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Magnus Flyers
Submitted by: Paul C.
Recommended Grade Level(s):
Appropriate for: 4 – 5th grade
Teaching Topics & Concepts:
STEM, Physics
Standards:
• 3-PS2-1. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced
forces on the motion of an object.
• 3-PS2-2. Make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern
can be used to predict future motion.
• 4-PS3-1. Energy: Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object.
• 4-PS3-3. Energy: Ask questions and predict outcomes about the changes in energy that occur when objects collide.
• 5-PS2-1. Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
Materials:
• Two cups of equal size (plastic solo cups are the best, but really any two plastic/paper cups will do)
• 4 – 6 rubber bands
• Tape (your choice, masking or duct)
• Glue (optional)
• And outdoor space, or indoors if you are feeling lucky
Background Information, Activity Setup:
If you've ever seen a baseball game, you're probably aware that pitchers can curve the ball. We call this pitch, a curve ball. There
are other pitchers that curve as well, like the slider, cutter, or split finger fastball. But have you ever wondered why the ball curves?
And if you've never seen a curve ball, here's a few of some of the nastiest curve balls you've ever seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9FQsG0KcPE
Or maybe you've seen Dude Perfect or How Ridiculous shoot basketballs from really high distances, and you can see the ball
actually curve towards or away from the basket. What's going on there?
Well this is called the "Magnus Effect". And don't worry, we'll discuss it at the end of our lesson, but just know the Magnus Effect
is what causes curve balls to curve, soccer balls to curve around Defenders, and so on. It deals with air pressure, and we're going to
make some Magnus Flyers, which are going to curve just like curve balls.
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