Force Experiments (5.6D)

Which of the following is a question about forces that could be tested in a laboratory investigation?

• Which airplane design is best
• How does friction affect the motion of a rolling ball
• Does gravity work in all parts of the universe?
• What kind of magnet is the fastest?

Students are testing how the size of a marble affects the distance it rolls. What tool will they need?

• Metric ruler
• Graduated cylinder
• Celsius thermometer
• Spring scale

Students are investigating the effect of different surfaces (tile, wood, and carpet) on the time it takes a toy car to roll two meters. The students are measuring the effect of which of the following forces?

• Magnetism
• Friction
• Gravity
• Nuclear

Students collected this data in an investigation. Which question would the students be able to answer with this data?

• What is the physical force that makes a top spin?
• How does a top's mass affect how long it spins?
• What color top spins for the shortest amount of time?
• Why does a top stop spinning after one minute?

Students performed an investigation in which they tied three washers to different lengths of string. They hung the washers off the edge of a desk and timed how long it took the washers to swing back and forth one time. Their data supports which of the following conclusions? The time to swing back and forth increases with -

• More washers
• Shorter string
• Fewer washers
• Longer string

Students have short and tall ramps, and toy cars with which to create an investigation. Which of the following is a testable question they could answer in an investigation using these materials?

• What kind of material should be used to make roads?
• Which kind of toy care is the best overall kind to buy?
• How does ramp height affect the distance the car rolls?
• What kind of scientist can best explain how cars work?

By changing the surface over which a ball rolls, students could test the effect of which of the following?

• Magnetism
• Electricity
• Rotation
• Friction

Which two tools below would be most useful in testing how the mass of an object can affect the distance it moves with a push?

• Spring scale and hot plate
• Balance and meter sticks
• Graduated cylinder and beaker
• Magnet and thermometer

Which of the following describes the best way to test the strength of several different magnets?

• Place each magnet in water to see if it sinks
• Count how many paper clips each magnet can pick up
• Use tools to measure mass and length of each magnet
• Place the magnets near each other to see how they move

Student conducted an investigation in which they rolled marbles across different surfaces to measure the effect of the force of friction on each surface. Friction slows down and stops objects. Which of the surfaces tested showed the greatest amount of friction?

• Surface A
• Surface B
• Surface C
• Surface D