Lesson 54 of 84 · Light
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabThe Design Process (Part 3)
The Design Process (Part 3).
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
What You'll Learn
The engineering design process: identify the problem, brainstorm ideas, build, test, and improve!
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- ruler
- markers
- popsicle sticks
- pennies
- plastic wrap
Safety First
- Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.
- Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
- Do not mix unknown chemicals together.
Steps
Look at the picture and read the labels.
Make a parachute from a plastic bag and string. Drop it from a height and time how long it takes to land.
Draw a picture of what you observe.
Share your results with a partner.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What tool do you use to measure how heavy something is?
Where you see this in real life
This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.
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.
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