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This week we explored several different aspects of transportation- kinetic energy, potential energy, and tension. First we talked abot kinetic adn potential energy and their relationship. We used rubber bands and a diagram of a roller coaster to demonstrate how the two types of energy are related. We also talked about the role that gravity plays in kinetic and potential energy. Then we expanded the discussion about roller coasters to talk about how all the cars on the ride are linked so all of them move. We connected to trains and how the cars need to have the right amount of tension for the train to work effectively. The challenege of the day was to connect a car that students had already built to a smaller car (basically to make a train) in such a way that the big car would be able to pull the small car as it travels down a ramp. We provided the students with a standard piece to use for connecting the two cars, and we let them experiment with tension by choosing different size axles to connect the cars. As the students tested their trains, we talked about the kinetic and potential energy of the trains, as well as the different speeds of the cars when they are connected and not connected to each other. It took some groups a bit long to figure out how to build the train, so we will continue this activity for a bit next week too. As an extension for people that completed the challenge last week, we will use batteries to add weight to the different cars to explore how that changes the amount of weight and tension needed to move both cars. This was a good activity because it let us reiterate some of the past lessons (building a sturdy car, figuring out how to build car that travel down a ramp, etc) while allowing us to present new information about movement.
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