1
Name two ways you can weigh.
On a scale, with an equal arm balance, with a beam balance, with your hands, etc.
Which food item was the lightest?
Oat cereal
Which food item was the heaviest?
Split peas
Name three ways you can balance.
On one foot, on your hands, on a balance beam, walking, riding a bike, on your head, running, etc.
Tell me one similarity between the beam balance and the equal arm balance.
They both have a beam, a fulcrum, you use them to balance or weigh things, etc.
What does it mean when the beam is straight?
Both sides have equal or the same weight,
What does it mean when the bucket goes up on the equal arm balance?
That side is lighter.
What is the fulcrum on the beam balance?
The wood block with the sand on it.
What does it mean when the bucket goes down on the equal arm balance?
That side is the heavier side.
What is the fulcrum on the equal arm balance?
The pole.
Name the items used to make a beam balance.
A beam and a wood block with the sand on it (fulcrum).
Name the items used to make an equal arm balance.
Base, pole, beam, 2 s-hooks, a pin, 2 buckets
Why was the metal cube the heaviest item?
It was a solid object made out of a heavy material.
Why was the split peas the heaviest food item?
It was a smaller solid item so more split peas could fit in the space.
Which side does the fulcrum need to be moved for the beam to be level?
Closer to the heavier side.
Why was the ping-pong ball the lightest item?
It was not a solid object but full of air and it was made of a light material.
When using an equal arm balance, why is it important to make sure it is equilibrated before you begin your experiment?
If you don't your data will be incorrect. One side will show heavier or lighter than the other.
Why was the oat cereal the lightest food item?
It was made from a light material and it was a large item so it took up more space.
Why did we use unifix cubes as a way to measure weight?
They are all the same shape, size and weight.
When we did the marble activity, what did we need to take into account that changed the weight of the marbles?
The plastic canister, it added more weight to the marbles.
In all of our experiments when we measured with the unifix cubes, what happened to our data as the items got heavier?
Our data was spread out. We had more of a variety of answers.
What is a fulcrum?
A support upon which a beam balances or pivots.
List our 6 objects in serial order from lighter to heaviest.
Ping-pong ball, spoon, plastic cup, plastic cylinder, wood block, metal cube
Why did it take more oat cereal to equal 10 cubes than it did the split peas?
It was made of a lighter material and it took up more space so more oat cereal was needed.