Program Information

Series: NASA Connect
Program: Rocket to the Stars
Segment Number: 2 (Watch entire program)
Duration: 00:02:47
Year Produced: 2004
Description:

Second segment of Rocket to the Stars contains a preview of the Program's Hands on Activity which allows students to investigate the relationship between height a marble is released and distance a milk carton will travel once the marble hits the milk carton.

NASA CONNECT™ is a series of Emmy®-award-winning, math-focused programs. Each program supports the national math, science, and technology standards and has three components that include (1) a 30-minute television broadcast; (2) a companion educator's guide; and (3) an online activity that further explores topics presented in the broadcast. These programs establish a connection between the math, science, and technology concepts taught in the classroom to those same concepts used everyday by NASA researchers.

For more information visit: http://connect.larc.nasa.gov/

Transcript

The NASA Explorer School
students
from Martinsville Middle School
in Martinsville, Virginia,
will preview this program's
hands-on activity.

Hi.

NASA Connect asked us
to show you
this program's
hands-on activity.

In this activity, students
will do an inquiry investigation
on the relationship
between the height
from which a marble
on a ramp is released
and the distance a milk carton
at the end of the ramp
is moved along the floor
after the ball collides
with the carton.

You can download a copy
of the educators' guide
from the NASA Connect website
for directions
and a list of materials.

(Jennifer)
Before you start the activity,
your teacher will ask you
to answer and discuss
several
critical-thinking questions
based on
the experimental set-up.

Set up the ramp by using tape
to mark one end
0.7 meters high up,
and place an empty milk carton
at the other end of the ramp
so that it will catch the marble
after it rolls down the ramp.

You will roll a marble from
five different measured heights.

Line up a meter stick
on the floor
along the distance
that the milk carton will travel
after being hit by the marble.

Starting at the first height
marked on the ramp,
release the marble
down the ramp.

On the data collection chart
under "Trial 1,"
record the linear distance
that the milk carton travels
after the marble hit it.

You will conduct
four more trials.

Record the distance
the milk carton travels.

Calculate and record
the average distance
the milk carton traveled.

Continue the experiment
by increasing the height
from which you drop the marble
by 0.1 meter each time.

Students will analyze their data
by calculating
the potential energy
that the marble has
at each height
and the kinetic energy
that the marble has
at the end of each roll.

Now is your chance to put
your algebra skills to the test.

Keep in mind
that for this activity,
you will need to ignore
energy lost because of friction.

Based on the data you collect,
you will graphically show
the relationship
between the height from which
the marble is dropped
and the distance
the carton is moved.

From the graph, select another
designated height,
and predict how far
the milk carton will move
if the marble is released.

Go ahead
and test your prediction.

Were you correct?

Don't forget
to check out the web activity
for this program.

You can download it
from the NASA Connect website.

Virginia Standards

6th Grade SOLs » Science » 6.2
6th Grade SOLs » Mathematics » 6.18
8th Grade SOLs » Science » PS.6