Preventing Potholes

Each group needs:

• 3 piezo elements, such as part # SEN-10293 ROHS for $1.50 each from SparkFun at https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10293
• Vernier LabQuest handheld device, such as Vernier’s LabQuest Mini that attaches to a computer with the Logger Pro 3 software installed, for $169 each at https://www.vernier.com/product/labquest-mini/
• differential voltage probe, such as Vernier’s DVP-BTA differential voltage probe for $39 each at https://www.vernier.com/products/sensors/voltage-probes/dvp-bta/
• piece of rubber matting, ~50 x 25 cm, to represent an asphalt road; such as cut from 8 mm-thick 4 x 10 ft roll of plyometric black gym rubber floor material for $130-200 at Greatmats at https://www.greatmats.com/products/plyometric-floor.php; this roll of solid black rubber is enough to make ~30 model “roads”
• heavy, large bolt and nut, such as from Home Depot’s 25-pack of 3/8-inch x 1.5-inch zinc hex bolts for $5.22 at http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-x-1-1-2-in-Zinc-Hex-Bolt-25-Pack-800830/204281552 and corresponding 100-pack of 3/8-inch 16 tpi zinc-plated hex nuts for $9.57 at http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-16-tpi-Zinc-Plated-Hex-Nut-100-Piece-per-Box-801750/204274086
• 1 pair of scissors
• temporary adhesive, such as tape or glue stick, to adhere the piezo elements to the rubber mat
• (optional) plastic bin or cardboard box to contain the above materials, for easy distribution
• (optional) digital camera or phone, to document the experiment and results for the final letter
• computer with Logger Pro 3 interface software from Vernier at https://www.vernier.com/products/software/lp/; a $249 school-wide license enables installation on an infinite number of computers, including student devices
• Microsoft® Excel® loaded on the computer, for data recording and graphing
• Microsoft® Word® loaded on the computer, for final letter preparation
• paper and pencil