Motion, Forces, and History will be the foundation for student investigations into how motion has affected their lives. The the study of the inventions of ancient civilizations when compared with modern technological methods will elicit student questions of why changes in structure and design have taken place. Forces and motion have been a part of human ingenuity throughout recorded history and have been applied in different ways. This project will encourage real investigations of forces and motion in the modern world, but with an eye on the designs from antiquity.

Driving Question: How have forces and motion affected our lives?

Possible student questions:

What forces affect go-kart speed?

Which path to Evansville is best?

How long does it take a bicycle to stop from different speeds?

How does the difference in water depth affect water speed in a river?

How are today's Indy cars different from those when the race began?

Which shape allows a foil boat to carry the most marbles?

How do water towers work?

What did the roof of the Roman Colliseum look like?

How would modern materials have changed the speed of Greek Boats?

How much friction does a modern versus ancient water wheel generate?

Can windmills do other things besides ancient uses?

Can bridges be built in modern styles with old materials?

Would a catapult built of plastic work as well as a wooden (ancient) one?

Does water power work better than wind power?

Could the pantheon be built with brick or wood and be as strong?

Why is the Pantheon still standing?

Are Greek and Roman wheeled carts like wheelbarrows and carriages?

How are roads built better or worse than in ancient times?