For more information


    For more information, contact the Center's director:

    Dr. Jed S. Lyons
    Department of Mechanical Engineering
    University of South Carolina
    Columbia, SC 29208.

    803.777.9552
    lyons@sc.edu

Forces and Motion

Principles of Flight

Understanding the concepts behind flight via the construction of gliders. (pdf only)

Forces and Motion Stations

Investigating how the use of a pulley makes the lifting of weight easier.

Bottle Rockets

Illustrates the relationship between force and mass, potential and kinetic energy.

Rockets Away!

Students learn to build and fly 2-liter soft drink bottle rockets and develop an understanding of the effects of forces on an object.

Milk Carton Boats

Explore the fundamentals of forces and motion by creating a sail for a milk carton boat.

Forces and Graphing

Introduces students to forces, data collection/analysis and the relationships between variables.

Trebuchet - Design, Build, Test, Compete

To investigate forces and motion, students will design, construct and test trebuchets. This activity was designed for use in a 3rd-5th grade classroom.

Engineering a Medieval Trebuchet

Students will use knowledge about potential energy and simple machines to design a trebuchet and analyze the overall performance of the machine.

Medieval Trebuchet: Student Sheet

Student Activity and Information Sheet that accompanies the trebuchet lesson.

Swearingen Engineering Center • Columbia, SC 29208 • 803.777.4177 • webmaster@engr.sc.edu