8th Grade Science Leaders Demonstrate Centripetal Force

Our 8th Grade Science students are learning about Centripetal Force.  Today in class they went outside and took advantage of the nice weather.  It was there that they participated in three different activities that allowed them to look at inertia and centripetal force. 

First, students had a tennis ball on a string that they were challenge to release at the correct time in order to have it fly towards their partner.  This was to demonstrate that when the centripetal force is no longer present that the tennis ball will continue in the same direction it was going when released. 

Then student took a bucket of water and depended on centripetal force to keep the water in the bucket even while over their head. 

Along the same lines, students were challenged to place a cup on a tray with strings attached and keep the cup on the try while it was spinning. 

See some of our videos from today here: