quadcopter!3! -...

Topic: Physical Science -‐ Energy Software: Franklin’s Lab, zView

Quadcoptor 3 1

Quadcopter 3 Lesson Overview Activity video available at edu.zspace.com

In this activity, students will be challenged with solving a problem with an electrical circuit that simulates a quadcopter. They will be presented with a broken copter and challenged with creating a working copter then using it to troubleshoot the broken copter.

Objectives • Compare two quadcopter prototype circuits • Evaluate a broken system, identify the cause of the problem and

restore it to a working state • Analyze two motors and determine the missing part(s).

Standards (NGSS and Common Core) For state specific standards visit edu.zspace.com Next Generation Science Standards

• Physical Science – Energy o 4-‐PS3-‐2 Make observations to provide evidence that energy

can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric current.

• Physical Science – Engineering Design o 3-‐5 ETS1-‐3 Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are

considered to identify aspects of a model.

Common Core Connections

• Language Arts o W.4.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and

digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.

Differentiation • Group students heterogeneously to allow students with a strong command of the English language to assist

in reading or interpreting questions • Provide paper copies of diagrams to students to use as a reference • Allow students to provide answers that are handwritten, typed, or verbal • Work in partners or small groups (younger children could partner with older buddies) • Enrichment: Students could find real-‐world problems involving the concept and design solutions to those

problems • Specific differentiations are indicated in this document with a ∆ symbol

Grade Level: 4th – 6th

Lesson Time: 60 Minutes

Key Terms: Circuit Electricity Motor Prototype Quadcopter Troubleshooting

Resources: Answer Key Diagram of Motor Parts of a Motor Demo Parts of a Switch

Demo

Materials needed: USB drive


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Introduction The teacher will open the "Parts of a Switch" and/or "Parts of a Motor" Demo prior to doing this activity. The teacher will then tell the students that they will be investigating a quadcopter prototype that is broken in this activity. Now they will only have a broken quadcopter. The teacher should ask for how they will troubleshoot this. The students should suggest that they build one working quadcopter and use it to troubleshoot the broken copter as they did in the other two activities.

Activity – Quadcopter 3

Teacher Note

The students will discover that Motor 2 and Motor 3 are broken. Motor 3’s brushes need to be replaced and Motor 2’s bearing is worn out and need to be replaced as well.

Closing

After the students have completed the activity, the teacher may choose to select one group show their quadcopters on zView during the explanation. They will discuss the impact multiple failures have on troubleshooting. They will also discuss what steps might be taken to prevent problems like these in product design and connect this to the real world of troubleshooting. Students will answer the following discussion questions.

Questions for Discussion

1. What could the copter designer do to prevent an open circuit from causing the entire copter to fail?

Answers will vary. Sample Answer: The designer could put the fan motors in parallel instead of series, which would allow the current to continue to flow to the other rotors when one item fails.

2. This time you built another quadcoptor is there another way we could have found the problem?

Answers will vary. Sample Answer: I could have made a simple circuit with a battery, wires and resistors and just put each motor in there and a switch.

3. If you were doing this in the real world how would it be different?

1. You have one quadcopter prototype on the bench and it is not working. You have just enough parts to create another working copter. Using the parts in the parts inventory, create a duplicate quadcopter.

2. Do all of the motors in the quadcopter you created run and turn the rotors? 3. Which motors are causing the problems in the left copter? 4. Once you know which motors are broken, enter the workbench to troubleshoot the problem. 5. What part(s) need to be replaced? Point at the motor to see its parts. 6. Are the motors now working and all rotors are spinning?

∆ Students can make their own troubleshooting and have another group try and solve it.


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Answers will vary. Sample Answer: I could not see the electrons flow so maybe the battery would be dead and that could be the reason it was not working.

Answer Key – Quadcopter 3

Activity Questions Provided in Franklin’s Lab 1. You have one quadcopter prototype on the bench and it is not working. You have just enough parts to

create another working copter. Using the parts in the parts inventory, create a duplicate quadcopter. Prompt

2. Do all of the motors in the quadcopter you created run and turn the rotors?

Correct Answer: Yes

3. What motor(s) are causing the problem in the left copter?

Correct Answer: Motor 2 and Motor 3

4. Once you know which motors are broken, enter the workbench to troubleshoot the problem. Prompt

5. What part(s) need to be replaced? Point at the motor to see its parts. Correct Answers: Motor 2: Bearing; Motor 3: Bent Brushes

6. Are the motors now working and all rotors spinning? Correct Answer: Yes

Diagram of DC Motorin Franklin’s Lab Propeller

Bearing

Coil

Stopper

Axle Lead

Brush

ArmatureNorth Magnet

South Magnet

Commutator

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