Acknowledgments
The Teaching & Learning Collaborative (TLC) gratefully acknowledges the help and advice
of the following individuals in the writing of Science Tasks with Otis & Flask:
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Diane Cantrell, Science Education Consultant
Kathy Colasanti, Director of Curriculum, Buckeye Valley Local Schools
Carol Damian, Science Teacher Leader, Worthington City Schools
Chris Doolittle, Curriculum Coordinator, Westerville City Schools
Cindy Roepke, Curriculum Coordinator, Pickerington Local Schools
Eydie Schilling, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Granville Exempted Village Schools
• Jennifer Ullman, Teacher on Special Assignment, Science, Dublin City Schools
• Pat Barron, Founding Director and Project Manager, Teaching & Learning Collaborative
• Kelli Shrewsberry, Director, Teaching & Learning Collaborative
The Collaborative also thanks the many teachers and students who participated in fieldtesting the Centers and provided important feedback.
Finally, thanks to the staff of Attaché and of Baesman Printing, Maureen Looker and
Bev May of the TLC staff, and Catherine Behrends for the production of this booklet.
About the Teaching & Learning Collaborative
TLC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve science and mathematics
education. It is a coalition of school districts, organizations, businesses and government
agencies with whom we collaborate to design and carry out our work. The TLC works at
a variety of levels, from the classroom to the state level, to ensure that all students have
access to quality education in science and mathematics.
Currently, our work is focused in three areas:
• Professional development in science and mathematics for grades K-12 educators
• Special initiatives
• Tailored contracted professional services
© Copyright 2008 by the Teaching & Learning Collaborative
Science Tasks with Otis & Flask cannot be copied or reproduced by any means without
written permission of the Teaching & Learning Collaborative except for pages indicated for
student use, which may be reproduced yearly without written permission for educational
use in a single classroom in conjunction with any of the activities contained in Science
Tasks with Otis & Flask.
Forces Affecting Objects
TEACHER
INFORMATION
forces affecting objects
Teacher Information
Teacher Information
Center Summary
This booklet consists of three centers and their associated readings and assessments.
Center 1 – Ramp Rolling/Gravity & Collision involves observing the effect of the non-contact force of gravity and the contact force of collision on the
motion of a toy car when rolled down a ramp.
Center 2 – Get Pushy examines the impact of a push on the toy car as it rolls down
the ramp.
Center 3 – Magnetic Fishing explores how magnetism can be both a contact and non-
contact force. This Center also includes a Final Assessment that the teacher will use to check students’ understanding from all three centers.
Teacher Directions For Setting Up The Centers
Materials: Center 1 - Ramp Rolling/Gravity & Collision and Center 2 - Get Pushy
The following materials are for one station set up. To accommodate more students, multiple stations can be used.
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Toy car (“Hot Wheels” type)
Long (at least 3’) wood, plastic, or foam board ramp
(Note: Instead of using a board, you can prop up one end of a long table to form a
ramp. Use a box on the floor to catch the car as it rolls off the table-ramp)
Stopwatch or similar timer (if not available, use a clock with a second hand)
6 books (each 1” or so thick) to help make a ramp, and later, a barrier
1 copy per student of the Student Packet
1 copy of the Answer Key
1 copy of the Student Task Cards
Setting Up Centers 1 and 2
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Provide materials as listed above
Make 1 copy of the Task Card. Optional: Laminate it and /or glue it to a file folder or
other stiff material to make it stand up
Make 1 copy per student of the Student Packet
Make 1 copy each of the Answer Key. Make these accessible to students but hidden from view. Optional: Laminate each answer sheet and glue/place each in a file
folder marked “Answer Key”
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Teacher Information
forces affecting objects
Materials: Center 3 - Magnetic Fishing
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Small circular magnets with a hole in center
String (for the fishing-pole line), approximately 5” long
Ten paper “fish” (patterns are at the end of this section and a full color version is in
the “Additional Materials” envelope)
Steel paper clips to attach to fish (so they’ll be attracted to the magnetic fish line)
1 copy per student of the Student Packet
1 copy of the Answer Key
1 copy of the Task Card
Unsharpened pencil or wood ruler to tie the string to (the part of the “fishing pole”)
Clear tape (to attach paper clips to fish)
The Answer Key/Rubric for the Final Assessment which the Teacher grades. It is at
the end of the Teacher Information Section.
Setting Up Center 3
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The fishing pole and the magnetic fish should be pre-assembled for the magnetism activity and placed at the activity center. (Tie the string to the pencil or ruler
to make a “handle and fishing line”. The fishing line and magnet should be about
3” long. Tie the magnet to the opposite end of the string to make a “fishing hook”.
Tape a steel paper clip to the back of each of the 10 fish.)
Make 1 copy per student of the Student Packet
Make 1 copy of the Answer Key. Make these accessible to students but hidden from
view. Optional: Laminate each answer sheet and glue/place each in a file folder
marked “Answer Key”.
Make a copy of the Task Card. Optional: Laminate it and /or glue it to a file folder or
other stiff material to make it stand up.
Content Reviewed
These three centers address several aspects of the effect of forces on the motion of objects.
Both the types of forces and the predicted changes in motion are included. A force can
stop something from moving, start moving or change speed or direction.
Forces can be divided up into contact (touching) forces and non-contact (not touching) forces. Some forces are usually one or the other, while other forces may be both. For
example, gravity is an excellent example of a non-contact force. Gravity causes objects to
fall down without any direct contact. Even when gravity holds an object down (like a ball
resting on the ground) the contact is between the ball and the Earth. It is Earth that causes
the gravitational force that holds the ball down.
The force of collision is one example of a contact force. When two objects collide, the force
occurs when the objects actually touch each other. Friction is another example of a conT-2
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
forces affecting objects
Teacher Information
tact force.
Magnetic Force is an example of a type of force that can be either a contact or non-contact force. You can use a magnet to move an object without touching it. However, when a
magnet picks up and holds an object it is exerting a contact force.
The other content addressed in these centers is the idea of being able to predict how the
motion of an object will change when the object experiences a force. Center 2 uses the
change in speed of a car when it is pushed with a different force as an example. Other examples would be a baseball being hit with a bat, pulling an object such as sled, or having
a soccer ball slowly roll to a stop because of friction.
Prerequisite Skills
Students will need the following skills to do the activity:
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Ability to set and read a stopwatch or similar timer.
Ability to scientifically describe and sometimes explain orally and in writing (including pictures) what they have observed.
Vocabulary
Non-contact force: A force that acts on an object without touching the object (e.g.,
magnet and gravity).
Contact force: A force that acts on an object by touching the object (e.g., collision,
magnets and gravity).
Gravitational force: A force between two or more masses (such as the Earth and a
person); it is always an attracting force.
Speed (of falling objects): How fast an object is moving downward.
Non-contact magnetic force: A magnetic force that acts on objects at a distance,
without having to touch the object.
Contact magnetic force: A contact force exerted on ferro-magnetic objects by the
magnet (attracted to the magnet).
Attract: To bring or pull toward (not away).
Repel: To push away (not attract).
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forces affecting objects
Answer Key
Answer Key
Check Your Understanding
Final Assessment Answer: Teacher grades
Name one contact and one non-contact force that you observed during these activities. Describe how each force affects the motion of an object.
Forces and their descriptions that might be named are:
Gravity
As a non-contact force, it makes objects fall or roll down a hill or ramp without having
direct contact.
Magnetism
As a non-contact force, it attracts and causes certain metals and objects to move
without actually touching them (like the paperclips in Magnetic Fishing).
As a contact force, it stops the motion of certain metals and other objects when they
are held by the magnet (like when the paperclips were held touching the magnet).
Collision
A contact force that can start, stop, speed up, slow down or change the direction of
the motion of an object when it acts upon the object by coming in contact with it.
Push, Pull
Any force is defined as a push or pull. A push or pull on an object can be at a distance
(non-contact) such as gravitational force pulling a toy car down a ramp or a magnet
pushing or pulling on another magnet or a paperclip at a distance (non-contact).
A push or pull can also be a contact force. Examples might be moving a toy car by
pushing or pulling (touching) it with your hand, or using a magnet to hold a paperclip
in place by touching it.
T-4
Friction
Friction is a contact force that slows the motion of an object. (Although we did not
deal with this force in these activities, it is a possible answer).
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
forces affecting objects
answer key
Rubric for Student Answer
Score
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Explanation
Correctly identifies one contact and one non-contact force and gives a correct explanation of how each force affects the motion of an object
Correctly completes 3 of the 4 parts of the question.
Correctly completes 2 of the 4 parts of the question.
Correctly completes 1 of the 4 parts of the question.
Does not include any correct answer.
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forces affecting objects
T-6
Teacher Information
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1
RAMP ROLLING/GRAVITY
& COLLISION
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1
STUDENT TASK CARDS
STUDENT TASK CARDS
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1 TASK CARD
I can show that when an object is raised up above
the floor or table top, gravitational force will make
the object fall down.
I can show that gravitational force is a non-contact
force because it does not touch the object to
make it move.
I can show collision is a contact force that changes
the motion of an object.
FLASK TASK
Task A Directions
1. With your partner, set up the ramp with 2 books to raise
one end. If you have a folded ramp, putting binder clips
at the folds may help stabilize the ramp.
2. Place the toy car at the top of the ramp in the center.
Release the car down the ramp by holding your pencil
across the front of the car, then quickly moving the pencil away. Practice a few times to figure out the best
way to roll the car so the car stays on the ramp all
the way to the bottom.
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forces affecting objects
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1 TASK CARD, continued
3. After a few test runs, you are ready to time its travel
time.
4. Use a stopwatch to record the time it takes for the car to
travel from the top to the bottom of the ramp. If the car
goes off the ramp, redo the trial.
5. Do this 2 times and record your observations each time
in your Student Packet.
6.
Next, place 2 more books (a total of 4) under the
ramp to raise the end a little higher. Place the toy car
at the top of this steeper ramp and release it to
roll (fall) down the ramp. Time it. Record your
observations for 2 trials in your Student Packet.
7. Place another 2 books (now a total of 6 books) under
the ramp to make it still steeper. Repeat the steps above.
Record your observations for 2 trials in your Student
Packet.
8. Read the “Quick Facts – Forces Affecting Objects” in your
Student Packet.
9. Complete “Check Your Understanding #1” in your Student Packet and check your answer in the Answer Key.
C-2
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forces affecting objects
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1 TASK CARD, continued
Task B Directions
1. Set up a ramp only 2 books high. Hold a book at the
low end of the ramp as a barrier.
2. Roll the car down the ramp.
3. Watch what happens to the
car as it hits the book.
This collision is an example of a contact force because
the car actually touched (made contact with) the barrier.
4. Complete “Check Your Understanding #2” in your Student Packet and check your answer in the Answer Key.
5. Complete the “Forces Affecting Objects Vocabulary
Page” in your Student Packet and check your answers in
the Answer Key.
6. Complete “Check Your Understanding #3” in your Student Packet and check your answer in the Answer Key.
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved. C-3
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1
STUDENT PACKET
NAME ____________________________
forces affecting objects
Student Packet
Follow the directions on your Task Card and complete the
Data Sheet below, describing what you observed.
Data Sheet: Task A
Trial 1: Ramp, 2
books
First try
Time for car to
roll down ramp
Comments or observations
Time for car to
roll down ramp
Comments or observations
Second try
Trial 2 : Steeper
ramp, 4 books
First try
Second try
Trial 3: Steepest Time for car to
ramp, 6 books roll down ramp
First try
Comments or observations
Second try
Check the Answer Key, then read the next page.
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
S-1
forces
FORCES affecting
AFFECTING objects
OBJECTS
Student Packet
Read the following:
Quick Facts – Forces Affecting Objects
• The force of gravity affects all objects everywhere on Earth, and to
some degree everywhere in the universe.
• Gravity works at a distance, so it is a non-contact force. However,
when objects are on the Earth (touching), gravity holds the objects
in place or causes them to slide or roll down a slope.
• The force of gravity on Earth is an attracting force; it always pulls
things downward toward the Earth. On Earth, objects in free fall
(when no other forces are acting on them) fall down.
• When objects fall (roll or slide) down a ramp, the force of gravity is
pulling the objects down.
• When a ramp is not as steep, the more the ramp is holding back the
falling object, the slower the object will fall.
• When the ramp is steeper, the ramp will hold back less and the
object will fall faster. If we made the ramp straight up and down,
absolutely vertical, it would not hold the falling object back at all.
So the object would be in free-fall because of the force of gravity (disregarding air resistance).
• A contact force affects the motion of an object by actually touching
it. A collision is one type of contact force because the motion of an
object (like the car rolling down the ramp) is affected by touching
another object (like the car stopped because it ran into the barrier).
Now complete “Check Your Understanding #1” on the next page.
S-2
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
Student Packet
forces affecting objects
Check Your Understanding #1
Gravitational Force
1. When you roll the toy car down the ramp, is there a force that causes the
car to roll down the ramp? ___________ . Explain your answer:
2. What do we mean when we say a force is a non-contact force?
3. Could that same force that you identified in question #1 also cause the toy
car to roll upward on the ramp? ___________ . Why?
4. Draw a picture to describe the non-contact force and its effect on the toy
car on the ramp.
Otis Says: Check Your
Answer with the
Answer Key!
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
S-3
FORCES affecting
AFFECTING objects
OBJECTS
forces
Student Packet
Task B: Do the Collision Activity and answer the following
questions.
Check Your Understanding #2
Collision
1. What happened to the car’s motion when it came in contact with the
barrier?
2. What do we call this type of contact force?
3. What do we mean when we say a force is a contact force?
4. Draw a picture to describe the contact force in this activity and its effect
on the toy car on the ramp.
Check Your Answer
with the Answer Key!
S-4
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
Student Packet
forces affecting objects
VOCABULARY
For each of the following words, write a definition and draw a
picture or give an example.
Definition
Non-contact Force
Drawing or Give an Example
Definition
Contact Force
Drawing or Give an Example
Definition
Gravitational Force
Drawing or Give an Example
Change in Motion (Speed) of Falling Objects
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
Check Your Answer
with the Answer Key!
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
S-5
student packet
forces affecting objects
Check Your Understanding #3
Ramp Rolling
In the Ramp Rolling activity, which of the following is an example of a noncontact force?
a. Push
b. Gravity
c. Friction
d. Collision
Explain why you chose that answer:
Check Your Answer
with the Answer Key!
S-6
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 1
ANSWER KEY
forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Follow the directions on your Task Card and complete the Data Sheet
below, describing what you observed.
Data Sheet: Task A
Trial 1: Ramp, 2
books
Time for car to
roll down ramp
First try
May comment on how to make a
good roll, etc.
Second try
Trial 2 : Steeper
ramp, 4 books
First try
Second try
Comments or observations
Time for car to
roll down ramp
Should be faster
than Trial 1.
Comments or observations
May compare to Trial 1.
Trial 3: Steepest Time for car to
ramp, 6 books roll down ramp
Comments or observations
First try
Should be faster
than Trial 2.
Second try
May compare to Trial 1 and/or 2.
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answer key
forces affecting objects
Answer Key
Check Your Understanding #1
Gravitational Force
Question 1: When you roll the toy car down the ramp, is there a force that
causes the car to roll down the ramp? Explain your answer.
Yes. Gravity is the non-contact force that causes the car to roll down the
ramp.
Question 2: What do we mean when we say a force is a non-contact
force?
A non-contact force is one that acts on an object without touching it. The
force works from a distance.
Question 3: Could that same force that you identified in question #1 also
cause the toy car to roll upward on the ramp? Why?
No. Gravity only pulls objects down toward the Earth. Gravity is an attracting force, never a repelling force.
Question 4: Draw a picture to describe the non-contact force and its effect on the toy car on the ramp.
This could simply be a picture of a car rolling down a ramp, with some
detail about the ramp, the car, and perhaps lines or something similar
indicating the downward direction of the car. Perhaps an arrow or words
might show the “gravity pulling downward” on the car.
Complete Task B on your Task Card.
A-2 © 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Check Your Understanding #2
Collision
Question 1: What happened to the motion of the car when it came in contact with the barrier?
The motion was changed – it stopped. The collision with the barrier was a
contact force that changed the motion of the car.
Question 2: What do we call this type of contact force?
Collision
Question 3: What do we mean when we say a force is a contact force?
It touches the object.
Question 4: Draw a picture to describe the contact force in this activity
and its affect on the toy car on the ramp.
This might be a picture of the ramp with a book at the bottom and the car
running into it.
Now complete the Vocabulary Words in your Student Packet.
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forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Vocabulary
Definition
Non-contact Force
Drawing or Give an Example
A force that acts on an object without touching the object (e.g., magnetic and gravitational).
Definition
Contact Force
Drawing or Give an Example
A force that acts on an object by
touching the object (e.g., collision,
magnetic and gravitational).
Definition
Gravitational Force
Drawing or Give an Example
A force between two or more objects
(such as the Earth and a person); it is
always an attracting force.
Change in Motion (Speed) of Falling Objects
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
How fast an object is moving downward.
Now go to “Check Your Understanding #3” in your Student Packet.
A-4
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ANSWER KEY
forces affecting objects
Answer Key
Check Your Understanding #3
Ramp Rolling
In the Ramp Rolling Activity, which of the following is an example of a
non-contact force?
a. Push
b. Gravity. This is the correct answer.
c. Friction
d. Collision
Explain why you chose that answer:
A non-contact force does not touch an object, but still makes the object
move. Gravity causes objects to move without touching them. When we
rolled the car down the ramp, it moved down because of the force of gravity, but there was no direct gravitational contact that made it move.
Now go to Center 2 – Get Pushy.
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A-5
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 2 - GET PUSHY
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 2 - GET PUSHY
Student task card
Student task card
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 2 TASK CARD
I can predict the effect of a push on the
motion of an object.
FLASK TASK
Directions:
1. Place the car at the top of a ramp 2
books high.
2. Trial A: Allow it to roll down the ramp by just releasing
it, not pushing it.
3. Time its travel time. Do this two times and record your
results in your Student Packet.
4. Trial B: Position the car at the top of the ramp, but, this
time, gently push the car as you release it. (You may
want to practice pushing the car down the ramp several
times).
5. Time its travel. Do this two times, and record your results
in your Student Packet.
6.Complete the questions and the “Check Your Understanding – Get Pushy” in your Student Packet and check your
answer in the Answer Key.
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C-4
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 2
STUDENT PACKET
forces affecting objects
NAME ____________________________
Student Packet
Follow the directions on the Center 2 Task Card and complete
the Data Sheet below.
Time for car
Trial A:
to roll down the
Not pushing car
ramp
Comments or observations
First try
Second try
Trial B:
Pushing car
Time for car to
roll down the
ramp
Comments or observations
First try
Second try
Answer the questions on the next page.
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative- Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
S-7
student packet
forces affecting objects
1. When you pushed the car down the ramp instead of just releasing it, what
change did you see in the motion?
2. If you pushed the car down the ramp even harder, what would you predict
would happen to the amount of time it would take to get to the bottom
of the ramp?
Complete the “Check Your Understanding” on the next page.
S-8
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forces affecting objects
student packet
Check Your Understanding
Get Pushy
Answer the following question.
The principal’s chair has wheels. It sits on her office floor next to her
desk. She pulls the chair away from her desk. What makes the chair
move?
a.
The force of gravity on the chair.
b.
The force of her pull on the chair.
c.
Friction between her hand and the chair.
d.
Friction between the wheels and the floor.
Question adapted from the Ohio Department of Education, 2007.
Explain why you chose that answer.
Check Your Answer
with the Answer Key!
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative- Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
S-9
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 2
ANSWER KEY
forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Get Pushy Activity Questions
Follow the directions on the Center 2 Task Card and complete the Data
Sheet below.
Time for car
Trial A:
to roll down the
Not pushing car
ramp
Comments or observations
First try
Second try
Trial B:
Pushing car
Time for car to
roll down the
ramp
Comments or observations
First try
Should be
faster than
Trial A.
Second try
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A-6
forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Get Pushy Activity Questions
Question 1: When you pushed the car down the ramp instead of just releasing it, what change did you see in the motion?
The “push” force exerted on the car made it go down the ramp faster.
Question 2: If you pushed the car down the ramp even harder, what
would you predict would happen to the time it would take to
get to the bottom of the ramp?
If you pushed the car harder, the car would move faster, its speed would
be greater, and it would reach the bottom of the ramp in less time.
Flask says: Go back to your Student Packet and complete the
“Check Your Understanding – Center 2 – Get Pushy.”
A-7
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Check Your Understanding
Center 2 - Get Pushy
The principal’s chair has wheels. It sits on her office floor next to her
desk. She pulls the chair away from her desk. What makes the chair
move?
a. The force of gravity on the chair.
b. The force of her pull on the chair. This is the correct answer.
c. The force of her pushing downward on the chair.
d. The force of friction between the wheels and the floor.
Question adapted from materials produced by the Ohio Department of Education, 2007.
Explain why you chose that answer.
When the principal pulls the chair away from her desk, she is exerting a
force on the chair that changes its motion. The chair changes its motion it goes from standing still to moving – because of the force of her pull. This
is the same idea as when you changed the speed of the car by exerting a
force on it when you pushed it.
Now, go on to complete Center 3 – Magnetic Fishing.
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A-8
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3
magnetic fishing
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3
student task cards
student task cards
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3 TASK CARD
I can demonstrate a contact and non-contact
force by using a magnet “fish hook” and a
magnetically attracted steel paper clip “fish.”
FLASK TASK
Directions
1. Place the paper fish in an area about 3 feet by 3 feet on
a tabletop or on the floor.
2. Direct your magnetic “fishing pole” toward a fish (one at a time) so that the
magnet slowly attracts the fish and
holds onto it.
3. When you catch a fish, take it off the
“hook” and set it aside.
4. Observe how far away from the fish
you can hold your magnet and still
“catch” it.
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C-5
student task cards
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3 TASK CARD, continued
5. Notice that there is a moment when the fish is attracted
to the magnet, but is not in contact with the magnet.
If you gently move your magnet from side to side, you
may even be able to move the fish around without
touching it.
** When the fish is drawn to the magnet before the magnet
actually touches it, the magnetic force is a non-contact
force. It is a non-contact force because it is not in contact
with (or touching) the fish.
6. Repeat the process until all fish have been caught, carefully observing the motion due to magnetic force.
** When the magnet catches and holds the fish, it is a contact
force. So, magnetic force can be both a contact and a noncontact force.
7. As you and your partner are doing this
activity, answer the questions in your
Student Packet.
8. Check your answers for the Activity Questions.
9. Read “Magnetism as a Non-Contact Force Quick Facts” in
your Student Packet.
10. Complete the Magnetic Force Vocabulary page and
check your answers with the Answer Key.
C-6
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student task cards
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3 TASK CARD, continued
11. Complete “Check Your Understanding #1” and check
your answers with the Answer Key.
12. Complete the “Final Assessment “ and have your teacher
check your answer.
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C-7
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3
student Packet
forces affecting objects
student packet
Student Packet
Activity Questions
When you are done with the Task, answer these questions:
1. Describe what you see happening with your magnetic fishing line and the
fish when you “catch” the fish.
2. Draw a picture of what you see happening:
3. Why is this an example of a contact force?
4. What do you see happening with the magnetic fishing line and the fish
that shows a non-contact force?
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S-9
forces affecting objects
student packet
5. Draw a picture that would show what is happening with the non-contact
force.
6. When fishermen catch real fish with a fishing line and hook, do you think
that is a contact or a non-contact force that catches the fish? Explain your
thinking.
Otis Says: Check Your
Answer with the
Answer Key!
S-10
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
forces affecting objects
student packet
Read the following before you move on.
Quick Facts - Magnetism as
a Non-Contact or Contact Force
• The force from opposite poles, North and South, of two magnets
attract each other. They attract when they are touching each other
(contact) and when they are not touching each other (non-contact).
• The force from like poles, North and North or South and South,
of two magnets repel each other. They repel when they are not
touching each other (non-contact) and repel so strongly that it is
difficult or impossible to make the like poles touch each other.
• Magnets can attract from a distance (non-contact) certain metal
items, such as steel paper clips, iron nails and other ferro-magnetic
objects. This is like what happened when your magnet could move
a paperclip fish without touching it.
• Magnets can also touch (contact) those certain metal items and
hold onto them and even move them from place to place. This is like
what happened when you hooked your paperclip fish with your
magnet.
• Ferro-magnetic refers to certain metal materials or objects that
are attracted to magnets.
• Many materials or objects are not attracted or repelled by magnets,
such as plastic, rubber, glass, and non-ferro-magnetic metals such as
copper and aluminum.
Complete the Vocabulary Words on the next page
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S-11
forces affecting objects
student packet
Vocabulary
For each of the following words, write a definition and draw
picture or give an example:
Non-contact Magnetic Force
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
Attract
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
Repel
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
Contact Magnetic Force
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
Check Your Answer
with the Answer Key!
S-12
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
forces affecting objects
student packet
Check Your Understanding #1
Answer the following question and explain your answer.
Magnetic Force is
a. A contact force
b. A non-contact force
c. Both a contact and non-contact force
Explain why you chose that answer:
Check Your Answer
with the Answer Key!
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative- Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
S-13
forces affecting objects
student Packet
Check Your Understanding
Final Assessment
Think back to the Ramp Rolling, Get Pushy and Magnetic Fishing activities. Name one contact and one non-contact force
that you observed during these activities and describe how
each force affects the motion of an object.
Have Your Teacher
Check This Answer!
S-14
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative - Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
Forces Affecting Objects
CENTER 3
ANSWER KEY
forces affecting objects
answer Key
Answer Key
Magnetic Fishing Activity Questions
Question 1: Describe what you see happening with your magnetic fishing
line and the fish.
You should have written something about the magnet attracting (pulling)
the fish (closer) even before the magnet comes close enough to touch the
fish. And then when the magnet gets closer, grabbing onto and holding
the fish (because the steel paperclip on the fish is attracted to the magnet).
Question 2: Draw a picture of what you see happening:
You should have shown the fish (and maybe the paperclip) and the fishing
pole with the magnet and some way of depicting them coming together.
A few words in the picture to label it would be good.
Question 3: Why is this an example of a contact force?
There is a steel paperclip on the fish and the magnet attracts this kind of
metal and holds on to it. It is a contact force because the magnet and the
fish are touching .
Question 4: What do you see happening with the magnetic fishing line
and the fish that is about a non-contact force?
The magnet can pull the paperclip fish toward it even when they are not
touching (non-contact) each other.
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A-9
forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Question 5: Draw a picture that would show what is happening with the
non-contact force.
You should have shown the paperclip fish moving toward the magnet on
the fishing line.
Question 6: When fishermen catch real fish with a fishing line and hook,
do you think that is a contact or a non-contact force that
catches the fish? Explain why you think that.
This would be a contact force, because the fishing hook must actually
touch the fish to hook it.
Flask says: Now read “Quick Facts – Magnetism.”
A-10
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forces affecting objects
answer key
Answer Key
Vocabulary
Non-contact Magnetic Force
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
A force that acts on an object without touching the object.
Attract
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
To bring or pull toward (not away).
Repel
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
To push away (not attract).
Contact Magnetic Force
Definition
Drawing or Give an Example
A contact force exerted on ferromagnetic objects by the magnet
(attracted to the magnet).
Now complete “Check Your Understanding #1”
in your Student Packet.
© 2008 Teaching & Learning Collaborative- Science Tasks with Otis & Flask. All rights reserved.
A-11
forces affecting objects
Answer Key
Answer Key
Check Your Understanding #1
Magnetic Force is
a. A contact force
b. A non-contact force
c. Both a contact and non-contact force. This is the correct answer.
Explain why you chose that answer:
A magnetic force affects the motion of an object when it is touching it
(contact force) and when it is not touching it (non-contact force). A magnet can also make an object move even though it is a few inches away and
not in contact with the object.
Now, complete the Final Assessment in your Student Packet.
A-12
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Notes
Notes