?
• Optimizing Robot Wheel Diameter

Brainstorm

Take an imaginary cross-country journey and list all of the circles you see involved with transportation.  We challenge you to identify 50+ objects.  Items can be on your vehicle, other vehicles, associated with the road or highway or transported cargo. Once your list is complete, discuss the diameter of each object and determine why it has been engineered to that specific size.  Explain the impact if each circle was smaller or larger.  Let’s jumpstart your list: traffic lights, traffic circles, steering wheels….  Have fun!

 Writing

Great job brainstorming! Now imagine various modes of transportation systems with no circles.  Write a story of how our lives would be different.  The story should include how you would obtain food from the farm to the store to your house and how you would get to school. Share your story with others and compare and contrast the identified challenges due to no circles.

 BEST Robot

Often BEST robots have wheels.  Sketch the construction of a robot with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wheels.  Next, read the Optimizing Robot Wheel Diameter Resource above.  If you are a veteran BEST team, discuss prior robot wheels and evaluate if they were optimized for the game challenge.  If you are new to BEST or a veteran team, predict possible challenges on the upcoming Bladerunner field and discuss the number, size and requirements of wheels.  Remember, it’s Pi Week – include the significance of Pi in your calculations.  Don’t forget Einstein, he has some great theories!

 Community Connection

Trivia: What is the difference between a wheel, rim and a tire?

Tires, wheels and rims are important in our daily lives.  They are found on cars, bicycles, lawnmowers – just to name a few.

Have you considered the science behind the size of tires on a car? Determine if the following statement is true or false:  As the wheel diameter increases, the tire sidewall must shrink to maintain the overall diameter.  Discuss the importance of a wheel’s diameter for each make and model of a vehicle. Look around your neighborhood and discover the various types of tires/wheels on cars and trucks.

To celebrate Pi Week, plan a field trip to a tire distributer in your community or invite them to visit your class and ask them to share the science and engineering of tires.  Many tire-manufacturing facilities are located in the U.S.  Determine if one is located in your region and plan a field trip prior to Bladerunner.  Create a list of questions and prepare to make this a great math, engineering and science learning experience. 

Challenge:  Take your photo next to the smallest and largest tire you can find this week and post on the BEST Facebook page – include the diameter and circumference of each tire/wheel.  Happy searching!

Bloom’s Taxonomy:  compare, construct, create, determine, discover, discuss, evaluate, explain, identify, include, list, plan, predict, prepare, sketch, write

Workforce Skills: reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, speaking, active learning, writing, mathematics, equipment selection, systems evaluation, science

 Correlates with A Byte of Pi – Week 8  bESTology 2013

Click here to download a copy of  Week 6 bESTology  2014