Lesson 4 of 84 ยท Magnets
Experimentโญ 30 XPโก Spark LabGravity: The Force That Pulls
Gravity: The Force That Pulls.
๐ฏ Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
โก The twist
Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.
Mind = Blown
โก Static electricity is the same physics as lightning, just smaller.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: where does the energy go?
What You'll Learn
Gravity is the force that pulls objects toward each other. On Earth, gravity pulls everything toward the center of the planet, giving objects their weight.
Key Words
- friction
- inertia
Materials Needed
- blocks
- spring scale
- stopwatch
- pencils
- toy cars
- ramps
Safety First
- Use materials only as directed in the experiment.
Steps
Review the background information on Magnets before starting.
Construct a catapult from popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Launch a marshmallow from different angles and measure the distance. Find the angle that gives the longest launch.
Look for patterns in your observations.
Make a graph or chart showing your results.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What causes an object to accelerate?
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
โShow me something at home that uses this kind of energy.โ
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
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Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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