Detecting vibrations and changes in the world around us is one of the most important things to engineers and scientists. Whether it is detecting an earthquake, how many people enter a room, or creating energy from waves, there are many ways that vibrational energy can be used. One of the many ways that vibrational energy can be used is with vibrational sensors. A vibrational sensor is a sensor that goes off when vibrations occur. Using this data, key values that are important for the vibration can be calculated.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.