Balance circus

Simon Xi - smx
Eli Pousson - ewp
Russ Koenig - rkoenig
Bill Bernstein - wbernste

Engineering principle

Children will learn about center of gravity, balance and center of mass.

Activities

1.Teacher Demo
The first activity is designed to explain balance, related to center of mass. A model of a clown, on stilts, is used for this demo. The clown, which is quite heavy, can be raised or lowered on the stilts, raising and lowering the center of mass. Children should observe that the clown can tilt over further without falling when the center of mass is lower. example

2.Teacher Demo
The next activity will be a teacher demo to explain the relationship of balance and distance from a fulcrum. The demo is a balance, on which the weights and distance from the center can be modified. Children should begin to understand the relationship between mass and distance in balance

3.Hands-on activity
Children will make a mobile from a coat hanger and provided supplies, balancing different performers from the circus. Challenges are created to encourage the children to try different arrangements, with various amounts of weight, and various distances from the centerpoint.

4.Hands-on activity
The final activity is to show the children about stability and center of mass. They will build an object with two weights that sit below the balance point. The center of mass for the two weights is below where the children hold it, so the object is stable. instructions

Age group
This activity will work best for children in elementary school. Understanding the relationship of distance to a fulcrum will still be a challenge, as will the concept of center of mass.

How will they learn?
The ability to experiment, by changing the position, and amount of wieghts used will allow the children to gain an understanding of balance and distnace to the fulcrum. The ability to change the center of mass will let children learn how it impacts balance.

Supplies, manufacturing needed

For the teacher demos, the parts will be provided, and made of plexiglass, wood and plasticene. Currently none of these parts are being manufactured, although it is not out of the question.

For the first activity children will need to provide a coat hanger, as well as 30 pennies or other change to use as weights. The weights will be held in hangable envelopes, the templates for which will need to be photocopied and provided by the teacher, for the children to cut out and fold.

For the second activity the children will use popcicle sticks, glue and plasticene, all of which should be provided by the teacher.

Interesting links

SMILE Balance Home
Center of Mass | Multimedia Activities
Centers of Mass

Example for activity 1
Cutouts for activity 3
Instructions for activity 4
Teacher instuctions (.pdf)

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