| Name: ______________________________ | Date: ______________ |
Instructions
- Explore how forces and energy help a Gravitrax marble move.
- Read each question carefully and use science words when you can.
- For calculations, show how you found your answer.
Example: A marble has 12 units of energy at the top of a track. It loses 5 units because of friction. How much energy remains?
Answer: 12 - 5 = 7 units of energy remain.
Part 1: Track Forces
Complete each sentence with the best science word.
1. A push or pull that can change motion is called a __________.
2. When a marble rolls down a ramp, gravity pulls it toward the __________.
3. A rough surface creates more __________ than a smooth surface.
4. The energy an object has because it is moving is called __________ energy.
5. Energy stored because of an object's height is called __________ potential energy.
Part 2: Marble Motion
Choose the option that best answers each question.
6. What will usually happen when a marble starts from a higher point on a track?
| ○ A. It has more gravitational potential energy | ○ B. It has no energy |
| ○ C. It always stops immediately | ○ D. It becomes lighter |
7. Which change would most likely make a marble slow down?
| ○ A. Adding a rough surface | ○ B. Starting from a higher point |
| ○ C. Making the ramp steeper | ○ D. Removing obstacles |
8. What is the best way to test whether ramp height affects marble speed?
| ○ A. Change ramp height and keep other conditions the same | ○ B. Change ramp height and marble size together |
| ○ C. Use a different track every time | ○ D. Guess the speed without testing |
9. Which tool would be most useful for measuring how long a marble takes to finish a track?
| ○ A. Stopwatch | ○ B. Thermometer |
| ○ C. Balance | ○ D. Ruler only |
Part 3: Energy Check
Write True or False for each statement.
10. A marble at rest on a high platform can have gravitational potential energy. True / False
11. Friction always makes a marble move faster. True / False
12. A heavier marble is automatically guaranteed to finish every track first. True / False
13. A moving marble can transfer energy when it hits another object. True / False
14. Repeating a test can help make scientific results more reliable. True / False
Part 4: Test the Track
Complete the missing cells by identifying the variable being changed, the result being measured, and one condition kept the same.
| Test question | Variable changed | Result measured | Condition kept the same |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does ramp height affect travel time? | Ramp height | Time to finish | Same marble |
| Does surface texture affect travel time? | |||
| Does marble mass affect travel distance? | |||
| Does ramp angle affect marble speed? |
Part 5: Calculate the Run (optional challenge)
Solve each track problem and include the correct unit when one is given.
16. A marble travels 18 centimeters on the first section and 27 centimeters on the second section. How far does it travel altogether? Answer: __________ centimeters |
17. A marble takes 9 seconds to reach a switch and 6 more seconds to reach the finish. What is its total travel time? Answer: __________ seconds |
18. A marble starts with 20 energy units and loses 7 energy units to friction. How many energy units remain? Answer: __________ energy units |
19. A marble travels 60 centimeters in 5 seconds. Using speed = distance divided by time, what is its average speed? Answer: __________ centimeters per second |
20. Three trials take 8 seconds, 10 seconds, and 9 seconds. What is the average time? Answer: __________ seconds |
Answer Key
| 1. | force |
| 2. | Earth |
| 3. | friction |
| 4. | kinetic |
| 5. | gravitational |
| 6. | A (It has more gravitational potential energy) |
| 7. | A (Adding a rough surface) |
| 8. | A (Change ramp height and keep other conditions the same) |
| 9. | A (Stopwatch) |
| 10. | True |
| 11. | False |
| 12. | False |
| 13. | True |
| 14. | True |
| 15a. | Does surface texture affect travel time? · Surface texture · Time to finish · Same marble |
| 15b. | Does marble mass affect travel distance? · Marble mass · Distance traveled · Same track |
| 15c. | Does ramp angle affect marble speed? · Ramp angle · Marble speed · Same marble |
| 16. | 45 centimeters |
| 17. | 15 seconds |
| 18. | 13 energy units |
| 19. | 12 centimeters per second |
| 20. | 9 seconds |