The Great Toy Car Observation Activity
~ Or looking At Force and Motion ~
Target: Make careful observation about the motion of a toy car and the forces
that interact with the toy car.
In your notebook record any information
Work together as a group and in pairs to complete these activities
Have the teacher sign off for one person for each ++Starred item++
Activity 1. Predictions – or what do you think about this….
++In your notebook record your ideas about the question, THEN discuss it with
your group, record the different ideas and the evidence you use to support your
idea.++ (note that it is starred, your teacher will check this before you get your
supplies)
1. QUESTION : What will happen to the motion of an object if a constant force
is acting on it in the same direction as the object is moving? Give support for you
answer.
Supplies: meter stick, one toy car per two students. Make sure the toy car rolls
straight for 20 – 30cm
2. ++Give your car a gentle push and carefully record your observation. ++
(your car should never fall on the floor or go off the table, you pushed it
too hard and will miss the required observation)
3.
Once you have your observation signed. Give you car a quick pull and
record how it compares to step #2.
4.
Now when one person give the car a “tap” push, your partner should give
it a second “tap” same direction as the first, 10-13 cm after the first, record
your observation.
5.
Next one person starts the car and the second partner taps it twice gently
at the front of the car or on the top of the car, do not stop the car
completely, it should still roll after the taps. RECORD your results.
6.
Summarize what happens to the motion of you toy car in a table as
follows:
Action
general motion changes
Tap in one direction
(start)
Two taps in one direction
Taps in the opposite
directions
7.
Each tap is an application of force -what happens when a force is applied
to an object, be specific, when it acts in the same direction and when it acts
in the opposite direction.
8.
++What are the forces that are acting on your toy car? Are any of the
forces you describe balanced or cancelled by other forces?++
Activity TWO: Toy bumper cars
Supplies: your table needs two toy cars and bumpers taped onto your toy cars.
9.
Place the two cars close to the meter stick, without touching, so that one
car is 15 cm in front of the other. Tap the first car so that it runs into the
second car, be careful your tap needs to strong enough to move the
seconds car with out making either car jump. Describe what happens.
10.
Now tape the front bumper of the 1st car so that when it runs into the
second it sticks to it. Record what you observe, be careful, how does the
motion of each CAR change?
11.
++Go back to the Question # 1 and consider if you could constantly tap
the car with the same force in the direction it was moving. How would
you answer the question now?++