Hands-on Activity Newton Rocket Car

Learning Objectives

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Explain the concept described by Newton's third law of motion.
• Describe what happens to motion if the mass or acceleration is increased.
• Collect and analyze distance data gathered in a Newton car activity.
• Explain why engineers need to know about Newton's laws of motion.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science

Common Core State Standards - Math

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State Standards

Materials List

If doing this activity as a demonstration for younger students, only one set of supplies/equipment is needed.

Each group needs:

• 1 wooden block ~10 x 20 x 2.5 cm; note: any size block works as long as it is bigger than the fuel block, described next
• 1 wooden block ~7.5 x 5 x 2.5 cm, as shown in Figures 1 and 3—the smaller wooden piece with holes drilled into it
• 1 3-inch no. 10 wood screw (round head)
• 2 1-inch no. 10 wood screws (round head)
• 3 rubber bands, all the same size and thickness
• several pieces of 3-5 inches of cotton string
• 2 lead fishing sinkers or similar weights, about 1/2 ounce each
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 meter stick
• masking tape
• Newton Rocket Car Data Sheet, one per student
• building toys with wheels, such as LEGO^® or Tinkertoy^®, each group needs 4 wheels; alternative: if toy blocks and wheels are not available, simply place the Newton rocket car on four or five short cylindrical wooden dowels that are roughly ½ -3/4 inches in diameter and the same length as the car width; lining up these dowels under and in front of the car creates a relatively low-friction rolling surface for the Newton rocket car, allowing it to slide smoothly across the floor or desk

To prepare the wooden weight blocks:

• drill and bit; the bit size is determined by the diameter of the fishing sinkers or weights and screws
• vice
• screwdriver

Worksheets and Attachments

Pre-Req Knowledge

Students should be familiar with Newton's three laws of motion, which are presented in the associated lesson, Newton Gets Me Moving.

Introduction/Motivation

Today's activity provides us with an excellent demonstration of Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion. Can you name the three laws? (Listen to student responses.)

1. Previously, we learned that a force (push or pull) must act on an object for the object to either start or stop moving. This is what Newton described in his first law of motion, and it simply means that for a rocket to start moving, a force must be involved.
2. We have also learned that the force required to move an object depends on the mass of the object and how fast we want the object to move. This relationship is described by Newton's second law of motion.
3. Finally, we learned that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In a rocket, for example, the action is the hot gasses escaping in one direction, while the reaction is the rocket moving in the opposite direction. This is a good example of the physical law described by Newton's third law of motion.

In the following activity, we will be using Newton rocket cars to demonstrate these laws of motion. Engineers need to know these concepts when designing rockets to understand how they will get into space and move once there. The Newton rocket car moves on the same principle as a real rocket, but instead of "throwing" hot gasses like a rocket, the Newton rocket car throws a weighted block of wood. From the following experiments, we will see how Newton's laws of motion describe the motion we see in our model rocket cars.

Why would engineers need to build small-sized model cars like ours? Well, engineers often build models to demonstrate and study how science concepts affect the objects and vehicles they are designing before they build the real things. By studying the similarities and differences between small models and real-size rockets, engineers can build more successful rockets.

Tess and Rohan want to use a satellite to help communicate with their daughter, Maya, on her canoe trip. As Rohan and Tess' engineers, your models will help us understand the motion of rockets, and what may be needed to better design and build a rocket for getting Tess' communications satellite into space. Since the laws of motion are universal, the understanding of this model will also help Maya understand her canoeing motion.

Procedure

Before the Activity

• Gather materials and make copies of the attached handouts that are suitable for the grade-level of your students. Refer to the Activtiy Scaling section for guidance.

• Prepare the blocks and string:
• Screw two 1-inch screws into each side of one end of the large wood blocks, leaving enough room for the smaller block to slide between them. See Figure 2.
• Screw one 3-inch screw into the center of the other end of each of the large wood blocks, as shown in Figure 2. Try to keep the distance between screws equal on all blocks.
• Place each of the short pieces of wood into a vice and drill 3-4 holes so that sinkers (or other small weights) fit in the holes, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
• Cut many ~3-inch pieces of cotton string. For the full worksheet, you will need 6 strings per group plus some extras. Ideally, make all the strings the same length. If the string begins to fray, tie knots in the ends.

With the Students

1. Divide the class into groups of four students each. Give each group a large piece of wood with the screws attached, a small block of wood with the holes drilled in it (do not hand out sinkers/weights until it is time for that portion of the activity), 3 rubber bands, 1 piece of string, and a meter stick.
2. Have each group place its rubber band over the two shorter screws on the end of the large wood block. Tie one end of the string to the center of the stretched rubber band. Using the string, pull the rubber band back, like a slingshot, and wrap the string around the third (larger) screw, stretching the rubber band tightly (see Figure 3). Wrap the string up high on the third screw.
3. Have students create a wheel frame for the wooden platform to rest on. An simple example is shown in Figure 4. The lighter the frame, the faster the cars will go. An alternative to toy blocks and wheels is lining up four or five dowels under and in front of the car so it smoothly slides across the floor/desk.

4. Have students place their platform (the larger block) onto the wheel frame.
5. On the floor/desk, have students make a masking tape starting line. Place the car on the starting line with its back wheel on the tape line. (Note: Make sure all cars are oriented the same direction from the starting line and placed at the same distance from the line.)
6. Next, have students carefully place the smaller block into the slingshot.
7. Using scissors, cut the string and quickly pull the scissors away. When the string is cut, the rubber band throws the fuel block off the car and the car rolls in the other direction. Use the meter stick to measure how far the car travels along the tabletop or floor, and record this on the data sheet.
8. Add a second rubber band, and attach a new string as before. Again, cut the string and record how far the car travels.
9. Reset the equipment and try again with 3 rubber bands. Then try again with one rubber band and one sinker, two rubber bands and 1 sinker, etc. To shorten the length of the activity, use fewer variations of the Newton car (that is, test the car using only one rubber band or only two different weight setups).

Vocabulary/Definitions

model: A small object that represents another, often larger object. Often used in testing or developing a final product.

third law of motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Assessment

Pre-Activity Assessment

Poll: Before the activity, ask all students the same questions. Have students raise their hands to answer. Write answers (or key facts) on the board, and summarize (in percentages or count of students) who answered the same or similarly. Ask students:

• Which of Newton's laws of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? (Answer: Newton's third law of motion.) Can you give an example of this law?
• Which law of motion states that an object at rest stays at rest while an object in motion stays in motion unless there is a force acting upon the object? (Answer: Newton's first law of motion.) Can you give an example of this law?
• Which law of motion states that a force depends on the mass and the acceleration? (Answer: Newton's second law of motion.) Can you give an example of this law?

Asking Questions: Before the activity, have students come up with questions about Newton's laws that they think they can answer at the activity end. 

Prediction: Have students predict the outcome of the activity before the activity is performed. Ask students to predict which will move farther: the Newton rocket car or the small weighted block.

Activity Embedded Assessment

Data Recording: As directed in the Procedure section, each time another rubber band or small weight is added to the setup, have students measure the distance the model car travels from the masking tape starting line. Have them record this data on the data sheet.

Group Question: During the activity, ask the groups:

• How far does the car move compared to the wood block? Is this surprising? What patterns do you observe? Can you use Newton's second law of motion to explain this discrepancy?

Post-Activity Assessment

Graphing: Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the age-appropriate graph worksheet. Ask students to identify any patterns. After students finish the worksheet, have them compare answers with a peer or another pair, giving all students time to finish the worksheets.

Prediction Analysis: Have students compare their initial questions and predictions with their test results.

Question/Answer: Ask the students and discuss as a class:

• How does the number of rubber bands influence the distance the car traveled? (Answer: Expect students to see that the car moves further as more rubber bands are added).
• Why is this (that the cars move further with more rubber bands added)? (Answer: Newton's second law of motion tells us that a larger force causes a larger acceleration. Also, Newton's third law of motion tells us that a larger action causes a larger reaction.)
• How does the weight of the block influence the distance the car traveled? (Answer: Expect students to see that the car moves further as more weight is added.)
• Why is this? (Answer: Newton's second law states that a larger mass causes a larger force.)
• Why do engineers need to know Newton's laws of motion when designing rockets? (Answer: Newton's laws of motion help explain what will happen when a rocket is in motion and how to get a rocket into motion. By understanding Newton's laws, engineers can design better and safer rockets.)

Safety Issues

Since students need to cut the string and then move the scissors out of the way quickly, remind them to be very careful with the scissors. For very young students, have the teacher do the experiment while the students watch and record data.

Troubleshooting Tips

A good way to secure the string to the tall screw is to wrap it around the screw many times and include a couple of single hitches. The single hitch tightens on itself against the pull of the rubber bands. This is best done with someone else holding the rubber bands in place while the single hitch knots are added (see Figure 5).

Activity Extensions

Have students compete as to which team can get its car to go the furthest. This involves maximizing the amount of weight that is thrown off the car (that is, the weight block) and in turn also maximizing the force with which it is thrown off (that is, the rubber bands).

Activity Scaling

• For kindergarden and first-grade students, conduct the activity as a class demonstration. Then have students complete the Grades K-1 Color Graph Worksheet.
• For second- and third-grade students, have them record distances and make bar graphs of the distance the car traveled. Have them complete the Grades 2-3 Bar Graph Worksheet. Also draw a line graph on the classroom board for the students to see and discuss.
• For fourth- and fifth-grade students, have them complete the second of the Newton Rocket Car Data Sheet. Have students complete the Grades 4-5 Line Graph Worksheet to graph their results and discuss trends in each variable.

References

Copyright

Contributors

Supporting Program

Acknowledgements

This activity was developed by the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program under National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.