Avon Lake High School · AP Physics C
The Pendulum Project — students building a fully functioning, museum-grade Foucault pendulum for our district.
Our Vision
Our goal is to advance the skills of the students through engineering projects involving research, design, and problem-solving; this involves collaboration with departments across the school and local industries. Ultimately, we want to show how learning in the classroom can transfer into real-world projects and expose students to a collaborative environment.
The AP Physics C class' current project is building a fully functioning museum-grade Foucault pendulum located in the district. This project is an ongoing research and design project that has spanned multiple graduating classes.
2019
Project began
~36 hrs
Full precession in Avon Lake
6
Student teams
Goals
Each student will have the opportunity to collaborate with engineers and businesses, developing their skills in networking and engineering. This will serve them well in their prospective futures as engineers and professionals. This project fosters collaboration between different departments of the school — such as the art, band, and tech departments.
The pendulum aims to serve as a landmark for the community, enhancing the collective understanding of the sciences and inspiring younger students. The project serves as a feat of engineering for our school, and it will allow students and investors a visual representation of their impact.
Problem solving skills are developed for students through this project. We are able to identify, analyze, and resolve issues within the design process. Students are constantly monitoring progress and prepared to make adaptations as needed.