Measuring the Thrust of a Balloon Powered Car
This activity from BLOODHOUND SSC illustrates the forces acting on BLOODHOUND SSC by calculating the thrust of a balloon powered car. The resource explores thrust as a concept, tying in with Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students: • Build a balloon car • Conduct speed-time experiments using the balloon car •…
Chatterboxes
BLOODHOUND SSC chatterboxes are an innovative resource that will inspire and motivate science teaching and learning in the classroom. They are an excellent way to raise standards throughout Key Stage Two and impact on students' attainments. In this fun and interactive activity, students cut and fold paper to make the chatterbox.…
Investigating the Hardness of Materials
In this activity from BLOODHOUND SSC, students explore ways in which to measure the hardness of surfaces. In doing so they develop their investigative and measurement skills, as well as numeracy. Students are encouraged to consider what hardness is, what effects the hardness of a surface can have on objects moving across it and compare…
Centre of Gravity
These resources are investigations into balance from BLOODHOUND SSC. They see how changing the position of the centre of gravity affects a body's stability. The enquiry focuses on the 'topple bottle'. If a bottle is tilted it will topple when the centre of gravity is displaced outside where the bottle is in contact…
BLOODHOUND SSC Desert Search
Two BLOODHOUND SSC activities for investigating the suitability of possible sites for a land speed record attempt. Since the Black Rock Desert in Nevada hs deteriorated in recent years, another site is being sought. The exercises use Google Earth and lead students to explore desert sites which have been considered for running BLOODHOUND…
Frames, Forces and Structures
A series of cross-curriculum lessons, from BLOODHOUND SSC, on building frames and structures and the effects forces may have on them. BLOODHOUND SSC must be as light as possible if the thrust is to propel it to record speeds in the short time available. It must also be very strong to withstand the forces involved. The resource…
Bloodhound SSC Mathematical Model
From BLOODHOUND SSC, this resource demonstrates how to progress from a simple mathematical model to a more complex and more useful model to predict how fast the rocket car will go. The resource applies Newton's three laws of motion to BLOODHOUND and uses physics and mathematics to explain what is needed to make it go faster.
Investigating the Hardness of Materials
This activity, from BLOODHOUND SCC, allows students to explore ways to measure the hardness of surfaces. It can lead on to further discussion such as considering the influence of surfaces in sports like tennis, rugby and netball. The activity is useful for developing investigative and measurement skills and representing data graphically…
Systems and Controls
A series of lesson ideas from BLOODHOUND SSC in which students build a control system to help the driver of BLOODHOUND SSC to operate the rocket motor and pump. BLOODHOUND uses a 46cm (18 inch) diameter rocket to accelerate from jet power speed to maximum speed in a few seconds. The engine must be at the optimum operating temperature…
Static Testing of a Model Rocket
This investigation, from BLOODHOUND SSC, uses a datalogger and force sensor to measure the thrust of a model rocket engine. The results can be analysed to predict the acceleration and speed of a model vehicle. The resource includes detailed instructions on how to conduct the experiment, including health and safety equipment and considerations.
BLOODHOUND SSC Desert Search
This BLOODHOUND SSC activity uses Google Earth to investigate the suitability of sites for a land speed record attempt. It is a useful activity for stimulating discussion and developing literacy and numeracy skills. Students try to identify a new site for the BLOODHOUND car to run on, considering specific needs such as the size of…
Understanding the Motion of Wheels
This activity on the motion of wheels, from BLOODHOUND SSC, is aimed at students studying for an Advanced Level Diploma in mathematics (level three). The resources cover: • Mechanical engineering - frames of reference • Parametric equations of circle and cycloid • Calculation of velocity and acceleration
Balloon Powered Car
An interactive activity from BLOODHOUND SCC in which students build their own balloon-powered car and then explore ways to make it go faster and further. Building a balloon-powered rocket car provides opportunities for investigation, team work and developing design skills. As well as focusing on science and technology, the activity…
4/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Experiment
Build a Rocket Car
In this activity, from BLOODHOUND SSC, students build a model rocket car and explore the effect of drag on its performance. Maths, science and technology departments could all be involved. The design and build could be followed by timing and analysis experiments. Model rocket motors are the ideal way to propel model cars across…
Investigating Motion
In this resource, from BLOODHOUND SSC, students answer sets of questions about acceleration, velocity and motion in relation to BLOODHOUND SSC. They also investigate 'g force' and how free falling or lack of gravity affects acceleration. The students then go on to investigate the physiological effects of motion, what happens…