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.

Conclusion/Plenary