Hot Wheels Lab
Learning Targets:
1. I can understand the relationship of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and the speed of an object.
2. I can plan and carry out scientific investigations/experiments.
- I can form a hypothesis.
- I can identify the independent and dependent variables
- I can identify constants.
- I can create a data table and graph from my results.
- I can analyze data from my results.
For our experiment today, I want you to choose YOUR hypothesis below. Remember this is YOUR guess. There is no wrong answer at this point!
Remember, we need to set up an experiment, so first we need to identify our independent and dependent variables. I want you to identify what our INDEPENDENT VARIABLE is. Remember, your independent variable is what you manipulate or control. Don't worry if you get the wrong answer! If you put the wrong answer you should be able to see right away from the red circle on the answer bar above that you have recorded the wrong answer, and you can change it.
Now I want you to identify what our DEPENDENT VARIABLE is. Remember, your dependent variable is what you measure.
Now identify what our CONSTANTS are. Remember, these are the factors that we want to remain unchanged so they do not affect the outcome of the experiment.
Below are images of the data table from the two experiments we completed. The top table is for our experiment involving mass. We tested 5 different cars with different masses, and recorded the time they were moving once we hit the go button for our track.
The bottom table is for our experiment involving speed. We used our car called "Little Green Alien" and tested the car using four different track speeds, and recorded the time the car spent moving once we hit the go button for our track.
Watch the video below so you can see me going over our graphs and tables in detail to analyze our data. After reviewing the data tables and graphs from our two experiments, attempt to answer the following questions below. Don't worry if you get the wrong answer! If you put the wrong answer you should be able to see right away from the red circle on the answer bar above that you have recorded the wrong answer, and you can change it.
For our experiment involving MASS (independent variable: mass of different cars, dependent variable: time cars spent in motion), did we find that the MORE mass a car was, the LONGER amount of time it spent in motion (kinetic energy)?
For our experiment involving MASS (independent variable: mass of different cars, dependent variable: time cars spent in motion), what car stayed in motion the longest (time in seconds)?
For our experiment involving SPEED (independent variable: 4 different track speeds of hot wheels ramp, dependent variable: time car spent in motion), did we find that the HIGHER the track speed was, the longer amount of time the car spent in motion (kinetic energy)?
For our experiment involving SPEED (independent variable: 4 different track speeds of hot wheels ramp, dependent variable: time car spent in motion), what speed (1-4) did the car remain in motion the longest (more time in seconds)?
Was your original hypothesis (scroll above if you already forgot what you guessed) supported or rejected by the data? If it is supported, that means you proved your hypothesis true with your data. If it is rejected, that means you did not prove your hypothesis to be true with the data.
In your own words, please describe what correlation (connection or relationship) you observed between the MASS of an object and its amount of kinetic energy? Does this match what you learned in your slides yesterday? Don't worry if you still don't quite understand- I just want to read what you know! We will discuss our results more next time we meet in class. :)
In your own words, please describe what correlation (connection or relationship) you observed between the SPEED of an object and its amount of kinetic energy? Does this match what you learned in your slides yesterday? Don't worry if you still don't quite understand- I just want to read what you know! We will discuss our results more next time we meet in class. :)