Lesson Plan | Technical Methodology | Dynamics: Forces in Curvilinear Motion

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to introduce students to the concept of forces in curved motions, highlighting the importance of centripetal force. By focusing on practical and applicable skills, this stage allows students to make direct connections between theory and practice, preparing them for real-world challenges in their professional field. This practical approach not only facilitates understanding of the concepts but also makes learning more engaging and meaningful.

Main Objectives

1. Identify the main forces acting in curved motions.

2. Calculate the centripetal force in different practical situations.

3. Solve problems involving the use of forces in curved motions.

Side Objectives

1. Understand the application of forces in everyday situations and in the job market.
2. Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to introduce students to the concept of forces in curved motions, emphasizing the importance of centripetal force. By focusing on practical and applicable skills, this stage allows students to make direct connections between theory and practice, preparing them for real-world challenges in their professional field. This practical approach not only facilitates the understanding of concepts but also makes learning more engaging and meaningful.

Contextualization

Curved motions are present in various aspects of our daily lives, from the trajectory of a car around a curve to the movement of planets around the sun. This type of motion is governed by specific forces that are crucial for ensuring safety and efficiency in many everyday situations. Understanding these forces allows us to better design vehicles, improve road safety, and even launch satellites into orbit. Today's lesson will explore these forces and how they apply in practical contexts.

Curiosities and Market Connection

 Curiosity: Did you know that centripetal force is what keeps a car in a curve without skidding? When this force is insufficient, the vehicle can leave the road. ️ Market Application: Automotive engineers use the concept of centripetal force to design stability systems in vehicles. Furthermore, civil engineers apply these principles when designing road and highway curves to ensure that vehicles can navigate safely.

Initial Activity

 Initial Activity: Show a short video of a car taking a sharp turn at high speed and another of a satellite in orbit (3 - 5 minutes). Then, pose the following provocative question: 'What keeps the car from leaving the curve and the satellite from falling to Earth?'

Development

Duration: 40 - 45 minutes

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to deepen students' understanding of forces in curved motions through practical and reflective activities. By engaging students in a mini challenge and fixation exercises, this stage facilitates the application of theoretical concepts in a practical and relevant way, promoting active and meaningful learning.

Covered Topics

1. Forces acting in curved motions
2. Centripetal force
3. Calculating centripetal force
4. Practical applications of forces in curved motions

Reflections on the Theme

Encourage students to reflect on how forces in curved motions influence their daily lives and the world around them. Guide them to think about how these forces apply in different fields, such as civil, automotive, and aerospace engineering. Ask how understanding these forces can lead to technological advancements and improvements in the safety and efficiency of various systems.

Mini Challenge

Building a Centripetal Force Carousel

In this practical activity, students will build a simple model of a carousel using basic materials to understand how centripetal force acts in circular motions.

Instructions

1. Divide students into groups of 4-5.
2. Provide groups with materials like cardboard, skewers, string, tape, and small weights (like washers or nuts).
3. Ask groups to construct a basic carousel, with a cardboard base and a skewer arm attached to the center of the base with string.
4. Students should add weights to the end of the carousel arm and spin it manually, observing how the weights move away from the center due to centripetal force.
5. Request that each group measures the distance that the weights move away from the center at different spinning speeds and record their observations.
6. After construction, each group should present their observations and discuss how centripetal force influenced the movement of the weights.

Objective: Understand and observe centripetal force in action through a practical model, promoting the application of theoretical concepts in a real experiment.

Duration: 25 - 30 minutes

Evaluation Exercises

1. Calculate the centripetal force acting on a 1000 kg car making a curve with a radius of 50 m at a speed of 20 m/s.
2. Explain how centripetal force is applied when designing road curves and how it affects vehicle safety.
3. Describe a daily example where centripetal force is present and explain its functioning.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to consolidate student learning, allowing them to review and reflect on the content covered. By promoting a discussion and connecting theory to practice and its applications, this stage reinforces the importance of the topic and encourages students to recognize the relevance of learned concepts in everyday situations and in the job market.

Discussion

 Discussion: Promote an interactive discussion with students on how the theory of forces in curved motions was applied in practice during the lesson. Encourage them to reflect on the mini-challenges faced, the fixation exercises carried out, and how these activities helped them better understand the concept of centripetal force. Question how this knowledge can be applied in different sectors of the job market, such as in civil and automotive engineering, and ask if anyone can think of additional everyday examples where these forces are present.

Summary

 Summary: Recap the main points covered in the lesson: the forces acting in curved motions, the definition and importance of centripetal force, and the calculations needed to determine this force. Remind students of the practical examples discussed, such as the motion of a car in a curve and the orbit of a satellite, in addition to the practical activities carried out, such as the construction of the carousel.

Closing

 Closing: Explain how the lesson connected theory to practice and its applications in the job market. Reinforce the importance of understanding forces in curved motions for everyday life, highlighting how this knowledge contributes to safety and efficiency in various contexts. Conclude by emphasizing the relevance of understanding these concepts for solving real problems and developing new technologies.