Define the Problem:
When we first started the project, me and my partner Eric were going to do friction and momentum. When we started to do research on momentum and friction we decided to go over what we have found about the topic. While talking to the teacher we realized that momentum and friction are two whole different topics and would be hard to explain both at once.
Research
During research we found out that if you filled up a bottle with rice and then stick a chop tick into the bottle, the friction between the rice and the chopstick allow you to hold up the water bottle holding just the chop stick. But that ended up not being necessary because we aren't doing friction. Then we did more research on momentum, momentum is the same mass and velocity before and after the collision. Equation= PV
Examples of momentum:
Examples of momentum:
- Bumper cars
- Newtons cradle
- 8-ball Pool
Design
Start the lesson with a eye catching experiment where we put a tennis ball on top of a basketball and drop it from a base high, both balls will drop and the mass and velocity of the basketball will cause the tennis ball to ascend in to the air. We also will show examples of the Newton's Cradle which is a small or big mechanism made of an aluminum frame, wire/strings, and steel ball bearings that swings back and fourth when one of the ball bearings is dropped.
Feedback
, We presented our topic in front of the whole class. Me and Eric weren't sure how the presentation was going to turn out exactly, once we started it was smooth sailing and ended up as a good presentation. During the presentation some people had critique sheets, at the end of the presentation people who filled out a critique sheet gave it to us. Many said to be enthusiastic and explain the topic while showing different examples and why each example had momentum. The critique was very helpful and help us be more prepared for the real lesson, it turned out way better in the end.
Solution
The 2nd graders were in 3 different lanes, we were picked from lane 3. Once we picked up the kids, we came back to our booth, asked how their day was going and began the engaging activity. The kids loved it! Our engaging activity was where we get a tennis ball and place it on top of a basket ball at a decent height, then let it drop straight down. The kids instantly said"whoa." I asked who wants to try it out, all 3 raised their hand. We let them try it out for a few minutes. then we explained how this was an act of momentum, then we moved to the next activity. Our next activity was where we gave them 3 hot wheel tracks and 4 steel ball bearings, then you set 3 at the bottom of the tracks and then get something to hold u the other side to make a ramp. Then roll the 4th ball down making it collide with the other 3 causing only the last ball to push off. Its kind of an alternative yo a newtons cradle. Once that activity was over we had them guess what actions they thought was momentum, they unbelievably got some good answers. Once we were finished we said by to the little 2nd graders and they said thank you.