Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Physical Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Physical Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
When the wind blows, light objects such as paper or leaves move easily, while heavier objects like plastic cups or small toys barely move at all. This shows how unbalanced forces affect motion differently depending on an object's mass and surface area.
Wind is moving air, and moving air can push objects. A force is a push or a pull, so wind is a force that can change the motion of things around us. When the wind pushes an object, it may slide, roll, or tip over. But not all objects move the same way. Some move easily, and some barely move at all.
Light objects, such as paper or leaves, have less mass, so they need only a small unbalanced force to start moving. Wind can push these objects quickly. Objects with large surface area, like flat pieces of paper, also catch more wind, which increases the force pushing them.
Heavier objects, such as a plastic cup filled with a few pennies or a wooden block, have more mass. These objects require a much stronger unbalanced force before they begin moving. Because the wind often isn’t strong enough, these heavier objects may barely move or not move at all.
By comparing how far different objects move in the same wind, we can see how the strength of the force and the properties of the object both affect motion. This helps us understand how unbalanced forces cause changes in motion.
Source: https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/strong-wind-tree.html
Object | Distance Moved (cm) | Time to Start Moving (s) |
|---|---|---|
Paper Sheet | 85 | 0.4 |
Cardboard Square | 42 | 1.2 |
Plastic Cup | 6 | 3.8 |
Why does a sheet of paper move more easily in the wind than a plastic cup?
Look at Table 1. Which object moved the farthest, and how far did it move?
What pattern do you observe between the type of object and the time it takes to start moving in the wind?
Which object required the strongest force from the wind before it began to move?
How does wind affect the motion of different objects, and what does the data show about how mass and shape influence movement?
Respond using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning.
Why does the plastic cup move much less than the paper sheet when the same wind is blowing?