Instructions
This worksheet combines the wacky world of Wobbledogs, the engineering of LEGO Spike Prime, and a classic math principle. Read each section carefully and answer the questions to the best of your ability. For the math problems, be sure to show your work!
Part 1: The Wobbly World of Physics
Wobbledogs is a game where you raise mutant dogs whose bodies are based on a physics simulation. They flop, stretch, and tumble around in unpredictable ways. This isn't just random; it's a fun application of real-world physics principles!
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Thinking about a Wobbledog, which of the following physics concepts is MOST responsible for its unique, unstable movement? Circle the best answer and explain your choice in one or two sentences.
A) Aerodynamics (how air moves around objects)
B) Center of Mass (the point where an object's weight is balanced)
C) Thermodynamics (the study of heat and energy)
D) Optics (the study of light)
Explanation:
Part 2: Engineering for Wobbly Friends
LEGO Education Spike Prime kits allow you to build and program robots using motors and sensors. Imagine you've been tasked with creating a robotic helper for your kennel of Wobbledogs.
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Your Wobbledog-Bot needs to perform two tasks: 1) detect when a Wobbledog has fallen over and can't get up, and 2) deliver food to a specific location. From the list of common Spike Prime parts below, which ones would you use for each task and why?
Parts List: Color Sensor, Force Sensor, Distance Sensor, Large Motor, Medium Motor.
Task 1 (Detecting a fallen dog):Part(s) I would use:
Why:
Task 2 (Delivering food):Part(s) I would use:
Why:
Part 3: The Pythagorean Theorem in Action
The Pythagorean theorem helps us find the length of the longest side (hypotenuse) of a right-angled triangle using the formula a² + b² = c². Let's apply this to our wobbly and robotic scenarios. Show your work and round your final answers to one decimal place where necessary.
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A very long Wobbledog starts to move. Its front legs move 15 cm forward (leg a), while its back legs slide 8 cm to the side (leg b), forming a right angle. What is the direct distance (c) between its front and back feet after this movement?
Work:
Answer: _____________ cm -
Your LEGO Spike Prime robotic arm is programmed to move a piece of food. It first extends horizontally by 25 cm (leg a), then moves vertically upwards by 30 cm (leg b). What is the total straight-line distance (the hypotenuse, c) the food piece has traveled from its starting point?
Work:
Answer: _____________ cm -
You're building a ramp for your Wobbledogs. The ramp needs to reach a platform that is 50 cm high (leg a). You place the base of the ramp 120 cm away from the platform's base (leg b) to make the slope gentle. How long must the flat, walkable surface of the ramp (the hypotenuse, c) be?
Work:
Answer: _____________ cm
Answer Key
Part 1: The Wobbly World of Physics
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Answer: B) Center of Mass
Example Explanation: A Wobbledog's body is often asymmetrical and its legs are unstable. This gives it a constantly shifting and often high center of mass, which makes it prone to tipping and wobbling, just like how a tall, narrow box is easier to tip over than a short, wide one.
Part 2: Engineering for Wobbly Friends
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(Answers will vary. Below are example solutions.)
Task 1 (Detecting a fallen dog):Part(s) I would use: Distance Sensor or Force Sensor.
Why: I would mount a Distance Sensor on the ceiling; if the reading to the dog suddenly gets shorter, it means the dog has fallen on its side and is "wider." Alternatively, I could place Force Sensors on the floor, and if one is pressed for too long without moving, it could mean a dog has fallen on it.
Task 2 (Delivering food):Part(s) I would use: Large Motors, Medium Motor, and Color Sensor.
Why: I would use the two Large Motors to power the wheels of a rover bot to drive to the feeding area. I would place a colored marker on the floor and use the Color Sensor to detect it, telling the robot when to stop. The Medium Motor would be used to power a mechanism that pushes the food out of a container.
Part 3: The Pythagorean Theorem in Action
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Work:
a² + b² = c²
15² + 8² = c²
225 + 64 = c²
289 = c²
√289 = c
17 = c
Answer: 17 cm -
Work:
a² + b² = c²
25² + 30² = c²
625 + 900 = c²
1525 = c²
√1525 = c
39.05... = c
Answer: 39.1 cm -
Work:
a² + b² = c²
50² + 120² = c²
2500 + 14400 = c²
16900 = c²
√16900 = c
130 = c
Answer: 130 cm