University of CincinnatiGlen Este High School

Project STEP

Nick Hanlon

Outline

• Background

• Glen Este High School

• Glen Este HS Teachers

• Blast Off! Lesson

• Engineering Connection

• Questions

Background

• Bachelor of Science, Computer Science– Georgetown College

• Master of Business Administration– Northern Kentucky University

• Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering– University of Cincinnati

• Software Developer, PPD

Glen Este High School

• Located near Eastgate in Cincinnati, OH

• Enrollment: 1,418 students

• Small Schools Idea

• School of Scientific Studies– Enrollment: 420 students– Focuses on the area of science

Glen Este HS Teachers

• Mr. Jon Souders

–Foundations (Biology)

• Mr. Ray Prueitt

–Algebra II

• Mr. Joel Ward

–Algebra I

• Mr. Kurt Whitford

–Chemistry

Blast Off!Transforming Potential Chemical Energy to Kinetic

EnergyGoals• Students should learn about

the transformation of potential (chemical) energy to kinetic energy (thermal, mechanical, light, etc)

• Students should learn about the use of triangulation to calculate the height of objects;

• Students should understand Newton’s third law of motion.

Objectives• Students will be able to describe

the transformation from potential chemical energy to kinetic energy from a model rocket launch and the chemical reaction between Alka-Seltzer and water.

• Students will be able to calculate the height of an object using geometry and trigonometric functions of triangles.

• Students will be able to explain how Newton’s third law of motion (action-reaction) dictates the motion of a rocket.

Pre-Day 1

• Review of Geometric/Trigonometric Functions– Sum of all angles in a triangle equal 180– Sine, Cosine, Tangent functions

Blast Off! Day 1

• Station 1: Energy Transformation– Alka-Seltzer and Water combined into a file

canister

Blast Off! Day 1 (cont)

• Station 2: Triangulation– Simulated Rocket

Flight – Calculate height using triangulation

– Cover transit operation– Cover day 2

responsibilities

Blast Off! Day 1 (cont)

• Station 3: Measurements– Used extra teacher to

ensure students completed the worksheet.

Blast Off! Day 2

Model Rocket LaunchesData Collection

Very Successful – All data collected and no injuries or fires.

Blast Off! Day 3/4

• Data Analysis and Conclusions– Students followed step-by-step instructions on

a worksheet to calculate kinetic energy– Worksheet took longer than expected.– Students finished calculations overnight– Day 4: Students graphed propellant vs KE– Wrap-up

Engineering Connection

• Application– Rockets (Satellites, Astronauts), Vehicles

• Career– Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering

• Societal Impact– Scientific Advances, GPS, Radio, Television, Weather

Forecasting, Surveying, Military Uses (Secret Tasks), Transportation

Assessment Results

Any Questions?