INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

(Grades 6 and up)

GOALS OF INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

• The student will:
• Discover the concept of force.
• Determine that gravity exerts the same force upon everything regardless of weight.
• Construct and utilize a pendulum to illustrate the effects of two or more forces upon an object.
• Discuss the notion of energy conversion and illustrate it with examples.
• Define and measure work.
• Calibrate a balance beam
• Utilize the balance beam in a series of experiments demonstrating the balancing effects of various combinations of forces.
• Explain the value of the lever and demonstrate its effectiveness.
• Utilize the inclined plane to conduct work efficiently.
• Calculate the speed of a cart.
• Construct a single movable pulley and complete work with it.
• Construct a double pulley and demonstrate its effectively.
  

OBJECTIVES OF INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

• Physics
  • The student will be able to reiterate that physics is the study of how things work.
• Force
  • The student will define force as a natural or man made push or pull.
• Gravity
  The student will:
  • explain gravity as a force that pulls and holds everything on earth to the earth.
  • demonstrate gravity by dropping objects to the floor.
  • demonstrate that gravity exerts the same force upon everything regardless of weight by dropping objects of different weights and observing that they touch the floor simultaneously.
• The Pendulum
  The student will:
  • Construct a pendulum with a single bob, two bobs, and when the pendulum swings.
  • Verbalize and demonstrate that multiple forces are acting when the pendulum swings.
  • Chart the activities of pendulum bobs of differing weights in order to demonstrate that the weight of the bob does not effect its swing.
• Work
  The student will:
  • Define energy as stored power.
  • State that energy can be stored in varied ways.
  • Explain that an energy conversion occurs when the energy changes form and/or location.
  • Define work as the result of energy causing a force that causes something to move.
  • State that an energy converter is a system that changes energy from one form to another.
  • Find and chart several examples of energy conversions.
  • Measure work by utilizing the formula F x D = W.
  • Chart and measure the work necessary to move a cart.
• The Balance
  The student will:
  • Calibrate a balance beam.
  • State that if there is equal work on both sides of a balance beam the beam will be in balance.
  • Balance the beam with several combinations of weights at various distances from the center using the formula W = F x D.
  • Create unique solutions for balancing the beam.
• The Lever
  The student will:
  • Balance the lever with the fulcrum in several positions by weighting the ends with washers and charting the results.
  • State in his or her own words the concept that an advantage of the lever is the ability to apply a force in a downward motion to move a weight upward.
  • Draw conclusions regarding the amount of force required and the amount of work necessary to raise one end of the lever to varied heights.
• The Inclined Plane
  The student will:
  • Illustrate through experimentation that the conclusions drawn from experiments with The Lever with respect to applying a downward force to raise an object also apply to the Inclined Plane.
  • Following the completion of each of the suggested activities, calculate and chart the work required to pull carts of varied weights up the Inclined Plane set at differing angles.
• Speed The student will:
  • Recite the formula for speed: Speed = Distance X Time.
  • Conduct experiments with the cart and inclined plane designed to calculate speed.
  • Calculate and chart the speed of the cart in cm/sec and mph
• The Pulley
  The student will:
  • State that a newton is a measurement of force.
  • Verbalize the concept that the pulley is a labor saving device that allows a) work to be completed by spreading the effort over a greater distance and 2) ability to apply a force in a downward motion to move a weight upward.
  • Calculate and chart the newtons required to lift a 500 gram weight both with and without a pulley.
  • Construct, complete activities, and chart newtons necessary to lift weights utilizing the Single Pulley.
  • Construct, complete activities, and chart newtons necessary to lift weights utilizing the Double Pulley.
  • List an advantage and disadvantage of a) the single pulley, b) the single movable pulley, and c) the double pulley.

MATERIALS FOR INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

• Apparatus
• Base
• Ball, pendulum, cork
• Ball, pendulum, metal
• Ball, pendulum, steel
• Ball, pendulum, wooden
• Cart, 2
• Crossbeam uprights, 2
• Clip, calibrator
• Fulcrum
• Hook, 15
• Protractor
• Pegboard
• Pulley, 2
• Ramp with pulley
• String
• Stopwatch
• Tape measure
• Twine, roll
• Washers, set
• Weight, 500 gm
• Weight, 100 gm

KT1006 $49.95

Ordering Information:

Include the kit number, title, and check in US Dollars (add 15% for shipping and handling) to:
Advanced Learning Associates
32 Godfrey Lane
Milford, MA 01757

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