I would like to use this Post to feature one of my Engineering Computer Applications course students. The class  recently had a project to design and implement a Userform in Excel that deals with the Physics topic of Projectile Motion. They were asked to build a GUI type Userform in VBA that allows a user to put in values for the initial velocity of a projectile (Muzzle Velocity) , its launch angle, and the initial height above the horizontal plane. They were then to use the values to calculate and display the usual parameters (e.g. the velocity in the horizontal direction, the velocity in the vertical direction, the time of flight, the downrange distance, and the maximum height). The class had previously done this type of analysis using Excel in a more traditional way, i.e. they calculated all those parameters and displayed them on a worksheet.  They also graphed the height versus time. For the latest project, they did not have to tie the userform to their graph. 

I have the students do userform projects for many reasons, but mostly because userforms are all around us.  Everywhere you look there is some sort of userform.  I see this an opportune time to mix in a little Physics and Computer Programming skills to build something that is used everywhere.

One of the students, Rebecca Seddon, did an absolutley wonderful job in her design and implementation. I invite you to launch Rebecca’s Userform at the Link below and try it for yourself.  Notice some very nice features:

1. A nice looking, very simple and very intuitive graphic layout design of the form,

2. Fully automatic update of the graph for each new set of calculations,

3. Clearing of calculation results as soon as a new value is entered for any of the available input parameters,

4. Data formatting.

Keep in mind as you try the Userform, that this is a class for first semester Freshman, who typically have not had the Physics course that cover Projectile Motion.

I hope you appreciate the work Rebecca did; I know I did!
Projectile Motion VBA

After my initial Post of Rebecca’s Projectile Motion userform, I looked at her latest project which is a userform for an application of Stoke’s Law for the Settling Velocity of particles in different fluids. I invite you to look at this one as well.

Settling Velocity

John Tatro

Who said it is difficult to get young children, especially girls, interested in math and science? After reading the following brief description of the first challnge for the Crosby afterschool robotics program, view the three videos and you be the judge. Pay attention the level of engagement, the intensity, and the body language of the kids.

Wow, what a great way to spend an hour on a Wednesday afternoon!

The teams had to determine how far their robot traveled for one rotation of the wheels. Then they had to measure the length of the challange course and calculate how many rotations they would have to program to get the robot to reach the finish line, but not touch it. Here are some videos of the kids in action.
Itzal’s Team Programming
Jackie’s Trial Run & Itzal’s Final Run
Jackie’s Final Run

For more information about the BCC Service Learning Legos program please visit the following blog: Legos Blog.

John Tatro – Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology

Wednesday, Oct 12th was the second meeting of the afterschool, Legos Robotics, enrichment program at Crosby Elementary School. Here is a photo of the kids who are participating this year.

Besides me, the photo shows one of the BCC Service Learning students, David Manzella, and the five Crosby students currently in the program.
Returning from last year are the two young ladies Jackie and Itzal. New comers are Kayshawn, Madison, and Kirsten. What a delightful group. Missing from the photo are Kurt Doherty (BCC Service Learning student) and Mrs. Peggy Irving (Crsoby Staff).

The kids were very excited to finally be able to get the robot to move around. They split up into two teams and started the tasks for Week 2. They went through a number of programs to have the robot drive forward and reverse; and for several different distances. The distances were programmed either by setting the number of rotations of the tires, or the number of degrees the tires turned. They had to measure the distances under known conditions in both inches and centimeters. Then, they had to calculate how far the robot would go for each rotation or for each degree. This is all in preparation for their first big challange that will take place next Wednesday. I will set-up a course with a Start Line and a Finish Line, and each team will have to program their robot to just reach the finish Line without touching it. they get one practice run and then they go-for-the-gold.

Here are some photos of the kids in action as they see what their program actually does, and they busily measure the distances.

For more on BCC’s Service Learning Program, please visit their Blog at
http://blogs.berkshirecc.edu/servicelearning/