Experiment
For this weeks application assignment I selected the question how does the steepness of a slope and mass affect a collision outcome?
I reenacted an experiment that I utilized with my fourth grade learners, in this experiment learners have two reconstruct ramps, one with a height of 6.5 inches and the other with the height of three inches the height is obtained by utilizing wooden blocks; in order to control the experiment only this variable differs. For the ramp we utilize a ruler securely fastened at the edge of each block, the grove in the plastic ruler serves as an excellent ramp for balls of varying sizes. In this case I used a marble as my object that is to gain momentum rolling down the ramp; this was chosen because of its weight and my previous knowledge of how a marble can gain momentum and transfer force. Once the marbles are released they are to roll into a lightweight paper cup with an open whole cut into it facing the ramp at a distance of 6cm from the base of the ramp, the goal is to get the paper cup to travel at a distance of 4cm or more once the marble is released gains momentum and hits the inside of the cup.
Trials/Challenges
Experiment
For this weeks application assignment I selected the question how does the steepness of a slope and mass affect a collision outcome?
I reenacted an experiment that I utilized with my fourth grade learners, in this experiment learners have two reconstruct ramps, one with a height of 6.5 inches and the other with the height of three inches the height is obtained by utilizing wooden blocks; in order to control the experiment only this variable differs. For the ramp we utilize a ruler securely fastened at the edge of each block, the grove in the plastic ruler serves as an excellent ramp for balls of varying sizes. In this case I used a marble as my object that is to gain momentum rolling down the ramp; this was chosen because of its weight and my previous knowledge of how a marble can gain momentum and transfer force. Once the marbles are released they are to roll into a lightweight paper cup with an open whole cut into it facing the ramp at a distance of 6cm from the base of the ramp, the goal is to get the paper cup to travel at a distance of 4cm or more once the marble is released gains momentum and hits the inside of the cup.
Class Presentation
Presenting scientific studies in this
structured method allows my learners to maintain focus on the goal that they wish to achieve while simultaneously having the ability to utilize prior knowledge and skill to determine in realist terms how the goal will be accomplished, although this model can only be utilized with my fourth and fifth grade learners (because of it level of independence) I feel that this would allow them the ability to structure their own ramps (after mine are modeled) and preserve continuity of the variables during the controlled experiments. I find that when presenting concepts, laws or theories it is best achieved through trial and error, enabling my learners to experience these concepts and introduce them to an abundance of other laws and concepts. While the learners are constructing their ramps I would inform them that they are using the practices of engineer’s, opening a Segway to the presentation of this area of STEM studies and the engineering skill they are utilizing. In order to make this lesson more appealing I would most likely add a time factor to the completion of the experiment, allowing the learners to believe that is was a sort of race against other teams to correctly record data conduct the experiment and alter variables accordingly.
