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Lesson Title: Thrust, Air Pressure Rockets and Newton's Third Law
and Motion
Grade Levels: 4-6
Connection To Curriculum:
Science and Mathematics
Teacher Prep Time: 1 hour
Lesson Time Needed: 4 hours
Complexity: Moderate
Keywords: thrust, rocket design,
Newton's third law
Materials:
4 empty aluminum soft drink cans per team (pull tabs in intact)
Carpenter's nails of different sizes (6, 12, 16D)
String (about 50cm)
Water tub (large plastic storage tub, small kiddie pool, sink, etc.)
Water
Towels
Rulers, Meter stick
Sticker or bright permanent marker
Sewing pin
4" to 5” round balloons
Flexible soda straw
Plastic tape
Balloons
2 long party balloons (not round balloons)
Nylon monofilament fishing line (any weight)
2 Plastic straws (nonbendable)
Styrofoam cup
Masking tape
Scissors
Styrofoam food trays
Small plastic stirrer (round)
Sandpaper
Carpenter's nails of different sizes (6, 12, 16D)
String (about 50cm)
Water tub (large plastic storage tub, small kiddie pool, sink, etc.)
Water
Towels
Rulers, Meter stick
Sticker or bright permanent marker
Sewing pin
4" to 5” round balloons
Flexible soda straw
Plastic tape
Balloons
2 long party balloons (not round balloons)
Nylon monofilament fishing line (any weight)
2 Plastic straws (nonbendable)
Styrofoam cup
Masking tape
Scissors
Styrofoam food trays
Small plastic stirrer (round)
Sandpaper
Description
This lesson connects a series of activities to examine thrust and Newton's Third Law applied to rockets and cars propelled by air pressure.
Objectives
Students will:
• Investigate Newton’s Third Law of Motion using thrust produced by falling water, balloon powered rockets and racing cars.
• Explore the action-reaction principle by constructing a balloon-powered pinwheel.
• Demonstrate how several stages of a rocket can operate in steps to propel a rocket.
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Lesson Guide Thrust and Acceleration Lesson [80KB PDF file] |
Lesson Activities and Sequence
- Pop Can Hero Engine
Small student teams will construct water-propelled engines out of soft drink cans and investigate ways to in crease the action-reaction thrust produced.
Keywords: propulsion, engine, thrust - Rocket Pinwheel
Student teams construct a balloon-powered pinwheel to explore Newton's Third Law, the action-reaction principle.
Keywords: Newton's third law - Balloon Staging
Two inflated balloons are joined in a way that simulates a multistage rocket launch as they slide along a fishing line on the thrust produced by escaping air.
Keywords: rocket design, staging, thrust - Rocket Races
Student teams construct racing cars from styrofoam food trays and power them with the thrust of an inflated balloon.
Keywords: thrust, movement, design
National Standards:
National Science Education Standards, NSTA
Science as Inquiry
• Skills necessary to become independent inquirers about the natural world.
Physical Science
• Position and motion of objects.
• Motions and forces.
• Properties of objects and materials.
Science and Technology
• Abilities of technological design.
• Understanding about science and technology.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, NCTM
Numbers and Operations
• Understand the place value system.
• Generalize place value understanding for multidigit whole numbers.
Measurement and data
• Convert like measurement units within given measurement system.
• Represent and interpret data.
Science as Inquiry
• Skills necessary to become independent inquirers about the natural world.
Physical Science
• Position and motion of objects.
• Motions and forces.
• Properties of objects and materials.
Science and Technology
• Abilities of technological design.
• Understanding about science and technology.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, NCTM
Numbers and Operations
• Understand the place value system.
• Generalize place value understanding for multidigit whole numbers.
Measurement and data
• Convert like measurement units within given measurement system.
• Represent and interpret data.