A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by
selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s
pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:
Students will observe and record the results of three different balls rolling down an inclined plane and hypothesize about the reason the distance the box changed.
The teacher should set up inclined planes with platforms at the top so that balls can be rolled down the inclined plane for this Learning Asset. Also, the teacher should place cardboard boxes at the bottom of an inclined plane.
Variation Tips (optional):
The teacher may want to discuss the following questions prior to implementing the Learning Activity:
If I place the balls on top of an inclined plane, would the balls have any type of energy? Why? Yes, the balls would have a type of energy. At rest, the ball will have potential energy (PE). When the balls are released down the inclined ramp, the potential energy changes to kinetic energy (KE).
Which ball do you think will have the most potential energy?
The teacher may want to demonstrate how to roll the ball down the inclined plane and how to measure the distance the box was moved.
The teacher may gather materials and have students set up inclined planes and cardboard boxes.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
Students should have prior knowledge of the definitions for work and mechanical energy.
Students should have prior knowledge of how to calculate average distance.
Students should have prior knowledge of the law of conservation of energy.
Keywords and Search Tags:
average, hypothesis, kinetic energy, law of conservation, law of conservation of energy, marbles, potential energy, predictions