Wheel and Axle: Investigating Slope

-2 or 3 small cars or trucks

-measuring tape, or some other kind of measuring device

-board to use as a ramp (a 1.5m book shelf)

-seven or eight textbooks or blocks for raising the ramp

-cover stock and tape to ease transition from board to floor

Students will set up the ramp at three different heights and measure the distance traveled by the cars at each height. Tape cover stock from board to floor to ease transition. Have students measure the distance from the end of the ramp to the back wheels of the vehicle. Students will complete the graphs to show their findings using a worksheet: Wheel and Axle: Investigating Slope.

Investigating the Wheel and Axle: Slope

What do you think will happen as the ramp gets higher?

100 cm
90 cm
80 cm
70 cm
60 cm
50 cm
40 cm
30 cm
20 cm
10 cm
	10 cm high	20 cm high	30 cm high
Height of ramp

Describe your observations

What did you discover?

Wheel and Axle: Speed

-two or three small cars or trucks

-masking tape to mark finish line

-primary stop watch, clock, or watch with second hand

-board to use as a ramp

-seven or eight textbooks or blocks for raising the ramp

-cover stock and tape to ease transition from board to floor

Students will set up the ramp at three different heights and clock the time needed for the car to reach the finish line at each height. Tape cover stock from board to floor to ease transition. Students will complete the graphs to show their findings on the worksheet: Wheel and Axle: Speed.

Investigating the Wheel and Axle: Speed

What do you think will happen as the ramp gets higher?

10 seconds
9 seconds
8 seconds
7 seconds
6 seconds
5 seconds
4 seconds
3 seconds
2 seconds
1 second
	10 cm high	20 cm high	30 cm high
Height of ramp

Describe your observations

What did you discover?

Wheel and Axle: Surface Texture

-two or three small cars or trucks

-masking tape to mark finish line

-primary stopwatch or watch or clock with second hand

-board to use as a ramp

-paper towel or sand paper to cover board

-carpet to cover board

-cover stock and tape to ease transition from board to floor

Students will set up the ramp at a fixed height and test for speed and distance on the smooth surface, the paper-towel surface, and the carpe-covered surface. Tape cover stock from board to floor to ease transition. Students will record their findings on worksheets: Wheel and Axle: Surface Texture

Investigating the Wheel and Axle: Surface Texture

What do you think will happen if the surface changes?

100 cm
90 cm
80 cm
70 cm
60 cm
50 cm
40 cm
30 cm
20 cm
10 cm
	Sandpaper	Carpet	Smooth surface
Surface of ramp

Describe your observations

What did you discover?

Wheel and Axle: Load

-two or three small trucks or wagons capable of carrying a load

-centicubes or other small weights

-masking tape to mark finish line

-primary stopwatch or watch or clock with second hand

-board to use as a ramp

-cover stock and tape to ease transition from board to floor

Students will set up the ramp at a fixed height and test for speed and distance on the smooth surface, with three different loads. Tape cover stock from board to floor to ease transition. Students will record their findings on a worksheet: Wheel and Axle: Load.

Investigating the Wheel and Axle: Load

What do you think will happen as the load gets heavier?

100 cm
90 cm
80 cm
70 cm
60 cm
50 cm
40 cm
30 cm
20 cm
10 cm
	1 gram	5 grams	10 grams
Weight of the Load

Describe your observations

What did you discover?