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Journal Entry - Take out your science journal and answer the following question(s) (use drawings as appropriate):
What keeps our solar system in shape?

Materials:

  • String - 1 meter long
  • Four large metal washers
  • Stopwatch, timer with seconds, or clock with second hand
  • Student worksheet

Procedure:


1. Tie two washers on the end of the string.
2. Swing it overhead, securely holding one end.
3. Count the number of revolutions it makes in ten seconds.
Use the person’s nose as a reference point.
Record on your worksheet.
4. Repeat Step 3.
Average the two trials.
5. Fold string in half and repeat Steps 3 and 4.
6. Add two more washers on the string.
7. Repeat Steps 3-5.
8. Complete the remainder of the worksheet.

Student Worksheet

Name ____________________________________________

Prediction: Which combination of washers and string do
you think will go the fastest?

Hypothesis: ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

Data Table

Experiment

First Test

Second Test

Average

50 cm., 2 washers

      

100 cm., 2 washers

      

50 cm., 4 washers

      

100 cm., 4 washers

      

Your experiment:

      

Analysis Questions:

  • What did the size of the orbit do to the number of
    revolutions the washers made?
  • Which of the planets take longer than the others to
    revolve around the sun?
  • What effect does mass have on a planet’s revolution?
  • What would happen if there was no gravity?
  • What would happen if planets’ forward velocity were
    changed (e.g. slower, faster)?
  • What did your experiment show?

Conclusion: Remember to restate your hypothesis, and the
correctness of your hypothesis, and explain what you
learned. Use the back of your worksheet.
 
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Earths_moon_image

seasons_image

 solar_system_image size_motion_distance_image microorganism_image Heat_light_and_sound_image

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Updated July 21, 2005 by: Glen Westbroek

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