Lesson 5 of 6 · Energy
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabCenter of Gravity and Balance
Center of Gravity and Balance.
🎯 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
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
- weights
- spring scale
Safety First
- Have an adult check your set-up before you start, and tidy everything away afterwards.
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Test friction: pull a weighted box across 4 surfaces (carpet, tile, sandpaper, foil). Use a spring scale to measure the force needed for each.
Compare the before and after states.
Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?
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
“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.
Ready?
Center of Gravity and Balance
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
Full screen — no distractions
Checkout complete lesson on Energy for 8th Grade
Get the full Energy track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.