Force & Motion
What is a push or a pull that causes an object to move?
Force
What force slows objects down when two surfaces rub against each other?
Friction
Which of Newton’s Laws says an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an outside force?
Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia)
What is the first working version of an invention called?
Prototype
What should engineers do before they start building a Rube Goldberg machine?
Make a plan or storyboard.
What force pulls everything toward the Earth at 9.8 m/s²?
Gravity
Which type of surface has more friction: sandpaper or aluminum foil?
Sandpaper
What is another name for Newton’s First Law?
The Law of Inertia
What word means to make small changes and test again?
Iterate
What should you do if your prototype doesn’t work the first time?
Make one small change and test it again (iterate).
According to Newton’s First Law, an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by what?
Answer:
An outside force
What happens to a toy car when it rolls down a steeper ramp?
It speeds up (accelerates)
Which of Newton’s Laws explains that more force or more mass changes an object’s acceleration?
Newton’s Second Law
What is the weight or force that a structure must support called?
Load
During the Physics Race Track challenge, what two different types of surfaces were students required to use?
One smooth surface and one rough surface (a surface that creates friction).
What two things determine an object’s momentum?
Mass and speed
Why does a marble travel farther on a smooth aluminum foil ramp than on a carpet or sandpaper ramp?
Because there is less friction
Why does the toy figure fly off the toy car when the car suddenly stops?
Because of inertia (Newton’s First Law).
What word describes a structure that stands without tipping over?
Stability
If your chain reaction stops at the same step every time, what should you do first?
Iterate
Why does a heavier toy car knock over more blocks than a lighter car moving at the same speed?
It has more momentum.
If your marble keeps rolling off the side of the ramp, what is one engineering change you can make to fix the problem?
Fold or tape up the sides of the ramp to create walls (or build a track to guide the marble).
During the Crash Zone experiment, why did the heavier toy car knock over more foam blocks than the lighter car?
Because it had more momentum (more mass), producing a greater impact.
What is a rule or limit that a design must follow called?
Constraint
Why do engineers build a prototype before making the final design?
To test their ideas and see what works.