Pom-Pom Drop!
In this activity, you will
learn about gravity, experiment with different angles, and get a hands-on lesson in friction and momentum while building a fun tube slide on the wall.
Supplies Required
Pencil and Paper
Several cardboard tubes from paper towels, toilet paper, or wrapping paper
Wall-safe tape, like masking tape or painter’s tape
Scissors
Pom-Poms
Stopwatch
The Challenge
Gravity is the force that pulls objects to the Earth. Even though gravity constantly pulls the pom-pom down, it will travel faster or slower depending on the angles of the cardboard tubes. A steeper angle will allow the pom-pom to go faster and gain momentum as it rolls through the course.
Problem and Hypothesis
[contact-form-7 id="18628" title="STEM book form SCI 1"]Let’s Experiment and Build!
Instructions
- Use a pencil and paper to sketch out your design for a pom-pom drop course.
- Tape the cardboard tubes to the wall, using the scissors to trim and cut the tubes as necessary.
- Drop a pom-pom through the course and time it with a stopwatch to see how long it takes to get from the top to the bottom.
- Observations: How long did the pom-pom take to get through the course? What can you do to make it go faster? To make it go slower?
Experiment, Analysis, and Conclusion
[contact-form-7 id="18626" title="STEM book form SCI 2"]Think about it and Additional Resources
Now Try This! Drop heavier balls, like marbles or bouncy balls, through the pom-pom drop course. Time how long they each take to get through the course and compare the results. Are they different? Why?
Share on social media: Record a video or take a picture of your activity
and post the results online using the hashtags:
#PomPomDrop
#ProjectExploration
#StemAtHome
Tag a friend and challenge them to do it, too!
For more activities like this one, go to www.projectexploration.org/stemhome. If you’re interested in learning more about Project Exploration and our free events, programs, and activities, please find us on social media and be sure to follow!
Call or text us for help: 312-772-6634
In these videos, you’ll learn:
- more about forces
- about defining gravity