Lesson plan of Statics: Torque or Moment

Objectives (5-10 minutes)

1. Understand the concept of torque or moment of a force: Students should be able to understand what torque or moment of a force is, and how it is affected by the magnitude of the applied force, the distance between the point of application of the force and the axis of rotation, and the angle between the force and the position vector.

2. Apply torque or moment of a force formulas: Students should be able to apply torque or moment of a force formulas to solve related problems. They should understand how the magnitude of the force, the distance between the point of application of the force and the axis of rotation, and the angle between the force and the position vector affect the torque or moment of a force.

3. Solve torque or moment of a force problems: Students should be able to solve practical problems involving the calculation of torque or moment of a force. This includes applying torque or moment of a force formulas and interpreting the results obtained.

Secondary Objectives:

• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills: By solving torque or moment of a force problems, students should develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They should be able to analyze the situation, identify the relevant information, apply the formulas correctly, and come up with a solution.

• Promote active learning and student engagement: The hands-on activity should be designed to promote active learning and student engagement. This can be done through the use of hands-on activities, group discussions, and questioning, which encourage students to think critically and actively engage in the learning process.

Introduction (10-15 minutes)

1. Review of basic concepts: The teacher starts the lesson by reviewing the concepts of force, rotation, and linear momentum with the students, as these are fundamental to understanding torque or moment of a force. The teacher can do this through a brief theoretical review, or through a quick group discussion, where students are encouraged to recall and share what they know about these concepts.

2. Presenting the problem situation: Next, the teacher presents two problem situations that will serve as the basis for the Development of the theory. The first may be that of a screw that needs to be tightened with a screwdriver. The second may be that of a teacher who needs to turn a large bicycle wheel. Both problem situations involve the application of a force that causes the rotation of an object around an axis.

3. Contextualizing the importance of the subject: The teacher then contextualizes the importance of torque or moment of a force, explaining that this concept is fundamental to understanding numerous practical applications. For example, torque is crucial to understanding how a tool such as a screwdriver or a wrench works. Similarly, torque is essential to understanding how engines and rotating mechanisms work.

4. Introducing the topic with curiosities or relevant applications: To pique students' interest, the teacher can share some curiosities or interesting applications of torque or moment of a force. For example, the teacher can mention that torque is used to measure the power of engines, or that torque is a fundamental concept in building robots and industrial machines.

5. Presenting the topic of the lesson: Finally, the teacher presents the topic of the lesson: torque or moment of a force. The teacher explains that in this lesson the students will learn what torque is, how to calculate the torque of a force, and how torque is affected by the magnitude of the force, the distance between the point of application of the force and the axis of rotation, and the angle between the force and the position vector.

By the end of the Introduction, students should have a clear understanding of what will be learned in the lesson and why this subject is important.

Development (20-25 minutes)

1. Real-Life Torque Activity: "Tightening Screws" (10-12 minutes)

   • For this activity, the teacher should prepare in advance a wooden plank with several screws of different sizes and weights.
   • The students will be divided into groups of up to five students and each group will receive a screwdriver, a ruler, and a scale.
   • The aim of the activity is for students to experiment with applying torque by tightening screws. They should try to tighten the screws into the plank, measuring the force applied with the scale and the distance from the point of application of the force to the axis of rotation with the ruler.
   • After each attempt, the students should record the values of force, distance, and torque, and discuss how these values relate. They should realize that, keeping the force constant, the greater the distance from the point of application of the force to the axis of rotation, the greater the torque. Similarly, keeping the distance constant, the greater the force applied, the greater the torque.

2. Torque Problem Activity: "Torque Challenge" (10-12 minutes)

   • For this activity, the teacher should prepare in advance a series of torque problems of different difficulty levels.
   • The students will remain divided into groups and each group will receive a sheet with the problems. They will have to solve the problems, applying the torque formulas they learned in class.
   • The teacher should circulate around the room, helping the groups as needed and encouraging discussion and critical thinking.
   • After a certain time, each group will present the solution to one of the problems to the class. This will promote collaborative learning and allow students to see different approaches to solving the same problem.

3. Group Discussion: "Applications of Torque in Everyday Life" (5-7 minutes)

   • To conclude the Development part of the lesson, the teacher should promote a group discussion on the applications of torque in everyday life.
   • The teacher can start the discussion by asking questions such as: "Where do you see torque being applied in everyday life?" and "How does torque affect things around us?".
   • Students should be encouraged to actively participate in the discussion, sharing their ideas and experiences.
   • The teacher should guide the discussion, reinforcing the concepts learned and making connections between theory and practice.

During the Development of the lesson, the teacher should be attentive to ensure that all students are actively participating in the activities and to provide additional support when needed. The teacher should also take advantage of the activities and discussions to assess students' understanding of torque or moment of a force and to clarify any doubts that may arise.

Feedback (10-15 minutes)

1. Group Discussion and Reflection (5-7 minutes):

   • The teacher should gather all students for a group discussion on the solutions or conclusions found by each team during the activities.
   • Each group should share their findings, difficulties, and conclusions, allowing the other students to learn from their experiences and perspectives.
   • The teacher should ask questions to stimulate the discussion, such as "How did you apply the concept of torque to solve the problem?" or "What were the main difficulties encountered and how did you overcome them?".
   • The goal is for students to reflect on what they have learned and how they applied the knowledge gained to solve the problems posed.

2. Connection of Practice with Theory (2-3 minutes):

   • The teacher should explain how the practical activities carried out connect with the theory of torque or moment of a force.
   • For example, the teacher can highlight that, during the "Tightening Screws" activity, students were able to observe in practice how force and distance affect torque. Similarly, during the "Torque Challenge", students had the opportunity to apply torque formulas to solve practical problems.
   • The teacher can also make references to real-world examples, such as the application of torque in the automotive industry or in the construction of machinery.

3. Review of Main Concepts (2-3 minutes):

   • To consolidate learning, the teacher should review the main concepts and formulas of torque or moment of a force.
   • The teacher can do this interactively by asking students to recount the concept in their own words or to explain the formulas and how they are used.
   • The teacher should correct any misunderstandings and clarify any doubts that may still exist.

4. Individual Reflection (1-2 minutes):

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher should ask students to reflect individually on what they have learned.
   • The teacher can ask questions such as: "What was the most important concept you learned today?" or "What questions have not yet been answered?".
   • Students should be encouraged to write down their reflections and questions for later review or for the next lesson.

By the end of the Feedback, students should have a clear understanding of the concept of torque or moment of a force, how to calculate torque, and how torque is affected by the magnitude of the force, the distance between the point of application of the force and the axis of rotation, and the angle between the force and the position vector. They should also be able to apply this knowledge to solve practical problems. In addition, the teacher should have a good idea of students' level of understanding and the areas that may need reinforcement or review in future lessons.

Conclusion (5-10 minutes)

1. Summary of Main Points (2-3 minutes): The teacher should recap the main points covered during the lesson, summarizing the concept of torque or moment of a force, the formulas for calculating torque, and how force, distance, and the angle of the position vector affect torque. The teacher can do this interactively by asking students to contribute with what they remember and what they found most interesting or challenging.

2. Connection Between Theory, Practice, and Applications (2-3 minutes): The teacher should highlight how the lesson connected the theory of torque or moment of a force with practice, through the activities of "Tightening Screws" and "Torque Challenge". The teacher should also reinforce the importance of torque in everyday applications, such as the operation of tools, engines, and machinery.

3. Extra Materials (1-2 minutes): The teacher can suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their understanding of torque. This may include physics books, educational websites, online videos, home experiments, among others. The teacher can share these suggestions via email, a post on the school's learning management system, or on a virtual communication platform.

4. Relevance of Torque (1-2 minutes): Finally, the teacher should reinforce the importance of torque for everyday life and for various areas of study and work. The teacher can mention, for example, that torque is fundamental to the operation of countless machines and devices, from bicycles to cars and airplanes. In addition, torque is a crucial concept in fields such as engineering, architecture, physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, and others.

By the end of the Conclusion, students should have a clear understanding of what was learned in the lesson, how the theory connects with practice and applications, and where they can find additional resources to reinforce their learning. In addition, students should understand the importance of torque for everyday life and for various areas of study and work.