April 26th
Magnetism and Roller Coasters
Today we worked on learning a new force...magnetism! We learned how magnets work, how our earth is like a giant magnet, and how magnets play a role in roller coasters. We finished by getting into a new assignments where we will be designing our own roller coasters.
Magnets
Today we started by learning about a new force called magnetism. We discussed how magnets work and where we have seen magnets before.
All magnets have a north and south pole. Magnetic poles are the strongest parts of a magnet.
North and south poles of magnets attract each other. The two south poles and the two north poles repel each other.
​
A magnetic field is the area around a magnet that attracts and repeal objects. If you place an object inside the magnet’s field, it will be attracted to the magnet.
​
Earth as a Magnet
Next we learned about a great English scientist named William Gilbert who suggested that Earth is a giant magnet in 1600.
​
We now know that Earth is magnetic because it's packed with molten rocks rich in magnetic materials such as iron. Earth's magnetic field stretches out into space, in a region called the magnetosphere, and can affect things around it. When energetic particles zooming in from the Sun (the so-called solar wind) interact with Earth's magnetic field, we get amazing auroras in the sky (the northern lights or aurora borealis and the southern lights or aurora australis).
Sun and Stars
We know the Sun has a magnetic field several times stronger than Earth's, but the Moon has little or no magnetism. The other planets have magnetic fields too. Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus have fields stronger than Earth's, while Mars, Mercury, and Venus have weaker fields. It's not yet known whether Pluto has a magnetic field (but then astronomers are still arguing over whether it's even a planet!).
Roller Coasters Continued
We started by reviewing the forces we had learned about during our Wonderopolis reading last week. We practiced what these terms were really doing using our bodies.
Gravity: a force that pulls objects toward the centre of the Earth. (Jump up and experience gravity pull you back down)
​​
Energy: The ability to do work. (Jog in place)
​​
Force: a push or pull on an object, causing a change in movement or shape. (pull your chair out and push it in)
​​
Kinetic Energy: The energy of motion. (wave your arms up in the air)
​​
Potential Energy: The energy of position; energy that is stored and held in readiness- waiting to move. (hold arms up in air without moving them)
Science of Roller Coasters
Today we read page 7-12 of the book "The Science of Roller Coasters" by Karen Latchana Kenney. This is a book available through epic books. We read the chapters on gravity and design, height and energy, and high and low hills. We learned all about how potential energy builds up and is turned into kinetic energy when gravity steps in on a roller coaster. We also learned about how the first roller coaster invented only used gravity to move the car. The last thing we discussed in the book is the height of the hills on a roller coaster. We learned that the first hill is always the biggest because that helps give the roller coaster the necessary momentum for the rest of the ride.
Roller Coaster Simulation
Here is a demonstration of kinetic energy and potential energy on a roller coaster. You can either play the simulation as a whole run or play it in the different parts to see where kinetic and potential energy occur.
​
Matter Box Item
Todays we learned about a new matter box item. This item is Banded-iron formation (BIF), chemically precipitated sediment, typically thin bedded or laminated, consisting of 15 percent or more iron of sedimentary origin and layers of chert, chalcedony, jasper, or quartz. Such formations occur on all the continents and usually are older than 1.7 billion years.
I hope you enjoy these activities and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
~Miss Johnston
Enjoy
Your
Day
