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Unit 2: Motion Page 14

Activities, Experiments, Projects

Lesson 1: Velocity

Note: This section is an abbreviated overview of the experiments online.

then watch the video, do the
Experiment: Chicken and
activity, then read the explanation
the Clam
at the bottom (in that order) to get
the most out of this experiment.
Next time you watch a drag race,
notice the wheels. Are they solid
Inertia is a quality of an object that
metal discs, or do they have holes
determines how difficult it is to get
drilled through the rims? I came up
that object to move, to stop
with this somewhat silly, but
moving, or to change directions.
incredibly powerful quick science
Generally, the heavier an object is,
demonstration to show my 2nd
the more inertia it has. An elephant
year university students how one
has more inertia than a mushroom.
set of rims could really make a
A sumo wrestler has more inertia
difference on the racetrack (with all
than a baby. Inertia is made from
other things being equal).
the Latin word “inert,” which
means “lacking the ability to
Here’s what you need: two
move”. Inertia isn’t something
unopened cans of soup. One should
people have a grasp of, though, as
be clam chowder, the other chicken
it’s something you must
broth. Prop up a long table up on
mathematically calculate from an
one end about 6-12″ (you can
object’s mass and size.
experiment with the height later).
You’re going to roll them both
When riding in a wagon that
down the table at the same time. suddenly stops, you go flying out.
Which do you expect to reach to
Why? Because an object in
bottom first – the chicken or the
motion tends to stay in motion
clam?
unless acted upon by an
outside force (Newton’s First
Not only do my college students
Law). When you hit the pavement,
need to figure out which one will
your motion is stopped by the
win, they also have to tell me why.
sidewalk (external force). Seatbelts
The secret is in how you calculate
in a car are designed to keep you
the inertia of each. Take a guess,

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