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How Far?
To learn how friction affects motion, learners build a measurement tool from a rubber band and other simple materials.
Perching Parrot
Learners explore the concepts of equilibrium and center of mass by seeing how non-symmetrical objects balance.
Hovercraft Racers!
Learners build a simple hovercraft using air from a balloon to levitate a craft made from a compact disc (CD).
Build a Lever
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Learners build a lever and use it to lift a load. With the load on one end of the ruler, learners add coins to the effort cup at the other end until the load is lifted.
Action-Reaction Rocket!
Learners construct a rocket from a balloon propelled along a guide string.
Blow-and-Go Parachute
Learners make a skydiver and parachute contraption and launch it. They see that the drag created by air resistance slows the descent of skydivers as they travel back to Earth.
Hanging Around
Learners investigate weight by building a spring scale. They observe and record how it responds to objects with different masses.
Swinging Yo-Yo
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Learners build a pendulum from a yo-yo, and then design their own experiment to determine what affects the pendulum's period of swing.
Leaning Tower of Pasta
Learners build structures from spaghetti and marshmallows to determine which structures are able to handle the greatest load.
Swing in Time
Learners build and investigate pendulums of different lengths. They discover that the longer the string of the pendulum, the longer the time it takes to swing.
How Do Things Fall?
Learners engage in close observation of falling objects. They determine it is the amount of air resistance, not the weight of an object, which determines how quickly an object falls.
Skateboard Disaster
Learners examine collisions between two skateboards carrying different masses. They learn about conservation of momentum in collisions.
Simple Submarine
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Using simple, inexpensive items, learners build and test submarine models.
Breaking Beams
Learners investigate stress and strain by designing, building, and testing beams made from polymer clay.
Super Spinners
Learners build at least two different spinners (tops) to investigate how mass distribution, size, and shape affect the length of time the spinner spins.
Digger
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In this activity, learners build their own construction cranes using tongue depressors and pushpins.
Downhill Race
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In this activity, learners explore how two cylinders that look the same may roll down a ramp at different rates.