Hooked on Science: Notebook Spring Launcher
Notebook Spring Launcher
INGREDIENTS
- Plastic Spiral Notebook
- Dowel Rod
- Ruler
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Remove the paper from the plastic spiral notebook.
STEP 2: Hold the dowel rod by placing your thumb and index finger at one end of the dowel rod. Slide the plastic spiral notebook spring onto the other end of the dowel rod.
STEP 3: Using your hand, barely compress the plastic spiral notebook spring against your thumb and index finger. Release the plastic spiral notebook spring and observe. Using the ruler, determine how far the plastic spiral notebook spring launched.
STEP 4: Using your hand, completely compress the plastic spiral notebook spring against your thumb and index finger. Release the plastic spiral notebook spring and observe. Using the ruler, determine how far the plastic spiral notebook spring launched.
STEP 5: Apply scientific ideas to refine the design of your notebook spring launcher, so the plastic spiral notebook spring launches the greatest distance.
EXPLANATION
When the plastic spiral notebook spring is compressed, energy is stored. Potential energy is stored energy. When the compressed spiral notebook spring is released, potential energy is transformed or changed to kinetic energy, and launches across the room. Kinetic energy is energy of motion. Go to www.hookedonscience.org for more experiments that might get you and your family “Hooked on Science.”
