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Cotton Ball Launcher (ES)

Students will construct a cotton ball launcher and gather data to help determine how pulling the rubber band at different strengths effects the speed and motion of the cotton ball.

objectives

• Construct a cotton ball launcher
• Gather data on the distance of a launched cotton ball
• Determine the best strength to use to launch a cotton ball a certain distance

Topic(s)

Physical Science- Motion and Stability: Forces and Interaction

type

Elementary school lesson

K

Grade(s): 

time needed

Two 20-minute periods

author

Jeni Peterson

national next gen standards

• K-PS2-2 Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.
• PS2.A: Forces and Motion
• • Pushes and pulls can have different strengths and directions.
• • Pushing or pulling on an object can change the speed or direction of its motion and can start or stop it.
• ETS1.A: Defining Engineering Problems
• • A situation that people want to change or create can be approached as a problem to be solved through engineering. Such problems may have many acceptable solutions

north dakota standards

• K-PS2-2 Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.

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