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This Invisible Force lesson plan also includes:
- Teaching Tips
- Invisible Force Challenge Video
- Gravity-Assisted Travel
- Project
- Student Reference
- Rubric
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Investigate invisible forces. Young engineers design a setup that changes the direction of a steel ball using a magnetic force. The purpose of the setup is to model the gravitational pull of spacecraft by planetary bodies.
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Instructional Ideas
- Have a contest to see which group's setup is most accurate
Classroom Considerations
- Activity uses three-inch-long "cow" or "snake-egg" magnets; be sure these are available or find an appropriate substitute
- Learners should have prior knowledge of magnetism from the previous lesson
- The last lesson in the five-part series
Pros
- All lesson materials are professional-looking
- Includes some optional extended activities
Cons
- Activity could cause some confusion, as the NASA connection refers to an application of gravitational attraction rather than magnetic attraction