FRONTLINE - College of Engineering - North Carolina State University

The lessons in the curriculum include “Friction: Friend or
Foe?” and “Energy Conversion: Form-Shifter.” In the lesson
on friction, students study the forces that govern the perfor-
mance of a racecar and learn how friction is a key factor in
the motion of the car. The lesson then also gives common
examples of friction that people encounter in daily life, such
as the friction between shoes and sidewalk. The full curricu-
lum is broken into four categories: matter, motion, force and
energy.
“This is a unique program that will address many of the
current deficiencies in math and science education at the K
through 12 level,” says Klang. “With more funding for devel-
oping and expanding the curriculum, we could have a unified
curriculum for all grades.”
Work has already begun with middle school students and
teachers. The first On Track for Learning event, which
was held in fall 2005 at the Mooresville Dragstrip, involved
approximately 50 fifth graders from a Statesville charter
school. The event was organized by John Moloney, manager
of Penske Technology Group, based on the education
program developed by Klang and Maxa. The students
learned about friction, aerodynamics, and elapsed time
and velocity as they apply to a dragster. The students met
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) driver Tisha Wilson, a
high school student who competes in NHRA events. Wilson
demonstrated her driving skills in her NHRA dragster.
“The event was a great success,” says Klang. “The students
were able to apply the lessons from the curriculum and watch
the principles of physics at work on the racetrack.” �
Middle school students learn about
friction, aerodynamics and elapsed
time as they apply to a dragster during
the On Track for Learning event held at
Mooresville Dragstrip.
NC State University holds first
automotive industry workshop
in North Carolina
NASCAR is just one of North Carolina’s important connections to the automotive
industry. At NC State University more than 60 faculty members conduct research related
to the automotive and transportation industries. With research projects that cover every
aspect of the industry from design of the fabric on the seats to the design of the roads,
experts at NC State work on advances that improve the way America travels.
Industry and government leaders joined NC State researchers on the university
campus in spring 2006 for the first Automotive Industry Workshop to explore the
most challenging issues facing the automotive industry and ways to collaborate to
address those issues. Participants learned about the research capabilities of NC State
in automotive and transportation technologies, identified challenges related to global
competitiveness and the environment and discussed ways to address the challenges.
The event was sponsored by the College of Engineering, the College of Textiles and the
Office of Research and Graduate Studies.
Speakers and panelists included Richard Dell, director of the Advanced Vehicle Research
Center; Cindy Williams, director of technology management at General Motors R&D;
Don Graunstadt, CEO of Lotus Engineering Inc. North America; Simon Cobb, director
of project planning at Lotus Engineering; Dr. Fred Gallash, Gallash Consulting; and
Dr. Robert McMahan, senior advisor to the Governor, Science and Technology, State
of North Carolina.
Breakout groups were led by faculty members from the colleges of Design, Engineering
and Textiles. Key leaders from every aspect of the industry were represented at the
workshop, including Automotive Textile Solutions, General Motors, Duke Power, Foard
Systems Design, Insight Technologies, Lord Corporation, Nomaco, Omnisys Corporation,
RTI International, Southern Research Institute, 3TEX and Walbridge Aldinger. State
leaders from the NC Department of Commerce were also present.
The automotive and transportation research resources available at NC State could
play a key role in attracting the automotive industry to North Carolina. Organizers are
exploring the possibility of making the workshop an annual event.
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