G4 Blocky Kart - Speed and Energy

Blocky Kart

"Blocky is my best friend!"

Student quote after completing this lab,

Del Rio Elementary.

Students learn about force as they watch Blocky Karts go down ramps. Will Blocky Kart go further with a steeper ramp? Students learn that balanced and imbalanced forces result in the movement of their karts. They show that motion is predictable by measuring the distance traveled by Blocky from different positions and inclinations of the ramp.

Lab sheet & activites

Watch Class Movie

teacher Prep

Student Lab Sheet

Lab Materials Needed

Blocky Kea

Wheels and Axils Koa

from Kea STEMCrate

- 1 Mezzi measuring tape per student

Teacher Edition Lab Sheet

Teacher Prep Movie

Class Movie

Relating Speed and Energy

NGSS 4-PS3-1 Show how an object’s speed is related to it’s energy. Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object. Students take measurements with Mezzi measuring tape to characterize the movement of Blocky Kart colliding with a sled from different heights on a ramp.