Session 4: Find the gravity center of an object

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Objective 1:  To understand that a two-dimensional object has a point of equilibrium.

 

Explanation

The objective consists of investigating the position of the point of equilibrium of a two dimensional object before moving to an airplane that is three-dimensional

Material

• Cardboard (Cereal Packaging)
• Scissors
• Cord
• Nails
• Pencil
• Bamboleo game

Maximum duration

60 minutes

Main question to be asked

Can you find the point of equilibrium of an object ?

Introduction/Starters

Buy or build four games of the small version of Bamboleo and propose to four groups to play a game, or buy the big version of Bamboleo and play a game with all of them.

Ask to your students to describe what happen in this game.

Main activities

• Give your students a piece of light cardboard (for example cereal packaging) (10 x 10 cm)
• Ask them to draw an two-dimensional  object as large as possible
• Ask them to take a pencil with the top part directed to the cardboard and then find the point of equilibrium
  Draw this point of equilibrium
• Repeat the same operation for a circle, a square and a rectangle, observe where is this point for these three regular shapes
• Give to your students a nail and cord, and ask them to find a method to discover this point on the initial irregular shape.

Conclusion/Plenary