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Learners build simple catapults and use them to launch cotton balls. Learners can see Newton's second law of motion in effect; pulling the catapult arm back further creates more force and thus more acceleration of the cotton ball. This activity can be combined with other activities to create a larger lesson. Resource contains vocabulary definitions and suggestions for assessment, extensions, and scaling for different levels of learners.
- Under 5 minutes
- 45 to 60 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 11 - 18
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 2 wooden blocks
- 1 thin strip of metal banding (8 in. long)
- 1 protractor
- 4 long nails (or a C-clamp, or duct tape)
- 1 small nail
- 1 cotton ball
- 1 hammer
- Tape measure or meter stick
Subjects
-
Mathematics
-
Algebra
- Patterns
- Variables and Expressions
-
Algebra
-
Physical Sciences
-
Motion and Forces
- Acceleration
- Projectile Motion
- Newton's Laws
-
Motion and Forces
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Duren, Sabre ; Heavner, Ben ; Schaefer Zarske, Malinda ; Carlson, Denise
Source Collection
- TeachEngineering
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Regents of the University of Colorado, 2004
Funding Sources:
- Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
- U.S. Department of Education
- National Science Foundation, 0226322