Your mission – should you choose to accept it!

You will do an experiment on CLASS 2 LEVERS with your group, and then present it to the class. Check off the steps as you complete them.

  • Read the experimental question below.
  • Make a prediction (each member of your group does not need to make the same prediction – but write down each person’s prediction).
  • Do the experiment and record your data.
  • Graph your data on the next page.
  • Write your analysis & conclusions in the space below.
  • Copy the information with a * beside it onto chart paper, and decide which member of your group will present each part.

*Question: In a class-2 lever, what happens if we keep the effort at 45 cm and move the load farther away from the fulcrum?

*Prediction:

Materials: load, spring scale, lever arm

Procedure:

  1. Zero your spring scale
  2. Make a class-2 lever. Put the fulcrum at zero (one end of the lever arm), the load at 5 cm, and the effort at 40 cm.
  3. Lift up on the spring scale until the lever balances, and then read the amount of force off the spring scale. Record in the table below.
  4. Move the load to 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, and 35 cm. Repeat step 3 at each position of the load.
  5. Use your data to make a graph. You do NOT need to add the mass of the spring scale to your data, because the spring scale is pulling up, not down.

*Data:*Analysis & Conclusions:

Position of Load / Amount of Force
5 cm
10 cm
  1. What is the answer to the experimental question?
  2. Was your prediction correct or incorrect? Explain.
  3. What does your graph show you about the relationship between the position of the load and the amount of force used to lift the load?

LINE GRAPH

Graph Checklist:

  • Title
  • Label on each axis, including a unit
  • Numbers spaced evenly on the axis

Your mission – should you choose to accept it!

You will do an experiment on CLASS 3 LEVERS with your group, and then present it to the class. Check off the steps as you complete them.

  • Read the experimental question below.
  • Make a prediction (each member of your group does not need to make the same prediction – but write down each person’s prediction).
  • Do the experiment and record your data.
  • Graph your data on the next page.
  • Write your analysis & conclusions in the space below.
  • Copy the information with a * beside it onto chart paper, and decide which member of your group will present each part.

*Question: In a class-3 lever, what happens if we keep the effort at 10 cm and move the load farther away from the fulcrum?

*Prediction:

Materials: load, spring scale, lever arm

Procedure:

  1. Zero your spring scale.
  2. Make a class-3 lever. Put the fulcrum at zero (one end of the lever arm), the load at 15 cm, and the effort at 10 cm.
  3. Lift up on the spring scale until the lever balances, and then read the amount of force off the spring scale. Record in the table below.
  4. Move the load to 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm, and 45 cm. Repeat step 3 at each position of the load.
  5. Use your data to make a graph. You do NOT need to add the mass of the spring scale to your data, because the spring scale is pulling up, not down.

*Data:*Analysis & Conclusions:

Position of Load / Amount of Force
15 cm
20 cm
  1. What is the answer to the experimental question?
  2. Was your prediction correct or incorrect? Explain.
  3. What does your graph show you about the relationship between the position of the load and the amount of force used to lift the load?

LINE GRAPH

Graph Checklist:

  • Title
  • Label on each axis, including a unit
  • Numbers spaced evenly on the axis