Marble pyramid
From Algodoo
Marble pyramid
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Description: | In this lesson the students will investigate the forces that are interacting in a marble pyramid, like friction and normal forces. Assign different material to the pyramid in order to investigate the influence of friction upon the stability. Choose different materials when creating marbles. |
| Target: | Key Stage 3 |
| Category: | Exercise, Laboratory |
| Discipline: | Static forces, Friction |
| Learning objectives: |
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| In class: | Discuss how it is possible to build a pyramid of marbles. What properties hold the pyramid together? Let the students come up with suggestions.
Discuss how this can be visualized and explored in Algodoo. Let the students create scenes in Algodoo using the suggestions you came up with together or let them use their own ideas. Help the students make decisions and ask guiding questions. Encourage the students to follow the procedure Create – Predict – Interact – evaluate. Allow the students to follow-up and share their experiences in class after the simulation. |
Steps in Algodoo
Create a scene
Create a small pyramid using three circles. Turn on force visualization.
Make a prediction
Will the pyramid collapse? What forces are involved?
Run/interact
Start the simulation and study what forces that are involved. Assign different materials having different friction coefficients to the pyramid and watch what happens?
Evaluate
What material or friction coefficient did you assign to the marbles? Why? How did you do to make the pyramid collapse? Why?
Revise scene
Create a large pyramid using marbles of the same size.
Make a prediction
What material would be good for a marble pyramid? How high can the pyramid be built? Where does the pyramid start collapsing?
Run/interact
Start the simulation. Assign different materials to the pyramid and investigate whether it collapses or not. Try different materials/friction coefficient to build an as high pyramid as possible.
Evaluate
What material did you choose for the different pyramids? Why?
