National Science Standards:

Content Standard A: Science As Inquiry
Content Standard D: Physical Science - Properties of Objects and Materials; Position and Motion of Objects

These activities demonstrate how and why objects move.

*NOTE: Activities increase in diffulculty. Educators/Parents may want to work through all activities or choose those most appropriate for their students/children.

(BACKGROUND INFORMATION)
This is what we already know is true about forces and motion:

• A force is a push or pull.
• Push or pull changes the motion of objects.
• Objects cannot move until a force is applied.
• Objects keep moving until a force is applied to slow or stop it or change its direction.
• Magnetism is an example of a push or pull on metal objects.

Activity One - Simple Force

This activity is modified and used with the permission of the AIMS Education Foundation, http://AIMSedu.org. It can be found in the AIMS Publication, Primarily Earth.

cardboard tube (an empty toilet paper tube or a paper towel cardboard tube cut in half), index card, ping pong ball, thumbtack

1. Stand the cardboard tube on its end on a table.
2. Using a thumbtack, punch a hole in the center of an index card.
3. Place the index card on top of the tube. Make sure the hole in the index card is placed above the opening of the cardboard tube.
4. Place the ping pong ball onto the hole on the index card.
5. Pull the index card quickly to the side.
6. What happened to the ping pong ball?
7. Repeat the activity by “flipping” the index card with your finger.
8. What force stopped the ball from moving with the index card?

Extension Activity

Substitute other items for the ping pong ball and repeat the activity.

Activity Two - Push and Pull

swings (outdoors)

(NOTE: This activity must be conducted outdoors)

1. Students will work in teams of two with this activity.
2. One student will move the other student who sits on a swing.
3. Discuss the terms push and pull.
4. Discuss whether more force is needed to push or to pull a student on a swing.

Extension Activity

What kind of force is needed to keep a student swinging? Is it a push or a pull? What would happen if you used BOTH push and pull forces to keep students swinging?

Activity Three - Tug of War

(per student or team of students) long rope (for a tug-of-war game), tee ball set with bat

1. A tug-of-war game is used to allow students to observe forces and change in position and motion of objects.
2. The students will see how many children are needed to move an adult who is holding onto the rope by herself or himself.
3. Discuss the reasons why so many students are needed to move the adult.
4. Discuss why a PULL motion is the only force that will work to move the adult. What happens if the students PUSH the rope during the game?
5. An adult will set up a tee ball stand. The adult hits the ball very softly so that the ball travels a short distance.
6. Discuss if the students feel they can make the ball move farther. If they state that they can move it farther, discuss with them how this will be done.
7. Discuss the forces needed to make a ball move with a bat.
8. It is a good idea to have some students available to get the balls that are hit by the bat.
9. This activity allows all students to successfully strike the ball – distance is not necessarily a factor that is important with this activity.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Use different types of balls on the tee ball stand. Consider using a waffle ball, tennis ball, and a baseball for comparisons of the force needed to move the ball.

Activity Four - Catapults

(per student or team of students) miniature marshmallows, yarn, (per catapult) rubber band, plastic spoon, wooden block, wooden ruler, masking tape

1. Show students all materials. Discuss how the materials can be used to move the marshmallows. Allow students to demonstrate how this can happen.
2. Follow these steps to build a catapult:
   • Tape a plastic spoon to a wooden block.
   • Connect the block and spoon to a wooden ruler with the rubber band.
3. Launch the marshmallow by putting it into the spoon and carefully pulling the spoon back and releasing it. BE CAREFUL that you do not pull the spoon back so far that it breaks.
4. Use the yarn to make a circle or square on the floor. Students should try to make the marshmallows land within the yarn target.
5. Discuss the forces needed to make the marshmallow launch with the catapult.
6. Discuss how the forces are adjusted to make the marshmallow land inside the yarn target.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Use other soft items that can be placed into the spoon. Compare the forces needed to launch these items as compared to the marshmallows. NOTE: DO NOT allow students to catapult any items that are "hard" in texture.