South Carolina ETV

South Carolina ETV
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4761
Phone: 803-737-3545

Gravity (Newton's Laws of Motion): A Weighty Subject (Grades 4-6)

MASTER TEACHER

Barbara Eager

OVERVIEW

Prior to this lesson, the students will identify Newton's Laws of Motion. During this lesson, the students will explore Newton's Laws of Motion and apply the second law with a classroom activity. The videos will provide visual examples of the effects of gravity while riding on a roller coaster. Explain the results of gravity and friction acting on objects.

ITV SERIES

3-2-1 Classroom Contact. Lesson 22, Gravity and Weightlessness: Measuring G's

What's in the News: SPACE, Program 3: Gravity: A Force of Nature Minds on Science, Program 5: Gravity

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to

recognize that forces act on objects to bring about changes
examine changes caused by forces within particular systems
observe and describe various motions such as constant velocity, vibrations and oscillations, and objects falling or rolling down a hill
understand the concepts and attributes of length, capacity, weight (mass), perimeter, area, volume, time, temperature, and angle measure by demonstrating an understanding of the concepts of weight (mass) and finding the elapsed time between events
connect measurement to other aspects of mathematics and to other disciplines by applying measurement in a variety of reallife contexts and using technology to explore concepts of measurement

SC MATH/SCIENCE STANDARDS MET

Science Achievement Standards -Elementary
Stand 2: Matter and Energy Area III

recognize that forces act on objects to bring about changes
show that a push/pull can cause an object to move, change speed, change directions, and/or stop
examine changes caused by forces within particular systems
observe and describe various motions such as constant velocity, vibrations and oscillations, and objects falling or rolling down a hill

Math Achievement Standards - Elementary Measurements

Understand the concepts and attributes of length, capacity, weight (mass), perimeter, area, volume, time, temperature, and angle measure by:

demonstrating an understanding of the concepts of perimeter, area, surface area
connect measurement to other aspects of mathematics and to other disciplines by apply ing measurement in a variety of reallife contexts and using technology to explore concepts of measurement

MATERIALS

Per group

two-2 m sections of pipe insulation (2 cm. in precut in half prior to the class
a roll of masking tape two or more cardboard tubes, such as paper towel, toilet paper, or wrapping paper rolls (microwave these tubes prior to the class to sanitize them)
one small marble (must be smaller in diameter than the tube)
supports to create hills and turns, such as books, chairs, and cardboard boxes.
stop watch
markers

VOCABULARY

work

velocity

mass

speed

force

motion

friction

drag

PRE-VIEWING ACTIVITIES

Introduce Newton's Laws of Motion:

The First Law of Motion states that objects that are at rest tend to stay at rest unless acted upon by some outside force.

The Second Law of Motion explains that forces can change the motion of objects and accelerate in the direction of the force that acts on them.

The Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

A simple demonstration using a ball on a platform would provide an explanation for the first law. The focus for this lesson will be on Newton's Second Law of Motion. Explain the law and have the children brainstorm examples of this law. Ask them how this law will play a part on the construction of their roller coasters.

FOCUS FOR VIEWING

List Newton's Laws of Motion and the post the vocabulary words. Ask the students to watch the videos and identify the explanations and examples that relate to Newton's Second Law of Motion.

VIEWING ACTIVITIES

Start 3-2-1 Contact, Lesson 22 video at the point after the little boy shouts, "It works!" Stop at the end of the roller coaster ride.

Discuss what effects gravity plays on how the roller coaster behaves. Have the children record what they think in their journal. Have them record their predictions about how their constructed roller coaster will behave.

View What's in the News: Space, Program 3 to continue to make observations on how gravity will affect the construction of the roller coaster. Start at the beginning and stop where the girl is walking down the hill and a voice says... "because you~ve got gravity forces on your side helping you move down."

Observe how the roller coaster behaves even on the hills, twists, and turns. Have the children continue to record their findings in their journals. Ask for predictions from them about how they will have to construct their own model to ensure that the marble stays in place.

Provide the above stated materials and allow the children to construct a model where a marble will travel down a tube through a loop, over a hill, and through a turn (not necessarily in that order). Have the students illustrate a picture of the image of their model. This activity will take one 50 minute session (the children would like to go on, but stop them). The groups will then construct a list of what was observed while designing their model and how their marble behaved traveling down the tube.

Begin construction of roller coasters.

After they have worked ten minutes on their model, view the last video Minds on Science, Program 5: Gravity. Start where the students have returned from going to the park a second time with the scale and camcorder and have returned to the lab. Begin at the point where the scientist is releasing the cars at the top of the track. Stop at these words: "Well, it can, but only for an instant. Can you guys think of any other times when you can overcome gravity?"

Discuss how they can now perfect their model using the force of gravity to their advantage. Have them record their plans and complete the construction of their roller coaster.

Each group will draw a picture of their model. They will indicate on their drawing where the force of gravity plays an important part in aiding in increasing the speed of the marble. Have them identify where drag and friction will slow the marble down. They will record their results in their journal.

POST-VIEWING ACTIVITIES

Review the vocabulary words. Ask the children to explain what the following words have to do with the way their roller coaster should behave:

velocity
mass
speed
force
motion
friction
drag

Ask them to repeat Newton's Second Law of Motion. Ask how it had something to do with their activity. Encourage independent exploration in the construction of future roller coaster.

ACTION PLAN

Invite an engineer to come in to view the completed models.

EXTENSIONS

Science: Continue the exploration of Newton's Laws of Motions through the building of rockets or another vehicle.

Mathematics: Change the length of the strips and determine if this will affect the rate of speed. Use a stop watch to keep track of the time.

Language Arts: Write a descriptive paragraph of how the marble must feel careening down the run.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Magazines: Jones, T. Griffith and Jones, Linda Cronin. Science and Children. "The World's Best Roller Coasters," pp. 12 - 15, November/ December 1995.

Kits: A World in Motion, SAE International, 1990.