Our Race Cars: Recycled Racers

Friction Experiment

Recycled Race Cars

You will work to construct a model racer from your soda bottle, cardboard, and other items. Later you will test your racer by racing it down an inclined ramp. Let's get started. Remember... we are learning about motion. What can we learn from our racers?

1) What are some things that might affect a real race? What things help the race car drivers?

2) Construct your Recycled Racer.

• Cut a corrugated cardboard base about the same length and width as a 20-ounce soda bottle. The base can either be rectangular or the same shape as the bottle.
• Use hot glue to attach the base to the bottle. Be careful when using the HOT glue gun. (For best results put glue on the cardboard and then attach other materials, such as the bottle or straw.)
• Use small drinking straws as axle holders. Cut two pieces of straw about 2" long. Glue one piece to the front, and one to the rear, of the base.
• Use wheels from discarded toys or make the wheels from plastic bottle tops.
• Cut 1/8" dowels to desired length for axles. The dowels should be as long as the width of the base.
• Attach one wheel to the dowel, place it through the rear axle holder (straw), and then attach the other wheel. Repeat for the two front wheels.

NASCAR Scavenger Hunt

Learn about the exciting sport of NASCAR! Check out this online scavenger hunt.

http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/lakenorman/nascar.htm

How does Friction affect Motion?

Start your engines! It is time to put to use the things you've learned about force and friction. Use pages 450-451 to help do an experiment. You will be watching to see what happens to objects as you change the angle of a ramp.

What Can Change a Marble's Speed?

Time for an Experiment

How can you measure the speed of a rolling marble? Predict how you could change the speed of the marble.

You will use your textbook page 436 and your experiment guide to complete the activity.

Roller Coaster Crazy

We learned about roller coasters yesterday. Now try out these roller coaster makers.

http://www.sci-quest.org/home/just_for_kids/coaster.phtml

http://virtual.questacon.edu.au/rollercoaster/main.html

http://kids.discovery.com/games/rollercoasters/buildacoaster.html

Force and Friction

Wow! What a ride so far. We've learned about water slides and roller coasters. Now let's take a look at race cars.

We need to understand force and friction first. Read textbook page 442 & 445 to find out what these terms mean.

Speed/Velocity

Find out the definitions for speed and velocity. Use textbook pages 440-441.

Why are these terms imporant for roller coasters?

1) Find out about roller coasters.

History: http://science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster1.htm

How they work: http://science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster3.htm

Forces at Work: http://science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster4.htm

2) Complete the roller coaster data chart.

You will use this site to help you find the answers: http://www.rcdb.com/

3) Design your own roller coaster. You want to receive a high safety rating and a high fun rating. Use this virtual site to help you- http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster/

After you make your roller coaster, name it and blog about your results.

How You Know You are Moving: Water Slides

How does a Water Slide work?

Use this site to help you understand how a water slide works: http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/water-slide.htm

1) Write a blog to explain in your own words how one works.

2) Design your own water slide by making a diagram. Include the following things:

• Name of your water slide.



• Arrows and labels for how your water slide works scientifically.

3) So, how do you know if a person ona water slide moves? How do you know if the water moves? Read page 440 in the text to find out.

What is Motion?

1. Check out this race track. What events will a race car experience as it travels around this track?

2. What are 3 different types of motion? Read page 439 in your textbook to find out.

3. Try out your own race track simulation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/forces_action.shtml

4. Now try out this Lunch Projector Experiment: http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=Projectile

5. Checkpoint: What is motion? What are the 3 types of motion?

Need for Speed: Roller Coasters and Racecars

Do you have the need for speed? What is speed anyway? What makes cool things like roller coasters, water slides, and race cars work? Get ready to get moving. During this unit we will learn about speed, motion, force, and types of energy. Are you ready to design a roller coaster or make your own race car? Buckle in for a fast ride!