Google Classroom: Open the Q1P3: Introduction to Newton's 1st Law Labs. You will answer the questions in the document, but you will follow the directions from the website below.

Check Points: Check in with Mrs. Roehm after every station. 
 

Station 1: Marshmallow Madness

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This station utilizes a vacuum chamber. When it is turned on, the air is sucked out of the glass chamber and the air pressure is lowered (creating a vacuum).

 

Safety: The glass chamber is irreplaceable. I am counting on you to be very cautious! Hold it with 2 hands at all times. Never try to lift the glass chamber when the pump is turned on.

 

Procedure:

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1. Read the Big Idea for this lab:
 

Big Idea #1: An object’s motion only changes if the sum of all forces (net force) does not equal zero. (FM1 BP3)
 

2. Ask Mrs. Roehm if you can have a marshmallow for the lab. Each group gets 1 white marshmallow to use. Draw a face on the white marshmallow with a sharpie. Give your marshmallow a name. And, no, you may not eat them.

3. Place the marshmallow in the vacuum chamber.

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4. Discuss what the net force (the sum of all the forces) on the marshmallow would be before turning on the chamber.

 

**Net force is the sum of the forces on all sides of an object. If the forces are balanced on all sides, the net force is equal to zero. In this case the marshmallow has the force of gravity pulling on all sides. To find "Net force" ask yourself....are the forces on each side balanced or unbalanced? How do you know?

5. Turn on the chamber and after a while the marshmallow should start expanding. At the very second that the marshmallow stops expanding, turn off the chamber.

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6. Discuss what the net force (the sum of all the forces) on the marshmallow would be right after you turned OFF the chamber. (Balanced or unbalanced? How do you know?)

7. You can turn the chamber on and off again if you want to see it again.
 

8. Answer your lab questions.

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Station 2: The Moving Walkway POV

 

1.Read the Big Idea for this lab:
 

Big Idea #2: An object's motion can only be observed and measured relative to a chosen frame of reference. (FM1 BP6)
 

2. Put a wind-up car on a piece of parchment paper. 

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The next steps need to be done at the exact same time by three DIFFERENT students at the SAME TIME:

Student 1: Have one student observe the car looking straight down from the top.

Student 2: Put the wind-up car at the end of the table and pull it back until it is at the middle of the table and hold it there.

Student 3: Try to pull the parchment paper backward at the same speed that the car moves forward. Pro Tip: Pull the end of the paper DOWN off the end of the table instead of pulling straight out.

**It helps to count down "3, 2, 1 - Go!" So you release the car and pull the paper at the exact same time and same speed!

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3. Repeat the exact same process but have the student look at the car from the side at eye level. The car's movement should look different from the side than from the top!

 

4. You can repeat the process with different roles if other students want to see what it looks like. 

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5. Answer the lab questions.

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**This lab can be tricky! The key is pulling the paper at the same speed as the car. Here is what you should be seeing…..Let Mrs. Roehm know if you need help!

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Side View Video:                                                                Top View Video:

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Station 3: Hover-Disk Glide

1. Read the Big Idea for this lab:

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Big Idea #3: Balanced forces result in no change in motion

(an object stays still or moves at a constant speed in the

same direction). (FM1 BP4)

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2. Take the hover disk into the hallway and put it on the floor.

3. Turn on the hover disk and give the disk a very light kick. 

4. Observe the motion of the disk.

5. Repeat this but have another student put their foot in the disk’s path of movement. 

6. Repeat one more time but have another student lightly kick the disk in the opposite direction of its movement. 

7. Answer the lab questions.

8. Check in with Mrs. Roehm.

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Marble Pinball Referees

1. Read the Big Idea for this lab:

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Big Idea #4: Unbalanced forces cause an object to speed, slow, or change direction. (FM1 BP5)

 

2. Make sure to keep track of your marble during this lab!

3. Roll a marble down the ramp. 

4. Create different forces on the marble as it rolls using the straw by doing each of the following:

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Round 1: Using a straw, blow on the marble in the same direction as it rolls down the ramp (from behind).

Round 2: Using a straw, blow directly onto the front of the marble as it rolls toward you down the ramp (from in front).

Round 3: Using a straw, blow from the side of the marble as it rolls down the ramp (from the side).

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5. Identify how each of these changes the motion of the marble.

6. Answer the lab questions.

7. Check in with Mrs. Roehm.

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After completing all of the labs, Mrs. Roehm will give you a signature on your Assignment Tracker page.