I don't know what says fall like a pile of pumpkins. I thought it would be fun to use them in some of our simple machine stations today--it definitely brightened things up! ![]() I had 7 stations set up, working with levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, screws, inclined planes, wedges, and a bonus station on buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle--not a simple machine, but as a scientist who had a lot to do with our understanding of several of the simple machines, I thought it fit. Many of the stations involved using a spring scale to measure the force, in Newtons, that was needed to do the work on the pumpkin. Others involved creating the simple machine and practicing using it. Almost all of them involved a pumpkin. They used pulleys to lift a pumpkin, measuring the difference in force needed when using different numbers of pulleys. They tested first class levers, finding the best place to place the fulcrum to lift the pumpkin, or launch it :). They pulled pumpkins up different inclined planes, on various wheels, and moved wedges through a corn bin. Hopefully, everyone is feeling familiar with the simple machines and how they work. If you are interested in doing a little more with this topic, check out the ideas below. Additional InformationVideos:
Bozeman Science--Simple Machines Work, force, and simple machines. The Wooden Winch The mechanics of winches came up in class--this 10 minute video walks through the process of making a wooden winch, showing how it works for anyone interested. Activities: Pumpkin School Need something to do with your pumpkins this fall? Try these other math and science ideas. 30 Simple Machine Projects Links to fun ideas for learning about the different simple machines. Pick your favorite machine and try one of the ideas here.
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Today was a little bit of a hodge-podge of activities. The first class finished up a second part of the pendulum lab that we didn't get to last week, while the second class created meters to measure the force we were using while doing work both with, and without, an incline plane. And all the classes were introduced to simple machines and where we might find them in our every day world. ![]() But first, after testing how the length of the pendulum affected its frequency last week, the oldest class designed their own experiments this week to test if the weight of the bob had any affect on frequency. The two groups each chose a slightly different way to run their tests, but they created data tables and recorded their times and ended up with interesting results. We had a discussion about the ways we might make things more accurate--repeated trials, timing for a longer period and then dividing, which is like getting an average, and not trying to manipulate data to match our hypothesis. Then, it was on to the new topic--simple machines! We introduced what simple machines are in all 3 classes and they did a couple activities to get familiar with the basic machines. They matched the names of the machines with diagrams and their definitions and filled out a chart showing which is which. They identified the types of machines that are found in every day objects, and finally spent some time learning about the three classes of levers and examples of those. In the youngest class, we turned the matching into a game, played with levers and inclined planes, and screws, and got a head start on their I Spy books where they will get to record the simple machines they find around the house this week. Additional InformationVideos:
The Mighty Mathematics of the Lever Short video on how the lever works Bill Nye: Simple Machines A full episode dedicated to how simple machines help us 6 Simple Machines in 1 A Rube Goldberg machine that utilizes all 6 simple machines--this one is fun! Activities: LEGO Gravity Rollers Play with wheels and axles, and gravity, with these self propelled vehicles. DIY Muscle Machine A pulley project, as well as a fun anatomy lesson. Archimedes Screw Make your own of this fun adaptation of Archimedes ancient invention. We didn't create a human pendulum, but we did play with the length of the pendulum to see how it affects the period and frequency. Each group used a weight, or bob, on a long string to create a pendulum. Then, they measured the frequency (# of swings in a minute) and figured out period length (how long it takes for one complete swing.) Then, it was time to shorten the string. After testing several lengths, the results were pretty clear! ![]() We went over how to plot the results on a line graph, learning how to label the axis and then find each data point from the table on the graph. Once the points were all marked, they drew lines to connect the dots, giving them a picture of what happens as the string in our pendulum went from 10 cm to 90 cm. Lots of discussion today about precision and accuracy in measurement and being consistent so we could be sure we were testing one variable and not unintended variables. The groups did their best to set up their pendulum the same for each test with only the string length changing. ![]() The youngest class spent some time playing with the pendulums, timing the difference between three different length pendulums, as well as one that was a different weight. They diagramed the difference between a long pendulum and a short one in their lab books. We talked about how gravity causes the pendulums motion, and then read part of You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Gravity. Then, we did a couple other tests involving gravity, first by dropping a weighted sock from different heights onto a scale so we could see the differences in force. And, finally, we played with paper airplanes and air foils, trying to create something that could take advantage of the lift caused by the air to conteract gravity. Additional ActivitiesArticles & Books & More:
All Work and No Play An article that explains what work means in physics. We will be moving on to this topic next week, so please prepare by reading and/or watching something that discusses work. Brains On: The Mystery of Gravity This podcast is a favorite at our house. Check out the show they did on gravity, or browse their other episodes to find more topics that interest you. Videos: Sand Pendulum Make your own sand pendulum. This also discusses some of the motions you can see. Pendulum Wave Demonstration This is a great visual of the relationship between pendulum length and period! Definitely worth the 3 minutes to watch. Energy, Work, and Power Quick explanation for how these 3 concepts are related. Will help explain what we will be doing next in class. The first class had the chance to do the activity that the other classes finished last week. They tested out objects in motion where only one part was acted upon by a force to stop it, and quickly saw the importance of seat belts--when a small clay "person" (or blob) was added to the top of the car, that person went flying when the car hit the barrier. The faster the car went, the farther the blob flew. We made balloon rockets, demonstrating Newton's 3rd law (for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction--the air comes out of the balloon, the balloon flies the opposite way.) and then we tested them with less air, demonstrating the 2nd law--Force=mass x acceleration. Less air coming out, less distance traveled. We explored the 1st and 2nd laws with activities about speed, velocity, and acceleration. Hopefully everyone has a little better understanding about the differences between these 3 terms now.
One of the favorites was another test of the 1st law: will the blocks, and cups, actually stay at rest when cards between them are pulled out? Most groups found that the blocks, with their heavy mass, didn't move as much, but the lighter cups were easily affected by small amounts of force, possibly even including air currents from the kids moving in the area.
Additional ActivitiesVideos
Real Life Examples of Newton's Laws A couple of the classes got to watch this video, but for anyone who wants to see how the different laws of motion affect objects, this is a good one. Crash Course: Newton's Laws This 11 minute video goes more into depth for everyone who wants to know a little more, or if you want more clarity. 1st Place Mousetrap Car Using Science Mark Rober makes physics fun! Books: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions "Hilarious and informative answers to questions you never thought to ask." Recommended by one of the students! Everything You Need to Know About Science I highly recommend this book for the middle school age. It's more fun than a text book, but does a great job as an overview of the science topics they'd be introduced to during these years if they were in school. It could be used to go along with the topics we're studying in class. Activities Make a catapult--Make a simple catapult and see Newton's Laws of Motion in action! |
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May 2020
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