The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Newton’s Cradle Design Challenge Part 3

Newton’s Cradle Design Challenge Part 3

A 5th grade STEM lesson

Chelsey Griess

6/5/23

Notes for teachers

• This design challenge is broken up into four parts, this is part three. This lesson will focus on completing the build and evaluating/revising the device that groups began building in the previous lesson (Build & Evaluate).
• In order to successfully execute this lesson, students should have spent the previous lesson beginning to build their agreed upon design.
• In this challenge, students will finish building their design and evaluate their device where energy is transferred between objects for as long as possible (i.e.Newton’s Cradle).
• At the end of the lesson, students will reflect on their design in writing.
• It is highly recommended that you make sure that an actual Newton’s Cradle is available for student’s to view as they build and evaluate to help them with any revisions.
• Part 1- Click here
• Part 2- Click here
• Part 3- Click here
• Part 4- Click here

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List of Materials

• Materials from previous lesson
• Time Trial Lab Sheet- one per group
• Stopwatches- at least 5

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Standards

5th Grade Science Standards- AZ

5.P2U1.3 Construct an explanation using evidence to demonstrate that objects can affect other objects even when they are not touching.

5.P3U1.4 Obtain, analyze, and communicate evidence of the effects that balanced and unbalanced forces have on the motion of objects.

5.P3U2.5 Define problems and design solutions pertaining to force and motion.

5.P4U1.6v Analyze and interpret data to determine how and where energy is transferred when objects move.

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Science & Engineering Practices

• Ask questions & define problems
• Plan & carry out investigations
• Construct explanations & design solutions
• Engage in argument from evidence
• Obtain, Evaluate, and Communicate Information

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This is the Engineering Design Process that is the foundation for these four lessons:

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Engineering Design Process

Objectives:

Finish building your team’s device that allows for energy to be transferred for at least 20 seconds, similar to the Newton’s Cradle.

Evaluate your device at the designated workstation to determine if it’s met the criteria.

Reflect on whether or not your design met the criteria in writing.

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Agenda (50 minutes)

• Review criteria & constraints/ distribute materials- 5 minutes
• Finish build- 15 minutes
• Evaluate & revise- 15 minutes
• Reflect- 10 minutes

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Review Criteria & Constraints

Criteria: In a group of 3, build a device that maximizes the Three Laws of Motion to allow energy to be transferred between five marbles for at least 20 seconds, like Newton’s Cradle.

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Constraints: Two, 45 minute time blocks to complete the build and you can only use the materials listed below:

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Other agreed upon tools:

Build & Evaluate

Goal: Complete your device and revise it based on time trials, as needed.

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Today is the final day to complete your build. At the end of the building time, have your team bring your device to the designated time trial workstation to determine if your device meets the criteria of transferring energy for at least 20 seconds. Record these times on your lab sheet.

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Your team will have 15 minutes to make any final revisions after the timed trials. You will not have the opportunity to restart your device today but you will have the opportunity to share what you would do differently if you had been given more time during the reflection.

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Timed Trials

1. You will use a stopwatch to time how long your marbles are in motion on your device.
2. Start the stopwatch as soon as the first marble is released.
3. Stop the stopwatch as soon as the marbles no longer bounce off of each other.

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How to use a stopwatch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-w-E1P89A

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After completing the timed trials, you will have 15 minutes to make revisions and re-time your devices, if needed.

Reflection Questions

1. What was your team’s design? (sketch & label)
2. How many timed trials did you complete and what was the most amount of time that energy was transferred on your device?
3. If your team met the criteria, what was a problem you encountered and how did you overcome it?
4. If your team didn’t meet the criteria, describe why it wasn’t met.
5. Sketch & label any changes you would make to your design if you had more time.

How do we assess our work?

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• We build and revise our design to maximize the amount of time that the marbles on our device are in motion.
• We reflect on our group’s work to determine why our design did or didn’t meet the criteria.
• Please turn in your completed device and the reflection.

Differentiation

The teacher should make themselves available at the timed trial workstation to assist any groups that are struggling to time their devices.

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As students are writing their reflections, teachers can provide additional time for students that need additional time.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

If groups have successfully met the criteria, have them circulate to provide any assistance or suggestions to other groups, as needed.

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Groups that finish timing their devices and collecting data can begin their reflections if other groups do not need assistance.