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Where Will It Go?
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In this activity, learners predict where a ball will go after it bounces off another object. Learners discover that the motion of objects is predictable based on laws of motion.
Physics Tug of War
Learners set up books with rubber bands stretched between the books. When two identical books are stretched apart and released, they move back toward each other an equal distance.
Watch It Fly
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Learners observe projectile motion by launching wooden balls off of a table top. They set up a rubber-band launcher so that each ball experiences a consistent amount of force.
Graph Dance
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In this activity, learners "dance" (move back and forth at varying speeds) by reading a graph. This is a kinesthetic way to help learners interpret and understand how motion is graphed.
Playing with Parachutes
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In this activity, learners explore how parachutes are used to slow down moving objects. Learners work in teams of "engineers" to design and build their own parachutes out of everyday items.
Float My Boat
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In this activity, learners use tinfoil to build and test their own boats - which designs will float, and which will sink?
Newton Car
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In this activity, learners work in teams to investigate the relationship between mass, acceleration, and force as described in Newton's second law of motion.
Visualizing How the Vestibular System Works
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In this activity (page 59 of the PDF), learners spin and observe false eyelashes in jars of water (prepared at least 1 day ahead of time) to investigate the effects of different types of motion on the
Marble Drop Game
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Build your own version of a favorite carnival game, in which a marble races down a maze consisting of rows of nails.
Egg Bungee
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Learners attach an egg to a rubber-band bungee cord and drop the egg.
Seas in Motion
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In this outdoor, beach activity, learners use tennis balls, water balloons and other simple devices to investigate the movement of waves and currents off a sandy beach.
FlyBy Math: Distance-Rate-Time Problems in Air Traffic Control
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In this small-group activity, learners assume the roles of pilots, air traffic controllers, and NASA scientists to solve five Air Traffic Control (ATC) problems.
Paper Tape Motion Timer
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In this activity, learners build a recording timer made from simple materials (e.g., small dc motor, sharpie pen, craft sticks, adding machine paper tape, etc.).
Roller Coaster Design
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This activity (on page 3 of the PDF under GPS: Roller Coaster Design Activity) is a full inquiry investigation into g-force and acceleration.
No-Slip Grip
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In this physical sciences activity, learners explore friction. Learners investigate the factors that affect the force required to move an object.