Rover-Race

Space education is trending nowadays especially given the current developments in the field of space exploration. It is very important that students become aware of various breakthroughs, updates and technologies related to space science. The best way to keep them on track is to bring space related activities inside the classroom.

This activity is intended to link space related concepts in designing a vehicle that will run on its own using the given materials. It showcases students’ creativity, imagination and critical thinking in applying their knowledge on physics, chemistry, mathematics and space science while developing engineering skills, self-confidence and autonomy. The activity is designed as a playful ‘race’ to playfully engage young scientists. It helps students develop team spirit and cooperation skills and gives them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment after the game.

The proposition involving vehicles, motion and racing can also be utilized with different concepts from other fields of science, such as biology, in experiments to explore the race of sperm cells to fertilize an egg cell, the transportation of materials in plants or the circulation of materials in the human body. In chemistry, the movement of gas particles could be explored. In physics, speed, acceleration, displacement, the laws of motion, impulse, momentum etc. could be investigated.

1. Designing a good space vehicle.
2. Creating the most stable wheeled vehicle that moves by itself using only the given materials.
3. Participating in the rover race.

1. Can you make a wheeled vehicle out of the given materials?
2. How are you going to construct the most stable structure/design of your space vehicle?
3. Which of the materials listed can be used to make the vehicle move on its own?
4. What are the factors that may affect the movement of your vehicle?
5. Is it possible to use your vehicle in space? Explain.