Enrichment - Ganske

Phase 1: Introduction 

• Essential Question: How will forces applied to an object change the motion? 
• The Challenge: You will balance mass, speed, height, and friction to create a roller coaster run. 
• Student Role: Researcher and Roller Coaster Creator

Phase 2: Navigating the Challenge

        

1. Research Newton’s Laws of Motion including forces, velocity, friction, and gravity (http://goo.gl/cJtepo) 
2. Research "Physics of Motion : The Physics of Roller Coasters" on page 13 of the website below by watching the video (http://goo.gl/KQIVF2). 
3.  Examine and play with a roller coaster on this website (http://goo.gl/1dd6ko)

Phase 3: Experimenting

LAB with a PARTNER

• Go to the website http://goo.gl/1dd6ko
• You will be changing the settings on the roller coaster one at a time
• Test each one below with the bar at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4.
• Record your results of the performance of your coaster in your data table given in class. 
• Be thinking about what happens to the coaster after each change is made? 
• Look at your data and create a successful roller coaster
• The coaster must complete a run without flying off the track or running out of energy before the end.
• Record your final setting on your data table paper

Roller Coaster	Observation at ¼?	Observation at ½?	Observation at ¾?	Final Setting
Hill 1
Hill 2
Loop
Speed
Mass
Gravity
Friction

Phase 4: Debrief and Reflection

ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF NOTEBOOK OR IN WORD

Write a paragraph describing the variables you chose to balance while designing your roller coaster. How did a change in one variable affect the other variables? How do the forces you defined earlier in the project work together or in opposition to make the coaster function properly?  Make a summary of what you know understand about Newton's Laws and roller coasters. 




  STOP

Phase 1 : Learning Objectives

• Draw motion of planets, Moons and satellites.
• Draw diagrams to show how gravity is the force that controls the motion of our solar system.
• Identify the variables that affect the strength of the gravity.
• Predict how motion would change if gravity was stronger or weaker. 

Phase 2: Understanding motion

1. Open the Gravity and Orbits simulation by clicking HERE and then clicking RUN NOW. Take 5 minutes to explore how the Earth, Moon, and the Space Station move.  Figure out the different controls you can manipulate. Talk about what you find with your partner if you have one  
2. NEXT, compare the motion of the Earth moving around the Sun with the Moon moving around the Earth.  If you and your partner each have a computer: Try choosing a different view on each computer for this question.  
3. Answer all questions in the chart given to you in class.

Earth moves around the Sun Your Picture Your Description	Moon moves around the Earth Your Picture Your Description
What are some things you find that are the same about these motions? What are some things you find that are different about these motions?

Part 3: Understanding Gravity

• For the Sun and Earth system: 
• Draw the path of the Earth with GRAVITY ON and GRAVITY OFF
• Add arrows to show the force of gravity, label with "gravity force"
• Draw the Sun's gravitational pull on the EARTH
• Draw the Earth's gravitational pull on the SUN 
• Answer on your paper, why you think the Earth moves, but the Sun does not move?

• Play with the simulator to find ways to change the length of the blue gravity force arrows.  Collect your results in the table given in class.
• Fill in an ACTION (something you created --see example below) below and write whether or not the gravitational force increases or decreases

ACTION	Gravity Force Increases	Gravity Force Decreases
Put star and planet closer together

 Phase 4: Reflection

• Write a reflection on the back of you paper.  Explain what you changed to make the Moon go around the Earth in a bigger circle?  How could you make the Erth take a longer time to go around the sun?  How could you make the Earth take a shorter time to go around the sun?  Write about any other changes you may have noticed during the simulation.

  STOP



Complete both the roller coaster and gravity projects.

• Go back to Science Enrichment D1 / D2 
• Make sure that you have completed the reflection paragraph.
• Please turn in all papers with your name on them to Mr. Ganske or Mrs. Manuel

After all projects are complete,

• Pick an element from the periodic table

• Research the element using the internet or Mrs. Manuel's book
• http://www.chemicool.com/
• http://www.webelements.com/
• http://periodic.lanl.gov/index.shtml
• Create a fact sheet in a word document about that element
• Include - abbreviation and name
• Include - atomic number and atomic weight
• Include - when it was discovered and by who
• Include - what the element is used for
• Include - 3 interesting facts about it

  STOP


 Marshmallow Challenge

• Group yourself into groups of FOUR students
• You will be building a Marshmallow tower with your classmates.  
• Read the rules BELOW
• Come up with a plan(s) and execute your plan

RULES  

1. ✦Build the Tallest Freestanding Structure: The winning team is the one that has the tallest structure measured from the table top surface to the top of the marshmallow. That means the structure cannot be suspended from a higher structure, like a chair, ceiling or chandelier.
   
   
2. ✦The Entire Marshmallow Must be on Top: The entire marshmallow needs to be on the top of the structure. Cutting or eating part of the marshmallow disqualifies the team. 
   
   
3. ✦Use as Much or as Little of the Kit: The team can use as many or as few of the 20 spaghetti sticks, as much or as little of the string or tape. The team cannot use the paper bag as part of their structure.
   
   
4. ✦Break up the Spaghetti, String or Tape: Teams are free to break the spaghetti, cut up the tape and string to create new structures.
   
   
5. ✦The Challenge Lasts 18 minutes: Teams cannot hold on to the structure when the time runs out. Those touching or supporting the structure at the end of the exercise will be disqualified. 
   
   
   Challenge from (http://marshmallowchallenge.com/Instructions.html)