Rocket Launcher
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy.
Performance Objective: Students will be able to describe and explain forces that produce motion in objects.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Demonstration/Background Information: The teacher writes Newton’s third law of motion on the board, which states “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. She will ask the students what they think this means. To demonstrate this law, she bounces a rubber ball on the floor, demonstrating that it hits the floor and bounces back as a reaction. She also shows them the illustration below – the club moves in one direction, while the ball moves in the opposite direction. She will again read Newton’s third law to see if they have started making connections. She will have simple materials available for students to use to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
Standard I (Physical Science): Understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy.
Performance Objective: Students will be able to describe and explain forces that produce motion in objects.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Demonstration/Background Information: The teacher writes Newton’s third law of motion on the board, which states “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. She will ask the students what they think this means. To demonstrate this law, she bounces a rubber ball on the floor, demonstrating that it hits the floor and bounces back as a reaction. She also shows them the illustration below – the club moves in one direction, while the ball moves in the opposite direction. She will again read Newton’s third law to see if they have started making connections. She will have simple materials available for students to use to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
Activity: Students will work in pairs, gather materials, brainstorm and design a rocket launcher using the materials they were given.
Hypothesis: By using these materials, we will discover that _____________________________.
Materials: a long string, tape, a straw and a balloon
Safety Considerations: No horseplay with materials; if blowing up balloons, care should be taken as they can be distracting to the other students.
Procedure: Students will work in pairs, brainstorm and use the trial-and-error method of investigation by observing what doesn't work and finding a way to modify their design. They could try a similar activity using balloons as shown below.
Hypothesis: By using these materials, we will discover that _____________________________.
Materials: a long string, tape, a straw and a balloon
Safety Considerations: No horseplay with materials; if blowing up balloons, care should be taken as they can be distracting to the other students.
Procedure: Students will work in pairs, brainstorm and use the trial-and-error method of investigation by observing what doesn't work and finding a way to modify their design. They could try a similar activity using balloons as shown below.
Effective Questions:
1. How would you design a way to control the direction of the balloon rocket's flight?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What else can make your balloon go farther, faster, or straighter?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude: After completing your investigation and answering the questions above, on the lines below, explain Newton’s 3rd law of motion in your own words.
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
3. In the space below, illustrate your Rocket Launcher:
(Hill, 2013)
1. How would you design a way to control the direction of the balloon rocket's flight?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What else can make your balloon go farther, faster, or straighter?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude: After completing your investigation and answering the questions above, on the lines below, explain Newton’s 3rd law of motion in your own words.
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
3. In the space below, illustrate your Rocket Launcher:
(Hill, 2013)