Lesson 60 of 84 · Forces
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabSwinging Pendulums (Part 2)
Swinging Pendulums (Part 2).
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Energy never disappears — it just hides somewhere else.
Mind = Blown
⚡ Static electricity is the same physics as lightning, just smaller.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: which will move faster, and why?
What You'll Learn
A pendulum swings back and forth using the forces of gravity and momentum.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- string
- weights
- tape
- ruler
Safety First
- Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.
Steps
Talk about what you already know about Forces.
Build a simple lever with a ruler and pencil. Try lifting objects on one end by pushing the other.
Compare what happened to what you predicted.
Tell the class one thing you learned today.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3Does a seesaw use a lever?
Where you see this in real life
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Forces for 2nd Grade
Get the full Forces track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.