Ask an expert: I am a parent of 3rd graders (twins) who have a science project coming up in 2-3 months. I would like to help them do projects on the topic of centrifugal/centripetal force.
I did a project on this topic when I was in school, but I want to see if I can get an idea of how to do it better/execute it better.
I based my project (at the time) on the amusement park ride called The Rotor ( the one where you are spun in a cylinder and then held against the wall as a result of the spin when the floor drops away).
I used an old fashioned oval vacuum cleaner (and took some of it apart) and I think I put an object it it to demonstrate centrifugal force.
Do you have any suggestions on how to re - design the project and supplies to use or other ideas / project based on that ride?
Thank you.
centrifugal force
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, bfinio, MadelineB, Moderators
-
- Expert
- Posts: 761
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 2:41 pm
- Occupation: Science Buddies Staff
- Project Question: Expert
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: centrifugal force
Hi - I apologize for the delayed response, for some reason I did not see your post until now.
This is a pretty broad topic, so a variety of projects on our site would probably fit, but here are a few off the top of my head:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... al-gravity
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... etal-force
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p-the-loop
You can find more simply by searching our site for "centripetal" or "centrifugal" (note that technically there is a difference between those two terms, but I don't think anyone will be too worried about it at the third grade level).
Hope that helps!
Ben
This is a pretty broad topic, so a variety of projects on our site would probably fit, but here are a few off the top of my head:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... al-gravity
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... etal-force
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p-the-loop
You can find more simply by searching our site for "centripetal" or "centrifugal" (note that technically there is a difference between those two terms, but I don't think anyone will be too worried about it at the third grade level).
Hope that helps!
Ben