This week was all about our mousetrap cars. It took us about a week to build them and test to make sure that they were functional. We also raced them this week. The lesson that we were learning was about the acceleration involved with the motion of the car.
My mousetrap car took me a few hours to build. I had to get all of the materials all in one shopping load, so I wouldn't have to keep going to the store. After that, I had to actually come up with a design and build it. Putting all of the pieces together was not all that hard to do, but, finding someway to keep the wheel axels from moving was kind of a challenge. I finally settled on using zipties and bent paperclips to hold it in place. The best part was that it actually worked!
When it came time to race it, I had a few concerns. First, when I tested it before, it went 3 meters but no farther than that. I hoped that it wouldn't get stuck and not cross the finish line. I was also concerned about the speed. It didn't have the best spring system, but it ended up making good time. Overall, I think I did good but not the best.
This week was fun because of the mousetrap cars. I know that that was only one day, but it was cool to see how my car did. This is one of the experiments that I would recommend for next years class. This project demonstrated acceleration really well, so it will help future students learn about the concepts easier.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Week 14 Reflection
This week we did alot with graphing the position, velocity and acceleration of objects. We used motion maps, velocity vs time graphs and acceleration graphs. To demonstrate how to make a motion map, we did an activity with a bowling ball that made us see the motion of the ball every second.
I learned that if a velocity time graph has a straight line than the acceleration graph will have a curved line. This is because the object needs to keep getting faster and faster to match what the velocity time graph is saying. We also learned about acceleration arrows and if you can add or subtract acceleration from the arrows to show the difference in its velocity.
We did an activity with a bowling ball to show how to graph in object using a motion map. We had one person roll the bowling ball down the hall and another person point to someone to step out every second that it passed them. Then, we went back to the classroom and made a motion map of it. We saw that the dots (representing people) were closer together when the ball slowed down and farther apart when the ball was traveling faster.
I think that I get all the stuff that was taught this week. The assesment got alot easier when I realized that I had the equations at the top of the paper. All you had to do was fill in the variables with the right number and you could do the equation right.
I learned that if a velocity time graph has a straight line than the acceleration graph will have a curved line. This is because the object needs to keep getting faster and faster to match what the velocity time graph is saying. We also learned about acceleration arrows and if you can add or subtract acceleration from the arrows to show the difference in its velocity.
We did an activity with a bowling ball to show how to graph in object using a motion map. We had one person roll the bowling ball down the hall and another person point to someone to step out every second that it passed them. Then, we went back to the classroom and made a motion map of it. We saw that the dots (representing people) were closer together when the ball slowed down and farther apart when the ball was traveling faster.
I think that I get all the stuff that was taught this week. The assesment got alot easier when I realized that I had the equations at the top of the paper. All you had to do was fill in the variables with the right number and you could do the equation right.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Week 13 Reflection
This week we learned about acceleration. We dropped things off of the roof of the science building to demonstrate this. We also took notes on the many aspects of acceleration and reading its graphs.
We learned that acceleration is the change in velocity in intervals of time. We drew an acceleration graph that showed the slope curving up. It represents a positive change in velocity for the movement of an object.
We also learned the equation to measure acceleration. You plug in everything that you know, such as the time, initial and final position, initial/final velocity. Then, you solve and get acceleration on one side of the equation and it's number on the other side.
To demonstrate acceleration, we went on to the roof of the science building and dropped things off of it. We dropped tape recorders, cell phones, DVD players and even a bowling ball off of the roof. This was all to demonstrate that many objects fall at a constant, and the same, velocity. So, they will hit the ground at the same time.
I get what acceleration is and how it is used to describe objects change in velocity. This weeks demonstration was the best so far and it was alot of fun. Plus, I learned from it too.
We learned that acceleration is the change in velocity in intervals of time. We drew an acceleration graph that showed the slope curving up. It represents a positive change in velocity for the movement of an object.
We also learned the equation to measure acceleration. You plug in everything that you know, such as the time, initial and final position, initial/final velocity. Then, you solve and get acceleration on one side of the equation and it's number on the other side.
To demonstrate acceleration, we went on to the roof of the science building and dropped things off of it. We dropped tape recorders, cell phones, DVD players and even a bowling ball off of the roof. This was all to demonstrate that many objects fall at a constant, and the same, velocity. So, they will hit the ground at the same time.
I get what acceleration is and how it is used to describe objects change in velocity. This weeks demonstration was the best so far and it was alot of fun. Plus, I learned from it too.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Week 12 Reflection
This week we learned about forces that are balanced/unbalanced. This was demonstrated by a pulley system and a car on frictionless track with a weight attached to it. We also studied graphs that the motion sensor gave us for the car. Then we took an assesment on the last day of the week that tested us on how well we knew how forces acted on an object.
The pulley system consisted of two weights on either side of a wheel. The wheel supported the string that was holding the weights up. We were shown that if you drop one weight the other weight will go upwards at the same speed. The weights were both the same mass. This demonstrated that balanced forces will have a constant speed.
The car on the frictionless track demonstrated that it would be pulled at the same speed as the weight dropping. The weight had all of the force on the car, since there was no friction. We used a motion sensor to graph the movement of the car. The graph showed that the car reached a top speed before it got stopped by the end of the track. Along with the pulley system, it also demonstrated that balanced forces will have a constant speed.
Overall, I think this week was good. I understood most of the information. I was also able to apply it to the assesment that we took on friday. I'm really not sure how I did, but it felt like I did alright.
The pulley system consisted of two weights on either side of a wheel. The wheel supported the string that was holding the weights up. We were shown that if you drop one weight the other weight will go upwards at the same speed. The weights were both the same mass. This demonstrated that balanced forces will have a constant speed.
The car on the frictionless track demonstrated that it would be pulled at the same speed as the weight dropping. The weight had all of the force on the car, since there was no friction. We used a motion sensor to graph the movement of the car. The graph showed that the car reached a top speed before it got stopped by the end of the track. Along with the pulley system, it also demonstrated that balanced forces will have a constant speed.
Overall, I think this week was good. I understood most of the information. I was also able to apply it to the assesment that we took on friday. I'm really not sure how I did, but it felt like I did alright.
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