Technology & Engineering Resources
In the Balance
Modeling a Walking Robot
How would you balance a moving object such as a human or a robot. These challenges help you better understand the difficulties of balancing oddly shaped moving objects.
| Format | Online |
| Grades | 3 – 8 |
| Author | The Museum of Science |
| Source/Publisher | Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination Exhibit |
| ISBN | n/a |
| Shelving Location | n/a |
| Location | n/a |
| Website | n/a |
In the Balance
+ View Detailed Standard Connections
Primary Connections:
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > Position and Motion of Objects (Grade: K – 2)
Secondary Connections:
National Science Education Standards (1996)
(National)
- Physical Science > Motions and forces (Grade: 5 – 8)
- Physical Science > Motions and forces (Grade: 9 – 12)
– View Concise Standard Connections
Primary Connections:
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework (2006)
(Massachusetts)
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) > 05 Position and Motion of Objects (Grade: K – 2)
Recognize that under some conditions, objects can be balanced.
Secondary Connections:
National Science Education Standards (1996)
(National)
- Physical Science > Motions and forces (Grade: 5 – 8)
If more than one force acts on an object along a straight line, then the forces will reinforce or cancel one another, depending on their direction and magnitude. Unbalanced forces will cause changes in the speed or direction of an object's motion. - Physical Science > Motions and forces (Grade: 9 – 12)
Objects change their motion only when a net force is applied. Laws of motion are used to calculate precisely the effects of forces on the motion of objects. The magnitude of the change in motion can be calculated using the relationship F = ma, which is independent of the nature of the force. Whenever one object exerts force on another, a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction is exerted on the first object.
In the Balance
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In the Balance
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In the Balance
List of Related Offerings
Format:
Online
Online
Grades:
Pre-K - 8
Pre-K - 8
- Using Your Sensors
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- Back-to-Back: Communication Challenge
- In this activity you will give instructions to someone without using visual cues. This demonstrates the challenges people face communicating with machines, such as robots. (details)
Format:
Online
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- It's as Easy as 1,2,3: Robot Programming
- This activity challenges students to break down an ordinary task into simple instructions, modeling how engineers must develop instructions for a robot. (details)







