1.

2 LP Understanding Gears

Standards
IV. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the core technologies that underpin the designed
world and major enterprises that produce the goods and services of the designed world.
Compare and contrast means to transfer and store energy.
Create models and design experiments to improve energy efficiency.
Create models that demonstrate energy and power flow in electromechanical systems
and optoelectronic devices.

Stage 1 Desired Results

Big Idea(s):
Complex machines combine simple machines together to perform a task. Mechanical systems
are used to transmit the power of an engine to the desired location.

Essential Question(s):
1. What are gears?
2. How do gears work?
3. Why are gears important to robots?

Student Objective(s):
Students will identify the mechanical advantage of a gear train in order to
develop a VEX IQ gearing setup for either speed or power.

Stage 2 Assessment Evidence

Performance Task(s):
Students will construct a gear train using VEX IQ parts

Other Evidence:
Identify the types of gears
Creating complex gear trains

Stage 3 Learning Plan

Total Time: 50 mins

Engagement: Teacher will use the VEX IQ system to develop two complex gear trains that
demonstrate power and speed. Use 3 sets 12/60 to demonstrate power and 3 sets of 60/12
to demonstrate speed.

Teacher may use Brain Pop as well:

https://www.brainpop.com/technology/simplemachines/gears/

Exploration:
Teacher will pass out VEX IQ gear packs (zip lock bag) containing:
1 Beam
3-4 axles
2- 12 tooth gears
2- 36 tooth gears
1- 60 tooth gears
6 shaft collars

Students can begin to look at the properties of the gears.

A differentiation option: If additional time is available, the teacher can use K'NEX kits for
students to explore gears (http://media.knex.com/instructions/instruction-books/Education-STEM-
Explorations-Gears-Experiment-1-79318.pdf).

Explanation:
Teacher will use the PPT 1.2 TR Gears to discuss the concept of gears. Student will
use 1.2 SR Gears to take notes and complete the activities.
It is recommended that the teacher mark one tooth of each gear so students can see
the rotation.
The driver gear will be "motorized" by hand

Extension
Students will use all of the VEX IQ parts to develop and build a complex gear train that
is a speed multiplier.
Students will explain why the gear train is easy to stop as a speed multiplier and would
that be the case with a force multiplier.
Students will discuss various was gears can be used in robotics.

Evaluation:
Students will use all of the VEX IQ parts to develop and build a complex gear train that
is a force multiplier.
Students will explain why the gear train is easy to stop as a force multiplier and would
that be the case with a speed multiplier.
Students will discuss various methods in which gears can be used in robotics.