Understanding Forces and Motion - Activities

NC Standard:  4.03

Activity:  Wheels

Vocabulary: gravity, inertia, friction, sliding, rolling, coasting

Question: What energy is needed to make the machines move?

Materials:
meter stick
cardboard ramp
Science book
Social Studies book
small cars for each lab group (1 with no wheels, 1 with only front wheels, and one with all 4 wheels)

Procedure:

• 1.  Put the cardboard ramp on the Science and SS books.
• 2.  Measure the distance that car 1 (no wheels- sliding) will move when put at the top of the ramp.
• 3.  Repeat step 2 three times.
• 4.  Measure the distance that car 2 (front wheels only- rolling) will move when put at the top of the ramp.
• 5.  Repeat step 4 three times.
• 6.  Measure the distance that car 3 (4 wheels- coasting) will move when put at the top of the ramp.
• 7.  Repeat step 6 three times.
• 8.  Record results in a graph.

Observations:

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Conclusions:
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Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
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