Class today began with a classic demonstration about forces--tug-of-war! After the teams competed, we discussed how we had created two opposite forces, and how when those forces were unbalanced, the rope (and students) moved in one direction. If we balanced the two sides and applied equal force from each side, we could keep the rope steady and everyone stayed where they were. We also talked about the other forces that were acting on us--from gravity, the air around us, the friction with the ground (and how that friction increased and played a critical role for the winning team once they could get their feet on the pavement instead of the grass.) Then, for the older two classes, it was time for our lab question for the day--Do all leaves fall at the same speed? This gave us a chance to practice our scientific method steps, while also calculating speed from a measured distance and time. We had 5 different types of leaves, representing some extremes in leaf design. The students made observations and came up with a hypothesis to test and then got to work dropping leaves while their partner timed the fall. Once they had collected their data, we learned how to calculate speed using the change in distance divided by the change in time. This was a good lab for practicing a lot of general science skills, and fit in nicely with the beautiful fall weather we've had. The youngest two classes had time for another activity, which we'll cover next week when the first class has had a chance to catch up. But the youngest group also looked at different forces at work, and how they can exert force on the things around them. We read a book together, Forces Make Things Move, and tried out some of the things they talked about in the book. They didn't believe me when I told them that as they pushed on the car, the car would push back with equal force, until we tried it! Additional ActivitiesVideos:
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces: Why we don't fall into the center of the earth A short, fairly simple video on forces. Forces (Balanced and Unbalanced) Another quick video, aimed at 3-5th grades with real life examples. Kahn Academy Physics For those wanting to go deeper, the Kahn Academy videos on Intro to Physics, and Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion go along with what we are studying this month. Articles: How Airplanes Fly This article discusses the net forces that cause an airplane to be able lift off the ground. Activities: How Stuff Works Some fun physics activities to try out the next time you go to the park. Little Bins, Little Hands: Simple Physics Experiments Lots of different ideas to illustrate the various principles of physics--gravity, friction, density, and more.
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May 2020
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