Engaging in Guided Inquiry

Engaging in Guided Inquiry

            The question chosen to investigate for this inquiry is: How do different surfaces affect the momentum of marbles?  To set up this investigation I build a make shift ramp.  The ramp was one foot off the ground and three feet long.  The ramp was made of plywood and angled off the top of a cardboard box.  The surface materials used were: Bounty paper towels, indoor/outdoor carpet, and a fluffy fleece blanket.  The materials were cut to match the width of the ramp and four feet long.  The extra one-foot of material was laid at the end of the ramp.  This was an attempt to lower the affects of the polished concrete floor.  I then released the marble from the top of the ramp and measured the distanced from the end of the ramp to the resting marble.  I completed three trails and averaged the results.

            The basic results were the Bounty paper towel allowed the marble to roll the farthest, next was the indoor/outdoor carpet, and the fluffy blanket slowed the momentum the best.  These were the results I anticipated due to the concept of friction between the marble and the surface materials. 

            The experiment went well overall.  I tried to keep it very basic and easy to allow for the transfer to use in the lab.   One problem I faced was in making sure the surfaces added to the plywood remained unwrinkled.  The second problem to address was the width of the ramp.  The marbles rolled of the side of the ramp on several occasions.  I simple counted these as mistrials and rolled again.

            Modifications to this experiment would include adding some type of sticky surface to the variables.  The thought of using grass has also crossed my mind.  I would also like to change the height and length of the ramp.     

            This experiment would be extremely engaging for the students.  It would be fairly easy to set up in the lab.  However, with the students in charge of everything but the question this experiment could take on a whole new look.  I might be able to add interest by using a toy car in place of the marble.  By adding the car this experiment could become relevant to the students daily lives.  It could also be used to discuss bikes and motorcycles.

            I would like to use this experiment to show students that science can be fun, exciting, and useful to our everyday lives.  Science is everywhere and we need to advantage of it to make our lives easier and safer.  This lesson would also interconnect the basic scientific vocabulary: gravity, friction, momentum, and force.