Building Simple Machines to see the relationship between mass and acceleration.

Creation of a Rube Goldberg machine using pulleys and incline plane in teams

Unit Overview

The Basics
Experiences:  Novice
Age Group:  11 - 14
Group Size:  20 - 25
Hours:   16 hrs

Key Words: relationship between mass and acceleration (Newton’s Laws)
Cost Per Student: 
Tools:  scissors, hot glue, clamps
Materials: 
  • Cardboard
  • Variety of string
  • Cups
  • Magnets
  • Tennis balls
  • Legos (structural design and measurement tool)
  • Rubberbands
Learning Objectives
  • Determine the relationship between mass and acceleration (Newton’s Laws)
  • Use experimental data to support the law of conservation of energy.
Performance Task
  • Describe a state of motion, acceleration
  • Define friction (what it is)
  • Understand the consequence of friction between 2 objects
  • Explain gravity as an example of force
Suggested Steps

Week 1-2​

Construct different simple machines
Build group-to-group communication

-    Prescribed location of start and end
-    Presenting end goals (e.x. turn switch)

Concepts:
  • Lever → Force, gravity
  • Pulley → Acceleration from gravity, as a force, changes dependent upon friction from different structural designs from pulley
  • Inclined plane → Describe state of motion, acceleration, friction

    Week 3-5

    - Building increasing more complex and connected structures
    - Using group-to-group communication (teaching about “gates”)