Lesson 35 of 84 ยท Magnets
Experimentโญ 30 XPโก Spark LabGravity: The Force That Pulls (Part 2)
Gravity: The Force That Pulls (Part 2).
๐ฏ Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
โก The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
๐ฅ A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
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
- weights
- tape
- ruler
- cardboard
Safety First
- Do not look directly at the sun or bright lights.
- Clean up spills immediately to prevent slipping.
- 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
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
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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