Inertia
INERTIA: The tendency of matter to remain at rest if
at rest,
or, if moving, to keep moving in the same direction,
unless affected by some outside force
The Activity:
Inertia
(Print out the handout located at the bottom of this page before doing
this activity.)
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Go to the Website It
Wont Budge and do the activity on this page.
The materials you will need include:
An index card or playing card
A plastic cup or glass
A penny
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Continue this activity but try it in different ways. For example
you may pull out the card instead of flicking it.
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Also think of other ways one could do this experiment. Write these
down on a piece of paper and share them with your class.
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Answer the following questions when you are finished with the activity:
What did you need to do to get the penny inside the cup?
What made the penny go somewhere else than the cup?
What are some other ways you tried this experiment?
How do you think this experiment might apply to roller coasters?
Do you think inertia is important to the laws of physics and motion?
Why?
These websites may help you to answer the questions:
Inertia
Laws
How Stuff
Works- Inertia and Forces
Park
Physics Glossary
Inertia Handout
(Note to Instructors: Answer sheets to the Handouts may be obtained
by email to the webmaster- ampc@lehigh.edu)
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