Gymnast

Fantastic gymnastics!

  • Which force(s) make the gymnast move?
  • What keeps him moving?
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Build Your Gymnast

  • Building instructions book, pages 4 - 22
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Try it out!

Experiment 1: No Ratchets

  • Pull the gymnast back 90 degrees (i.e., parallel with the table) and let him go.
  • Can you see a pattern? What is it?
  • Why does the gymnast move this way?

Experiment 2: Try the Forward Ratchet

  • Pull the gymnast back 90 degrees and let him go.
  • Measure the distance the car travels and record it on the chart or in your notebook.
  • Now return the gymnast back to his starting position and predict (p) how far the car will go if you pull the gymnast back as far as he can go. Use a LEGO® brick to mark where you think it'll stop and record the actual distance (a) on the chart.
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Experiment 3: No ratchets again, but let it rest against your hand!

  • Which of Newton’s 3 laws of motion can you observe here?

So, what did you find out?

  • Which forces did you observe?
  • What pattern did you observe?
  • Could you predict what would happen next?
  • Which force(s) slowed your gymnast down?
  • What could you change to make your car go even farther?
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