Preparing to Launch

Ready, Set, Go!

The 8th grade Physical Science classes have been studying Newton’s Laws and Forces.  As part of their investigation, students took part in dramatizations of the laws and looked at practical applications.  The students explored the Newton’s Cradle as well as explored the Magnetic Accelerator Track.  In addition to using the track to visualize Newton’s Third Law (The Law of Action/ Reaction), the students competed in a friendly magnetic launch competition.  Students launched a sphere onto the track where three other spheres, including one magnetic sphere, were in place.  In turn, the last sphere launched off from the ramp and the students observed how it fought against outside forces, such as friction.   The students tried to get their sphere to travel the greatest distance.  In doing so, they explored by conducting experiments to see the effects each variable had on the launch of their spheres.  One example of a variable was adjusting the slope of the ramp.

The students on the Explorer Team had such a great interest in the exploration that the team used part of their Community Meeting to have finals of the races which included the top two students from each class.  The remainder of the team cheered on each participant.