Each summer, Mr. Spangler conducts a 1.5 hour lab on the dissection of a lawn mower engine. This lab provides participants (ninth to twelfth graders) orientation to basic internal combustion engine (ICE) components. Mr. Spangler also emphasizes concepts of mechanical efficiency and energy loss. Students actually handle, disassemble, and re-assemble a real engine and determine its mechanical efficiency based on geometric properties of the engine determined during the lab. Students are required to read background information on ICE prior to the lab and must submit a worksheet electronically to me for assessment. Relevance to green engineering (via improved engine efficiency) is discussed with the group.
The disciplines/topics include science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and instructional technology. Other audiences served are CEED, VT Hypatia, VT Galieo. The program takes place in a classroom setting, serving 50 K-12 youths, and 50 ninth through twelfth grade youths with two university undergraduates and two faculty members facilitating. The disciplines/topics include science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and instructional technology. The areas served include international, national, mid-Atlantic, Virginia, southside Virginia and/or southwest Virginia, and the local area.
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