Exploratorium
Take It From the Top
Experiment with the center of gravity by stacking blocks in a way that appears to defy its force. This is a fascinating demonstration that you can use when teaching about gravity, forces, or balance.
Curated OER
Balanced Forces
Examples and practice questions will help real-life understanding of the Principle of Moments concept. These great slides define the types of levers and pivots, and then give examples of the typical seesaw situations that help the...
Physics Classroom
Getting a Handle on Torque
Do your young physicists get a little unbalanced when it comes to talking about torque? Scholars examine the effects of weight and distance on a balanced system with a simple interactive from the Rotation and Balance series. The resource...
Physics Classroom
Torque-ing About Rotation
Let's talk torque! Science scholars evaluate experimental setups during an interactive from the Rotation and Balance series. Individuals calculate the torque of differently arranged weights to determine the effect they have on a balanced...
Curated OER
Science-- "Moving the World?"- Learning About Levers
In this levers worksheet, students read a one page information text about the three classes of levers. Students then analyze 10 pictures of simple machines and circle the fulcrum point. Students classify each machine according to the...
Curated OER
Balancing Mobile Time Line
Second graders create balancing mobiles using 5 labeled items that represent them and different time periods of their lives.
Curated OER
Can You Find the Difference?
Learners create their own balance to determine a difference in the weight (and composition) of cents made in different years.
Curated OER
The Way Levers Work
Fifth graders discover the rules by which the lever slants and balances. They determine that there are a great many tools that employ the lever principle even in their ordinary environments. They consider how to use objects easily...
Curated OER
Exploring Levers
Students examine the parts of a lever system and their functions. In this simple machines lesson students study the different classes of levers and what they are used for.
Curated OER
Make Work Easier!
Pupils work in pairs to design a lever. They conduct experiments using a penny and nickel to explore the uses of a lever.
Curated OER
Put Your Truss in Building Bridges
Students apply abstract concepts, such as stress, fulcrums, the law of gravity, and the strength of different geometric shapes. Groups of student contractors operate simulated architectural firms to create strong, economical bridges.
Curated OER
Balanced Students
Students investigate the relationships between weights, and construct a balanced first class lever. They formulate a general equation for the relationship explored in the experiment and perform calculations.
Curated OER
Torque Me Off
Learners investigate the lever and the mathematics associated with levers. They determine the conditions necessary to balance a system of forces around a fulcrum.
Curated OER
Equations in Motion: Design and construct a mobile
Students participate in a lesson that covers the concepts of solving equations and inequalities. To master the concept they must demonstrate visually and verbally how both sides of an equation must be balanced. They construct a balanced...
Curated OER
Center of Mass
Students identify the geometric mean of their data. In this statistics lesson, students collect data and graph their findings. They identify the mean, range and mode.
Curated OER
Simple Machines-Lever
Students examine the lever. In this simple machines lesson, students construct a lever by using two pencils, three pennies, and a ruler. Students explore the uses of a lever.
Curated OER
Spin Stabilization
Students investigate methods used by aeronautical engineers to keep rockets on target. After exploring the center of gravity and the center of pressure, students build water rockets. Students use various methods to design fins on the...
Curated OER
What Does a Quarter Weigh?
Students study the historical figures and symbols of U.S.
patriotism depicted on the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter coins. They
create a balance scale from common materials to measure the approximate weight
of a quarter.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Take It From the Top
Students defy gravity by stacking blocks in different ways in this exercise. Other projects are linked to this lesson as well.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Lifter (Ehd Thrusters)
Students teams each assemble a wing component of a lifter with the goal to test the lifter wing and measure the force exerted when high voltage is applied to it. After an introduction to torque and its use to measure force, students...