Start Your Engines!

Based off requirements from 2022-05-26.

This module is designed for Scouts BSA to help you explore how technology affects your life each day.

Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.

Watch about three hours total of technology-related shows or documentaries that involve transportation or transportation technology. Then do the following:

Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from the show(s) you watched.

Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

Some examples include—but are not limited to—shows found on PBS (“NOVA”), Discovery Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic Channel, and TED Talks (online videos). You may choose to watch a live performance or movie at a science museum instead of watching a media production. You may watch online productions with your counselor’s approval and under your parent’s or guardian’s supervision.

Read (about three hours total) about transportation or transportation technology. Then do the following:

Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from each article.

Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

Examples of magazines include—but are not limited to—Odyssey, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Science Illustrated, Discover, Air & Space, Aviation Week, Astronomy, Science News, Natural History, Robot, Servo, and Scientific American.

Do a combination of reading and watching (about three hours total). Then do the following:

Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from each article or show.

Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

Complete ONE merit badge from the following list. (Choose one that you have not already used toward another Nova award.) After completion, discuss with your counselor how the merit badge you earned uses technology.

Do ALL the following.

Using the requirements from the above list of merit badges:

Tell your counselor the energy source(s) used in these merit badges.

Automotive Maintenance—Gasoline, diesel fuel, electric, blended gasoline, biodiesel, hybrid
Aviation—Aviation fuel and kerosene
Canoeing—Human power
Cycling—Human power
Drafting—Human power, electricity
Electricity—Electromagnetism, chemical
Energy—Biomass digesters, cogeneration, fossil fuel power, fuel cells, geothermal power, nuclear power, solar power, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal energy, wind
Farm Mechanics—Diesel fuel
Kayaking–Human power
Motorboating—Gasoline, diesel fuel, blended gasoline, biodiesel
Nuclear Science—Nuclear energy
Railroading—Diesel fuel
Small-Boat Sailing—Wind
Space Exploration—Most common solid: ammonium perchlorate mixed with powdered aluminum
- Liquids for first-stage rockets—RP-1
- Liquids for second-stage rockets—Liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen
Truck Transportation—Diesel fuel

Discuss the pros and cons of each energy source with your counselor.

Helpful Links

The following links are places to start.

“Diesel Reborn”: Edmunds.com
Website: https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/diesel-reborn.html

“Aviation Jet Fuel Information”: CSGNetwork.com
Website: http://www.csgnetwork.com/jetfuel.html

Make a list of sources of energy that may be possible to use in transportation.

With your counselor:

Discuss alternative sources of energy.

Discuss the pros and cons of using alternative energy sources.

Helpful Links

The following links are places to start when researching alternative fuels. It is not an exhaustive list. You can also search “Air Force alternative fuels” using your favorite search engine. Be sure you have your parent’s or guardian’s permission to use the Internet.

“Alternative & Advanced Vehicles”: U.S. Department of Energy
Website: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_benefits.html

Energy Sources and Uses: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration:
https://www.eia.gov/

“Alternative Fuels”: U.S. Department of Energy
Website: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml

“Alternative Fuel”: Popular Mechanics
Website: https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/

Nuclear Power: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration:
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/

Design and build a working model vehicle (not from a kit).

Make drawings and specifications of your model vehicle before you begin to build.

Include one of the following energy sources to power your vehicle (do not use gasoline or other combustible fuel source): solar power, wind power, or battery power.

Test your model. Then answer the following questions:

How well did it perform?

Did it move as well as you thought it would?

Did you encounter problems? How can these problems be corrected?

Discuss with your counselor:

Any difficulties you encountered in designing and building your model

Why you chose a particular energy source

Whether your model met your specifications

How you would modify your design to make it better

Discuss with your counselor how technology affects your everyday life.