Forces and Motion WebQuest

Introduction | Task | Process | Answer Sheet
Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

What is your favorite ride at an amusement park? One of the most popular rides at any amusement park is the roller coaster. People are attracted to roller coasters because of the height, length, and speed at which roller coasters travel. In Georgia we are fortunate to be very close to some of the best roller coasters in the world! Can you design a new coaster for Six Flags Over Georgia that will be original and creative, yet thrilling and exciting at the same time?

Task

Six Flags wants to build a new roller coaster, but needs to know what forces affect roller coasters in order to build a safe ride for its customers.

You have been hired by Six Flags Over Georgia to research information about forces and motion, and then to come up with an idea for a new coaster. After researching, you will test your coaster design ideas on specially designed websites. When you have finalized your design, you will submit this idea with a labeled sketch or drawing.

Process

STEP 1 Research about Forces and Motion

Click on the link below to find out about what forces such as gravity and friction are. As you read, you must answer the following questions on your answer sheet (worth 3 points each-36 total points maximum):

     * The force that makes things fall to the ground on Earth is called _______.
     * Which is stronger-the gravity on Earth or the gravity on the moon?
     * The _____ of an object is how much matter it contains.
     * What does the force caused by gravity pulling down on an object cause an
         object to have?
     * What device measures weight?
     * ______ are pushes and pulls in a particular direction.
     * If two forces acting on an object are equal, will the object move?
     * If only one force is acting on an object, will the object move?
     * What is the force between two surfaces that are sliding, or trying to slide
        across one another called?
     * What can friction produce?
     * What is a type of friction between air and another material called?
     * Name an object that is streamlined.

Neatness and spelling count!

Find the answers to these questions at

Forces and Motion

STEP 2 Experiment with Forces and Motion

Continue your research about forces and motion by completing three on line science experiments. Read through the directions carefully on each site, then complete the activities. EXIT out of that webpage to get back to this page and choose the next experiment.

Experiment #1
Read through the directions at the top of the box. Don't forget to hit the light blue Reset button after each action you do.

When finished with the whole activity, take the Quiz by pressing the yellow Quiz button near the bottom right hand corner of the demonstration box. Raise your hand when you are finished so that your teacher can record your score on your answer sheet. You may NOT record your own score on your answer sheet. This quiz is worth 10 total points maximum.

Pushes and Pulls

A simple demonstration of how pushes and pulls affects how far an object will travel

Forces and Movement

A simple demonstration of how weight affects force

Experiment #2
Read through the directions at the top of the box. Don't forget to hit the light blue Reset button after each action you do.

When finished, take the Quiz by pressing the yellow Quiz button near the bottom right hand corner of the demonstration box. Raise your hand when you are finished so that your teacher can record your score on your answer sheet. You may NOT record your own score on your answer sheet. This quiz is worth 10 total points maximum.

Experiment #3
Read through the directions at the top of the box. Don't forget to hit the light blue Reset button after each action you do.

Friction

A simple demonstration of how friction affects force

STEP 3 Test Your Knowledge

Before you can begin to think about your roller coaster design, you will do some web activities to increase your knowledge about the requirements of a roller coaster from a physics standpoint. Each activity is worth 1 point for a maximum of 4 total points. Follow these steps:

Activity 1
Go to the website listed below. Scroll down the page and click on the graphic that says, "Design a Roller Coaster." You must work on this activity until your coaster is correctly constructed. You will know it is correct when you get two thumbs up. Go back and make changes if you do not get it right the first time. Once you get two thumbs up, your coaster is complete. Raise your hand and show your teacher your score. Then you are ready to move onto activity 2. EXIT out of that webpage to get back to this page.

Design a Roller Coaster

Activity 2
Go to the link below. This site loads very slowly, so you will need to be patient! Make adjustments to the current coaster using the buttons. Once you create a coaster that is able to make it through the loop, your coaster is complete. Raise your hand and show your teacher your coaster. Then you are ready to move onto activity 3. EXIT out of that webpage to get back to this page.

Funderstanding Roller Coaster

Hint: The first hill must be the tallest one.

Activity 3
Click on the link below to build and test your roller coaster. Once you have gotten the fear factor to at least an average of 8, your coaster is complete. Raise your hand and show your teacher your coaster. Then you are ready to move onto activity 4. EXIT out of that webpage to get back to this page.

Build your own rollercoaster

Activity 4
Click on the link below to build and test your roller coaster. Once you have gotten your coaster to go all the way through and the coaster train car to stay on the track, your coaster is complete and you are ready to begin step 4. Be sure to raise your hand and show your teacher your completed coaster before moving on to the next step. EXIT out of that webpage to get back to this page.

Make Tracks

STEP 4 Design Your Coaster

Now that you have successfully researched and understand about forces such as gravity and friction, you will apply what you have learned to designing a roller coaster. You will draw a sketch of the track layout and train design for your roller coaster on your answer sheet. In the first space, draw the complete track layout. It should be very neat. In the second space, draw a close up of the roller coaster train. It should also be very neat. Label parts of your drawings to make them very clear to your teacher. You may use any of the websites in STEP 3 to help you design your coaster.

Click here to see several examples of other students' coasters. EXIT out of that webpage to get back to this page.

Your sketch is worth 30 total points maximum. Remember to include the following on your sketch:

     * Your name
     * The name of your roller coaster
     * A labeled drawing or sketch of the roller coaster and coaster train
        (include a key if needed)
                       Neatness and spelling count!

Evaluation

This WebQuest is worth a maximum of 100 points. The points can be earned as follows:

* The Research questions (36 points maximum)

* Online Quizes (30 total points maximum)

* The Activities (4 points maximum)

* The Coaster Sketch (30 points maximum)

Conclusion

You have learned a lot about forces such as gravity and friction by completing this WebQuest. Now that you have a good idea about what forces are you may want to expand your knowledge with the web sites included below so that maybe one day you will be able to design the fastest roller coaster in the world!

Magnets and Springs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/magnets_springs.shtml

Forces in Action
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/forces_action.shtml

Build Your Own Paddleboat
http://www.omsi.edu/visit/physics/engineerit/game_paddleboat.cfm

The GPS included in this 4^th Grade Forces and Motion WebQuest include, but are not limited to the following:

S4P3
Students will demonstrate the relationship between the application of a force and the resulting change in position and motion on an object.

b. Using different size objects, observe how force affects speed and motion.
c. Explain what happens to the speed or direction of an object when a
greater force than the initial one is applied.
d. Demonstrate the effect of a gravitational force on the motion of an object.

S5CS3
Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating objects in scientific activities.

a. Choose appropriate common materials for making simple mechanical
constructions and repairing things.
c. Use computers, cameras and recording devices for capturing information.

S5CS4
Students will use ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters.

a. Observe and describe how parts influence one another in things with many
     parts.
b. Use geometric figures, number sequences, graphs, diagrams, sketches,
    number lines, maps, and stories to represent corresponding features of
    objects, events, and processes in the real world. Identify ways in which the
    representations do not match their original counterparts.

S5CS5
Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly.

b. Make sketches to aid in explaining scientific procedures or ideas.
d. Locate scientific information in reference books, back issues of
newspapers and magazines, CD-ROMs, and computer databases.

S5CS6
Students will question scientific claims and arguments effectively.

a. Support statements with facts found in books, articles, and databases,
and identify the sources used.

S5CS7
Students will be familiar with the character of scientific knowledge and how it is achieved. Students will recognize that:

a. Similar scientific investigations seldom produce exactly the same results,
    which may differ due to unexpected differences in whatever is being
    investigated, unrecognized differences in the methods or circumstances
    of the investigation, or observational uncertainties.
b. Some scientific knowledge is very old and yet is still applicable today.

S5CS8
Students will understand important features of the process of scientific inquiry.

Students will apply the following to inquiry learning practices:

a. Scientific investigations may take many different forms, including
    observing what things are like or what is happening somewhere, collecting
    specimens for analysis, and doing experiments.
c. Scientists use technology to increase their power to observe things and to
    measure and compare things accurately.

Essential Questions

1. How can forces be used to make objects move, change direction, or stop?

2. How is the motion of an object related to the size of the object and the
amount of force that is applied to the object?

3. What is gravity and how does it affect things on the earth?

4. How do simple machines make work easier for people?