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Science · 6-8 · Lesson Experience

Designing a Safe Go-Cart

In this lesson from our Bring Science Alive! Forces and Energy program, students explore the concepts of energy and force by designing a model go-cart.

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Designing a Safe Go-Cart

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Inclined cardboard ramp with foam rails taped on, next to stacked books and a blue dispenser on a wooden table.

Investigation

Explore the concepts of energy and force by designing a model go-cart. Go-carts experience many different forces during a race. For example, the force of the engine propels it forward, and the friction of the track slows it down.

In this engineering challenge, you will follow the steps below to design a safe model go-cart:

  • Define the engineering problem

  • Develop possible solutions

  • Optimizing the design solution

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About Bring Science Alive! Middle School Program: Forces and Energy

TCI classrooms are active, fun, and immersive spaces where students confidently question and explore the world as scientists do. With our Bring Science Alive! Forces and Energy program, students solve engineering problems and plan investigations about forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, kinetic and potential energy, heat, and the thermal properties of matter. With this program, you get:

  • Meaningful Activities

  • Classroom-Friendly Technology

  • Ongoing Teacher and District Support

  • High-Quality, Standards-Aligned Curriculum

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