It doesn’t seem possible that we are fast approaching Christmas break. It is time for our first project in Science. We have just finished learning about Newton’s Three Laws of Motion and now we are ready to put that knowledge to work in the building of a Newton Scooter. Below you will find the instructions for the project. It will be due on December 21, 2010. You should not have to spend any money on this project. It can be built from everyday household items. I have given students many ideas to help them start their project. Please feel free to call with any questions. Below are the directions for the Newton Scooter.
Newton’s Scooter Information
Date Due December 21, 2010
In this project, you will use Newton’s Third Law of Motion to design a vehicle. This vehicle must travel forward 1.5 meters using an action / reaction force.
Project Rules
• Check with your teacher to make sure that your design is acceptable
• Your vehicle must use Newton’s Third Law of Motion to move forward, it must move forward by an action going in one direction and your vehicle move in the opposite direction
• You must build your vehicle from scrap materials. Do not use a ready-made vehicle. If you are having trouble finding materials talk to your teacher
• Your vehicle must travel forward 1.5 meters and completely cross the finish line. The path of your vehicle should stay within a width of 1 meter
• You are not allowed to interfere with the movement of your vehicle. You cannot give your vehicle a push as you launch it, and you cannot help it in any way as it travels from the starting line to the finish.
• You can set your vehicle before it starts (push it against a wall, blow air into a balloon, wind a rubber band)
• You cannot use any form of electricity or the pull of gravity to move your vehicle. This means that you cannot use a downhill ramp to get your vehicle started.
• You may not use any chemical, chemical reactions, fire crackers, pumps or any other form of “pre-made force”
• Your vehicle does not have to move along the ground. If your vehicle moves through the air, you could use a string stretched between two chairs as a “track” to guide your vehicle.
• Check your ideas with your teachers to make sure they will work before you build
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Your grade will reflect the effort that you put into building your Scooter.
• If you use a balloon as your force your maximum grade will be a “C”
• If you use springs as your force your maximum grade will be a “B”
• Rubber bands will be graded according to how they are used to power your scooter.
**I (the teacher) reserve the right to adjust grades according to effort show in project. **
