![]() ![]() Answer The pendulum on a Grandfather clock is about 2-feet long, this isn’t a coincidence! At this size, each swing of the pendulum from one side of the clock to another takes 1 second.Why are Grandfather Clocks so tall? (Look up an image of one on the internet!).Aristotle’s misconception that heavy things must fall faster than lighter ones is still alive and well today! Answer Most students are amazed that weight has nothing to do with how fast a pendulum swings.What was the most surprising thing you learned about pendulums today?.Length is the crucial factor in pendulum time! It won’t take long for them to see that the shortest pendulum races along, while the longest moves at the slowest pace. Ask the students to think and record their predictions on a piece of paper again.Change the string on them so you have one short, one medium, and one long pendulum. It probably won’t take long for someone to cry out: “Try different lengths!” Redo the pendulums so they all have the same number of washers (5 works well). Ask your students to figure out a way for three pendulums to swing as different speeds.Most students will be amazed that the light, medium, and heavy weight pendulums all swing at the same rate! Weight has nothing to do with the speed of a pendulum! More on this in a bit!.Pulling back 4-inches at most will work best. Note: Do not pull the pendulums back too far – this will interfere with good results.The timer lets the clock run for 5 seconds and then calls “STOP!” Assign students to count how many complete swings out and back each pendulum makes. With the board held steady, use the ruler to pull back the weights just a few inches and then release them together as the timer starts.Knot the strings securely and trim off any extra string with a scissors. The exact length is not important, but use a ruler to insure that all three strings are the same length. Now it is time to test our predictions! Secure all three strings to the hooks on the board.Now ask the class which pendulum will swing the fastest and which the slowest? Ask they to write down their answers and rate them 1-2-3.You do need to understand a few key facts and ideas, and be able to recognize them and point them out as your students explore and learn. As a classroom teacher, you don’t need a mathematically sophisticated understanding of astronomy and physics to conduct successful science activities. Linking accurate observations with key ideas and explanations is a critical role for the educator. Pointing out these ideas is the teacher’s role here active guidance also helps students avoid forming misconceptions as they explore new activities. Students, like everyone else, often see things all the while missing the important facts and ideas. The key to making such activities successful in the classroom is an active guidance by the teacher that points out key ideas. While this may be true, there is no reason to avoid topics like gravity which can be explored conceptually with low-cost, hands-on activities. K-8 educators often shy away from topics like gravitation because they feel like the mathematics required will be beyond their younger student’s grasp.
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