8th Grade Science Guide

8.2: Physics 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 1

of directions. Teacher will show this phenomenon to the students and they propose explanations based on energy.

Activity: Ball Drop Lab

Objective

Overview

Materials

● I can ask questions about the amount of potential energy related to distance. ● I can develop and conduct an investigation to measure the potential energy of an object that falls/rolls from many different heights (think of elastic potential energy).

● Students will observe energy transferring

● Per Group: Meter stick, 3 balls: golf, rubber, tennis Optional: calculator ● Lesson Plan & Student Worksheet

between potential and kinetic, learn that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form, and participate in an experiment comparing rebound heights of different types of balls.

Activity: Roller Coaster Lab

Objective

Overview

Materials

● I can describe and

● Students will use pipe

● Pipe insulation tubes (cut in half), tape, and marbles. ● Roller Coaster Mass and Distance Lab

develop a model and graph the kinetic energy of two objects of different masses moving. (Relationship:kinetic energy and mass) develop a model and graph the kinetic energy of two objects with the same mass moving at different speeds. (relationship:kinetic energy and speed) ● I can ask questions about the amount of potential energy related to distance. ● I can describe and

insulation tubes cut in half as the track. They will use blue painter’s tape to connect the tracks to make a roller coaster. They will select a variable to test: mass (using different sized marbles) or height (using different heights of hills in coaster). They will draw their coaster design, collect data, calculate speed and link their observations to potential and kinetic energy.

Activity: Gizmo - Energy of a Pendulum