Cycle 3

Note: If you plan on doing the performance task, you may choose to skip this cycle. This cycle mimics the engineering design challenge found in the performance task.

In the previous two cycles, students discovered that the mass and material an object is made up of affects the object’s ability to transfer thermal energy.

In this cycle, students will use the knowledge gained in the previous two cycles to answer the question, “How can we design a device to minimize thermal energy transfer?” Students will work through the engineering design process to develop a device that keeps water as cold on a hot, sunny day. To do this, students will use a heat lamp to represent the sun, and use materials provided to construct a thermos-like device to keep the water in the cups as cool as possible over a 15 minute time frame. Throughout the engineering design process, students will use the scientific principles that minimize thermal energy transfer to design, test, redesign, and retest their device to build the most effective device.

This cycle prepares students for the performance task. This gives students time to practice the engineering design cycle while considering the factors that maximize and minimize thermal energy transfer. In the performance task, students will build a house that meets the needs of a specific environment.