Tuesday 30 October 2018

Forces and Friction

What is a force?
What is friction?
Why do your hands warm up when you rub them together?

Simple Machines - Research Starring Point

With your group, using the links below as your starting point, prepare answers to the following questions to share with the class:
  1. What is the mechanical advantage of your simple machine? How does it make work easier?
  2. What is the cost of making that work easier?
  3. What are examples of your simple machine in everyday life?
  4. How could you include this simple machine in a Rube-Goldberg Machine?

Lever


Wedge

Pulley

Screw

Wheel and Axle
- Can you also find out about how the wheel and axle is like a lever?

Incline Plane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c4J_PW9wsg

Here is an overview of the classical simple machines:

Monday 15 October 2018

Leaf Chromatography

In the autumn when leaves change colours, it is interesting to see if we can separate out all of the different colours that are found in leaves.

Here are some simple instructions for elementary school aged children to perform their own leaf chromatography experiment:

Tuesday 2 October 2018

Potential and Kinetic Engergy

When making a Rube-Goldberg machine, it is important to remember to think about where the energy to keep your machine going will come from.

Learn about potential  and kinetic  energy:
Here's a explanation of elastic potential energy:
The force of friction will also be important to consider: