Elementary Science 2

Big questions: What are the phases of the moon? What causes the seasons? What causes a lunar eclipse? What we did in lab: We got to explore the phases of the moon using a globe, moon object thingy, and a lightbulb.  Initial Predictions: I think the phases of the moon occur from its rotation around the sun. The earth's rotation causes the seasons. The lunar eclipse is caused when the moon and sun and earth align in their orbit. Lab Notes: Helio-Sun Geo-Earth Copernicus- Sun is in the middle. Earth goes around the sun. Galileo- Sun is in the center of the solar system. Plane of the ecliptic. Pluto was kicked out because it wasn't aligned with the other planets. 365 days for Earth to go around the sun Earth is tipped North pole is tipped to the North Star Southern cross Summer solstice when sunlight hits cancer winter solstice when sunlight hits capricorn Arctic circle no sun for a long time Antarctic circle- never dark takes a month for moon to go around earth new moon is dark m...

 1. Big Question: How can we design a safe playground surface? In lab, we designed an experiment by dropping an egg onto a surface in a bowl. The surface was made up of different materials that were both softer and harder. Our group had to drop the egg onto this surface from one meter without it breaking. We discovered that the more gradually the egg slows down, the smaller the force. We can also look at the experiment through an energy lens. Elastic deformation of the surface stores potential energy and transfers back to the egg through kinetic energy. This is why we see the egg bounce. Sometimes the surface isn't elastic. If we drop the egg on sand, the sand grains fly off. This is kinetic energy and it does not get transferred back to the egg.

1. Big Question: What affects how long it takes a swing to go back and forth? During lab, we investigated two factors that may influence this question. My group investigated the weight of the rider and other groups investigated the length of the swing. My group found that the period was the same regardless of the weight of the rider. Other groups saw differences in the period depending on the length of the swing. The longer the swing, the longer the period. 2. During lecture, we learned about why the weight of the rider did not affect the period. We also learned about why the length of the swing affects the period. Gravity pulls harder on more massive objects. According to Newton's Second Law, larger masses are harder to accelerate. These factors cancel resulting in the period staying constant. The length of the swing matters because the longer swing has more to travel, resulting in a longer period. 3. Textbook reading I learned about how the the longer the swing, the slower it wil...

 1. Big Question: What affects a rider's speed down a slide? Our scientific investigation involved testing some variables that may affect the rider's speed down a slide. Examples of these variables were slide heigh, the surface of the slide and clothing kids wear, the weight of the rider, and the steepness of the slide. We then tried to come up with some conclusions on what actually affects the rider's speed down a slide. 2. In lecture we learned about acceleration in relation to going down a slide. Acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the time it took to get to the next position. If the slide height is taller, then the rider will go faster because they have more time to speed up. Force also plays a role in the rider's speed down the slide. Friction and gravity are forces that act on the rider going down the slide. 3. Textbook reading The reading gave me insight into Newton's three laws of motion. The first law states that an object will stay at rest un...