STEM in the Fast Lane6 NEW Lessons and Activities created by the 6-

12 educators at the MathScience Innovation Center

Presented by: Beth Layne

Project Partners:Arena Racing USAHenrico County Public Schools MathScience Innovation CenterRichmond International RacewayVirginia Commonwealth University

Activities tested in the field with participants of all ages.

Start Your Engines

Students will conduct an experiment, and create box-and-whisker plots to examine the role of reaction times in automobile racing .

Math 8, Algebra I General Science

Shape UP Students will investigate various

shaped cars, and race them to determine how the shape of a car body can be manipulated in order to minimize air resistance.

Math 6-8 Physical Science

Bank on It Students will research race track data

in order to create a scatterplot that examines the relationship between speed and degree of track banking.

Math 6-8, Algebra I, Geometry General Science, Physics

Facts on Friction Students will investigate different tire

compositions. Probeware will be used to determine the force of friction for two different tire compounds and a simulated racetrack. The amount of the static and kinetic friction, as well as the percent of change between these forces, will be analyzed to see which compound would be more appropriate for NASCAR racing. 

Math 8, Pre-Algebra Physical Science

Forces in Racing

Students will investigate types of forces in auto racing. Formulas are derived and Centripetal Force is explored through experimentation.

Math 6-8, Algebra I Physical Science

Building to Scale

Students will work with proportions to create a scale model of a racecar.

Math 6-8, Geometry General Science

STEM Education Series

Richmond Coliseum – Arena Racing USA

HCPS STEM Education Day

Richmond International Raceway

Want to learn more?

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Session Survey

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