Dash and Dot Robots: Distance and Speed Experiment

 

 

Many of my students are preparing for our school science fair right now.  This got me thinking about using Dash to practice the scientific method.  

During the Hour of Code week, we noticed the speed seem to change how dash moved through our tape maze.  Dash seemed to move different distances.  I decided the distance Dash travels at various speeds would be a perfect thing for my students to put to the test using the scientific method.

   

We discussed what the variables in the experiment could be (speed or distance) and decided to use speed. 

 

How Fast and How Far handout

Next, we talked about writing a hypothesis for the experiment.  For example:  If Dash is set to very fast, then the distance traveled will stay the same.  Then, each group spent some time collaborating and writing.

Each group was given a recording sheet, clipboard, pencil, flexible tape measure, pushpin, iPad, and Dash.

Each group selected a consistent number of steps for Dash to move.   We aslo talked about running three tests for each speed.

  

I had the kids pin the tape measure to the floor for ease of measuring.  We also talked about placing Dash in the exact same starting spot for each test.  We already had tape on the floor for group areas that worked nicely.

 

The kids really go into doing the tests and recording their findings.  Things generally went smoothly, until the kids tired the very slow speed.  Dash went 4-5 times farther and often curved while driving at that speed.  This made measuring very difficult! 

 

We decided to move to the hallway and see if we could get an accurate measurement.  We had fun running the trial several times as a group with a couple different robots.  We never could get a straight enough trial to measure it!

 

Even though most of the predictions didn’t match the results,  the kids learned so much about experiments and testing ideas.

Download the recording sheet here.

I was thinking it would be really cool to collect data from several different schools and have the kids compare.  If you would have any interest in doing this, please leave a comment on this blog or  tweet me @fabprab!

Comments

[Joy Meany]

Thank you for sharing this activity! I will be doing this today with two students I see in a small group and possibly with a whole class in another building later in the year. If you would like us to share our data, we would be happy to do so! You can email me at jmeany@berea.k12.oh.us

[Marta]

Hi Susan:

This is a very good experiment. I would like to replicate it in the fall, when school starts up again, so I downloaded your very good worksheet.

Regarding the inability to measure distance when Dash travels in a curve, i have a proposed solution: Attach an open expo pen to Dash with tape so that the pen leaves a mark on the linoleum floor as he goes. After Dash's run, lay a string on the mark. Cut the string to the match the length of the mark. Measure string and clean the floor before the janitor sees it and freaks out.

Also, in my class we noticed a significant difference in travel distance and speed depending on the surface. We tried linoleum in hallway, regular carpet in my classroom and the classroom rug that we sit on for circle time. Did you?

Thanks for these awesome posts, and keep up the good work!
(PS the bowling lesson is great too.)

[Susan]

Thank you, Marta!

We did try the activity both on carpet and on linoleum. We noticed a slight change, but it wasn't significant for us. We will have to try the expo marker trick! Thanks for sharing that.

I just did the bowling activity with my summer class and it was a bit hit!
:) Susan