Lesson 59 of 84 · Energy
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabCenter of Gravity and Balance (Part 2)
Center of Gravity and Balance (Part 2).
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Energy never disappears — it just hides somewhere else.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: which will move faster, and why?
What You'll Learn
The center of gravity is the point where an object's weight is evenly balanced. An object stays steady when its center of gravity sits above its base, but it tips over once that point moves past the edge.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- marbles
- paper clips
- rubber bands
- blocks
- spring scale
Safety First
- Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.
Steps
Read the introduction and identify the main idea of this lesson.
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.
Note any unexpected results and think about why they happened.
Share your findings with the class or a partner and discuss what you learned.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is gravity?
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.
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