Week 3: Physics

 

1. The big question addressed in lab, and a description of what you did.
1. What affects a riders speed down a slide? 
2. In lab, we modeled this by testing different variables. My group tested how hight of a slide would affect riders speed down the slide. We found that with any type of material, the rider is going at a faster speed when the height of the slide is higher. For example, when the wooden stick traveled 1 meter, it was going at a speed of 1.82 m/s. When the wooden stick traveled 2 meters, it was going at a speed of 2.56 m/s. That pattern continued with 2 other types of materials showing that the taller the height, the faster the speed of the rider. In other words, the taller the slide, the faster the child will go.
   
   
   
2. A description of what you learned in Thursday's lecture
1. In lecture, we discussed what we learned in lab and learned more of the reasoning of why those moments happen.  We discussed that the higher the slide, the faster the speed of the rider because riders have more time to accelerate when moving down. We also discussed that the steeper the slide, the faster the speed because the steeper slide cancels less of the downward force of gravity. We also learned that the surface and/or clothing affects the speed of the rider going down the slide because of friction. Force is a lense we can use to make sense of why things move as they do.
3. Answer questions about the weekly textbook reading
1. What did you learn?
1. This weeks reading discussed forces. I learned that a force is a push or a pull. I also learned that force always comes in pairs. If there are equal forces applied, it doesn't move.
2. What was most helpful?
1. I found it helpful that the textbook gave examples for all three of Newton's laws and it clearly described each one. I found it helpful that the textbook included real life examples like the rocket launcher. 
3. What do you need more information on?
1. I would like more information on how gravity affects force and how it affects how much force needs to be applied to something and move it.
4. What questions/concerns/comments do you have?
1. I am wondering how objects stay at rest if there is always a force (gravity) pushing on them.