The book "The Bicycle Wheel" by Jobst Brandt has some pretty technical engineering/physics explanations related to wheel construction. I don't remember if his contact info is listed in the book but I know he used to frequent rec.bicycles.tech and was approachable (if a little gruff ;-)
Chris
--- adam schwartz rideyourbicycle@gmail.com wrote:
Does anyone have, or have seen any curriculum materials that relate bicycles to science and math. Anything related to technology, engineering, and design as well would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone is interested in collaborating on writing a curriculum together for a science, engineering and technology program around the idea of "Pedal Power" then please let me know.
Here is the description for the program I am looking to develop.
Pedal Power is a program of the Renaissance Community Youth Bike
Shop that
incorporates science, engineering and technology into a curriculum
focused
on youth initiated environmental design and appropriate technology
projects
involving bicycles. The program will engage students to research,
design,
and construct their own DIY human-powered inventions.
We will work with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a student group
that
works on environmental design and appropriate technology in
international
development, to develop our curriculum and instruct the class.
Middle school
students will spend the first part of the course learning about the
basics
of engineering, construction, design, energy, and technology. Then
students
will work in teams to design, and implement their own "Pedal
Powered"
invention. After student teams have constructed their machines,
they will
have the opportunity to display and show them off to the community
at our
spring event. In the future this program has many options for
growth and
development including participating in design contests, and
entering
projects into local events. If successful, this program has the
opportunity
to expand into new and exciting realms in design and engineering
beyond
Pedal Powered projects within the scope of appropriate technology
such as
home scale wind power, etc...
-- Adam Schwartz, Program Coordinator The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop 6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD Rideyourbicycle@gmail.com (301) 405-3213
Chris Wells (Head Mechanic & Email Handler)
re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op 477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa
re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays (for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) AND SUNDAYS 3pm-6pm for Volunteering and Donations! :-)
Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cycle Salvation hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on Saturday
(IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cycle Salvation will be using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re-Cycles hours in the evenings.)
info@re-cycles.ca http://www.re-cycles.ca/