As scientists design cars, rockets, or particle accelerators at Fermilab, the concept of inertia must be considered. Scientists need to understand how inertia can work for them and against them. Scientists also need to discover ways to accelerate objects in spite of their inertia.
Research Assignment
You will take part in a relay race against your classmates in which you will attempt to navigate a course as quickly as possible while spilling a minimum of the water in a shallow tray you are carrying.
- Place the water and tray on a table at the beginning point of the race and assign each team member a number.
- Have runner two fill the tray for runner one with a volume of water determined by your teacher.
- As runner one begins the course, runner two maneuvers to the front of the table, while runner three comes to the back of the table and prepares to fill the tray for runner two.
- After runner one finishes the course, he will pour the water remaining in his tray into his teamıs measuring bucket. Once runner three fills the tray for runner two, runner two begins the race.
- The cycle continues until all of the team's runners have finished. Your teacher will then give your team a time, and will measure the water in your bucket.
Your groupıs goal is to navigate through the obstacle course with the lowest team score. The team score will be determined using the following formula:
Score = Total time (in seconds) + 2 × Volume of Water Spilled (in mL)
Our team's score:_______
Journaling: What Did You Learn?
In your journal, write at least three sentences summarizing what you observed as you turned, sped up and slowed down. Did the water do these things as easily as you did? Why do you think this is?