Session 1: Find the gravity center of an object
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’
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.