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Name:‌  ‌   ‌ Date:‌  ‌   ‌
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Student‌‌Exploration:‌‌Ants‌‌on‌‌a‌‌Slant‌‌(Inclined‌‌Plane)‌  ‌
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Directions:‌‌Follow‌‌the‌‌instructions‌‌to‌‌go‌‌through‌‌the‌‌simulation.‌‌Respond‌‌to‌‌the‌‌questions‌‌and‌‌  
prompts‌‌in‌‌the‌‌orange‌‌boxes.‌  ‌
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Vocabulary‌:‌‌friction,‌‌inclined‌‌plane,‌‌work‌  ‌
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Prior‌‌Knowledge‌‌Questions‌(‌ Do‌‌these‌‌BEFORE‌‌using‌‌the‌‌Gizmo.)‌‌    ‌
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1. Imagine‌‌you‌‌were‌‌lifting‌v‌ ery‌‌‌heavy‌‌jugs‌‌to‌‌the‌‌top‌‌of‌‌a‌‌house.‌‌You‌‌can‌‌either‌‌use‌‌the‌‌stairs‌‌on‌‌the‌‌left‌‌or‌‌
 
push‌‌them‌‌up‌‌the‌i‌nclined‌‌plane‌‌‌on‌‌the‌‌right.‌‌Which‌‌option‌‌is‌‌easier?‌‌Why?‌  ‌
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Use‌‌the‌‌stairs.‌‌This‌‌is‌‌easier‌‌because‌‌if‌‌you‌‌go‌‌on‌‌the‌‌stairs‌‌you‌‌can‌‌rest‌‌if‌‌you‌‌
 
get‌‌tired‌‌but‌‌if‌‌you‌‌go‌‌on‌‌the‌‌inclined‌‌plane‌‌then‌‌the‌‌weight‌‌of‌‌the‌‌jugs‌‌will‌‌make‌‌
 
you‌‌slower‌‌than‌‌you‌‌already‌‌are‌‌and‌‌you‌‌may‌‌end‌‌up‌‌going‌‌back‌‌down‌‌instead‌‌  
of‌‌up‌‌where‌‌you‌‌wanna‌‌go.‌  ‌
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2. If‌‌a‌‌person‌‌in‌‌a‌‌wheelchair‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌get‌‌to‌‌the‌‌second‌‌story‌‌of‌‌a‌‌two-story‌‌building,‌‌would‌‌it‌‌be‌‌easier‌‌to‌‌
 
take‌‌a‌‌short,‌‌steep‌‌ramp‌‌or‌‌a‌‌long,‌‌shallow‌‌ramp?‌‌Explain.‌  ‌
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The‌‌short‌‌steep‌‌ramp‌‌would‌‌be‌‌much‌‌harder‌‌because‌‌you‌‌will‌‌have‌‌to‌‌
 
work‌‌more‌‌against‌‌gravity.‌  ‌
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Gizmo‌‌Warm-up‌  ‌
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1. In‌‌the‌‌‌Ants‌‌on‌‌a‌‌Slant‌G
‌ izmo,‌‌ants‌‌use‌‌a‌‌slanted‌‌stick‌‌to‌‌help‌‌push‌‌food‌‌to‌‌the‌‌top‌‌of‌‌a ‌‌
tree‌‌stump.‌‌Drag‌‌the‌‌stick‌‌sideways‌‌to‌‌change‌‌its‌‌steepness.‌‌Change‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌  
ants‌‌by‌‌dragging‌‌them‌‌to‌‌the‌‌item.‌‌Then‌‌click‌P ‌ lay‌‌‌(‌ ‌)‌‌to‌‌see‌‌if‌‌the‌‌ants‌‌can‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌
 
item.‌  ‌
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First,‌‌describe‌‌a‌‌strategy‌‌to‌‌find‌‌out‌‌which‌‌items‌‌are‌‌heavier‌‌than‌‌others.‌  ‌
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The‌‌items‌‌that‌‌take‌‌more‌‌ants‌‌are‌‌heavier‌‌than‌‌others.‌  ‌
  
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2. List‌‌the‌‌food‌‌items‌‌in‌‌order,‌‌from‌‌lightest‌‌to‌‌heaviest,‌‌using‌‌your‌‌method:‌  ‌
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(lightest)‌  ‌ corn‌  ‌ peanut‌  ‌ blueberry‌  almond‌  ‌ ‌(heaviest)‌  ‌
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Activity‌‌A:‌‌
   ‌ Get‌‌the‌‌Gizmo‌‌ready‌:  
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Inclined‌‌planes:‌‌  ● Click‌R
‌ eset‌. ‌ ‌
pros‌‌and‌‌cons‌  ‌ ● Make‌s ‌ ure‌N
‌ o‌‌friction‌‌‌is‌‌selected.‌  ‌
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Question:‌‌What‌‌are‌‌advantages‌‌and‌‌disadvantages‌‌of‌‌using‌‌inclined‌‌planes‌‌to‌‌help‌‌lift?‌  ‌
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1. Observe‌:‌‌Run‌‌a‌‌few‌‌trials‌‌with‌‌the‌‌Gizmo.‌‌Explore‌‌both‌‌shorter‌‌(steeper)‌‌and‌‌longer‌‌(flatter)‌‌sticks.‌‌Why‌‌
 
do‌‌you‌‌think‌‌people‌‌(or‌‌ants)‌‌would‌‌choose‌‌to‌‌use‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane‌‌to‌‌help‌‌lift?‌  ‌
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Objects‌‌can‌‌be‌‌lifted‌‌using‌‌fewer‌‌people‌‌when‌‌using‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane.‌  ‌
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2. Predict‌:‌‌Make‌‌two‌‌predictions‌‌below.‌‌(Stick‌‌lengths‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Gizmo:‌‌10,‌‌15,‌‌20,‌‌25,‌‌and‌‌30‌‌cm.)‌  ‌
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A. Which‌‌stick‌‌length‌‌will‌‌let‌‌you‌‌lift‌‌a‌‌peanut‌‌with‌‌the‌f‌ewest‌‌‌ants?‌  ‌ 30cm‌  ‌
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B. Which‌‌stick‌‌length‌‌will‌‌require‌‌the‌l‌ongest‌‌‌time‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌a‌‌peanut?‌  ‌ 10cm‌  ‌
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3. Experiment‌:‌‌Test‌‌your‌‌predictions.‌‌Use‌‌all‌‌five‌‌stick‌‌lengths‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌a‌‌peanut.‌‌List‌‌results‌‌here.‌  ‌
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 ‌ 10‌‌cm‌  ‌ 15‌‌cm‌  ‌ 20‌‌cm‌  ‌ 25‌‌cm‌  ‌ 30‌‌cm‌  ‌
Minimum‌‌ants‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌  
3‌  ‌ 2‌  ‌ 2‌  ‌ 2‌  ‌ 1‌  ‌
peanut‌  ‌
Time‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌peanut‌  ‌ 1.44‌  ‌ 1.58‌  ‌ 2.02‌  ‌ 2.52‌  ‌ 3.06‌  ‌
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4. Draw‌‌conclusions‌:‌‌Name‌‌an‌‌advantage‌‌and‌‌a‌‌disadvantage‌‌of‌‌using‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane.‌  ‌
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A. Advantage:‌‌    ‌
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Fewer‌‌ants‌‌are‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌object.‌‌
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B. Disadvantage:‌  ‌
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It‌‌takes‌‌more‌‌time‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌object.‌  ‌
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5. Analyze‌:‌‌The‌‌stick‌‌doesn’t‌‌just‌‌support‌‌the‌‌peanut;‌‌it‌‌actually‌p
‌ ushes‌‌up‌‌‌on‌‌it!‌‌(Think‌‌of‌‌what‌‌would‌‌
 
happen‌‌if‌‌the‌‌stick‌‌suddenly‌‌disappeared.)‌‌This‌‌pushing‌‌up‌‌is‌‌what‌‌“helps”‌‌the‌‌ants.‌ 
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A. Which‌‌kind‌‌of‌‌inclined‌‌plane‌‌pushes‌‌up‌m
‌ ore‌?‌‌(‌ ‌highlight‌‌one.‌) ‌‌ Steeper‌ ‌ ‌Flatter‌  ‌
  
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B. What‌‌do‌‌you‌‌think‌‌causes‌‌this?‌‌
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The‌‌peanut‌‌pushes‌‌down‌‌more‌‌into‌‌the‌‌shallow‌‌plane,‌‌so‌‌the‌‌shallow‌‌plane‌‌
 
pushes‌‌up‌‌more‌‌to‌‌support‌‌it.‌  ‌
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Get‌‌the‌‌Gizmo‌‌ready‌:  
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Activity‌‌B:‌‌
   ‌ ● Click‌R
‌ eset‌.  
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 ‌ ● Make‌‌sure‌N ‌ o‌‌friction‌‌‌is‌‌selected.‌  ‌
Work,‌‌work,‌‌work‌  ‌ ● Select‌‌the‌b‌ lueberry‌. ‌
● Select‌‌the‌‌10-cm‌‌stick‌‌(shortest,‌‌steepest‌‌stick).‌  ‌
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Question:‌‌How‌‌does‌‌length‌‌of‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane‌‌affect‌‌the‌‌force‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌an‌‌object?‌  ‌
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1. Form‌‌hypothesis‌:‌‌Suppose‌‌you‌‌already‌‌know‌‌how‌‌many‌‌ants‌‌it‌‌takes‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌an‌‌object‌‌straight‌‌up‌‌(using‌‌the‌‌  
10-cm‌‌stick).‌‌How‌‌can‌‌you‌‌predict‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌ants‌‌that‌‌will‌‌be‌‌needed‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌object‌‌with‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌
 
plane‌‌of‌‌a‌‌certain‌‌length?‌  ‌
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Hint:‌‌Play‌‌with‌‌the‌‌Gizmo.‌‌See‌‌how‌‌doubling‌‌the‌‌length‌‌changes‌‌the‌‌number‌‌needed.‌  ‌
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2. Collect‌‌data‌:‌‌How‌‌many‌‌ants‌‌can‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌blueberry‌‌straight‌‌up‌‌(using‌‌10-cm‌‌stick)?‌  ‌ 6‌  ‌
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3. Predict‌:‌‌Use‌‌your‌‌hypothesis‌‌to‌‌predict‌‌what‌‌is‌‌the‌s‌ mallest‌‌‌number‌‌of‌‌ants‌‌required‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌the‌‌blueberry‌‌on‌‌
 
sticks‌‌of‌‌other‌‌lengths:‌  ‌
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15-cm‌‌stick‌  3‌  ‌ 20-cm‌‌stick‌  2‌  ‌ 30-cm‌‌stick‌  3‌  ‌
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4. Experiment‌:‌‌Test‌‌your‌‌predictions‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Gizmo.‌‌How‌‌many‌‌ants‌‌are‌‌needed‌‌for‌‌each?‌  ‌
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15-cm‌‌stick‌  4‌  ‌ 20-cm‌‌stick‌  3‌  ‌ 30-cm‌‌stick‌  2‌  ‌
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5. Calculate‌:‌‌The‌w
‌ ork‌‌‌used‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌an‌‌item‌‌equals‌‌the‌‌force‌‌needed‌‌times‌‌the‌‌distance‌‌moved.‌‌You‌‌can‌‌
 
estimate‌‌work‌‌by‌‌multiplying‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌ants‌‌times‌‌the‌‌stick‌‌length.‌  ‌
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 ‌ 10‌‌cm‌  ‌ 15‌‌cm‌  ‌ 20‌‌cm‌  ‌ 30‌‌cm‌  ‌

Ants‌‌required‌‌(minimum‌‌number)‌  ‌ 6‌  ‌ 4‌  ‌ 3‌  ‌ 2‌  ‌

Approximate‌‌work‌‌(ants‌‌x‌‌length)‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌

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6. Draw‌‌conclusions‌:‌‌How‌‌does‌‌using‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane‌‌affect‌‌the‌‌work‌‌required‌‌to‌‌lift‌‌an‌‌item?‌  ‌
 ‌
  
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 The‌‌amount‌‌of‌‌work‌‌required‌‌is‌‌unaffected‌‌by‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane‌  ‌
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Activity‌‌C:‌‌
   ‌ Get‌‌the‌‌Gizmo‌‌ready‌:  
‌‌ ‌
 ‌ ● Click‌R
‌ eset‌. ‌ ‌
Friction‌  ‌ ● Select‌F‌ riction‌. ‌ ‌
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Introduction:‌W ‌ hen‌‌people‌‌rub‌‌their‌‌hands‌‌together,‌f‌ riction‌‌‌is‌‌the‌‌force‌‌that‌‌tries‌‌to‌‌stop‌‌the‌‌motion.‌‌Friction‌‌
 
also‌‌can‌‌stop‌‌a‌‌pencil‌‌from‌‌sliding‌‌down‌‌a‌‌tilted‌‌desk.‌  ‌
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Question:‌‌How‌‌does‌‌friction‌‌affect‌‌an‌‌object‌‌sliding‌‌on‌‌an‌‌inclined‌‌plane?‌  ‌
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1. Explore‌:‌‌Use‌‌the‌‌Gizmo‌‌to‌‌examine‌‌the‌‌effects‌‌of‌‌friction.‌‌Run‌‌several‌‌different‌‌trials.‌  ‌
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A. Are‌‌there‌‌times‌‌when‌‌friction‌‌helps‌‌the‌‌ants?‌‌
   ‌ No,‌‌friction‌‌never‌‌helps.‌‌
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B. Are‌‌there‌‌times‌‌when‌‌friction‌‌prevents‌‌the‌‌ants‌‌from‌‌lifting‌‌the‌‌item?‌  ‌ Yes‌  ‌
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2. Investigate‌:‌‌Select‌‌the‌‌blueberry.‌‌Run‌‌the‌‌test‌‌on‌‌the‌‌10-cm,‌‌20-cm,‌‌and‌‌30-cm‌‌sticks.‌‌Record‌‌the‌‌  
minimum‌‌number‌‌of‌‌ants‌‌needed‌w ‌ ith‌‌‌friction,‌‌and‌‌also‌w
‌ ithout‌‌‌friction.‌  ‌
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 ‌ No‌‌friction‌  ‌ Friction‌  ‌
Minimum‌  ‌ Work‌  ‌ Minimum‌  ‌ Work‌  ‌
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ants‌‌needed‌  ‌ (ants‌‌x‌‌length)‌  ‌ ants‌‌needed‌  ‌ (ants‌‌x‌‌length)‌  ‌
10‌‌cm‌  ‌ 6‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌ 6‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌

20‌‌cm‌  ‌ 3‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌ 4‌  ‌ 80‌  ‌

30‌‌cm‌  ‌ 2‌  ‌ 60‌  ‌ 3‌  ‌ 90‌  ‌

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3. Analyze‌:‌‌Friction‌‌causes‌‌work‌‌to‌‌be‌‌“wasted”‌‌as‌‌heat‌‌(which‌‌is‌‌why‌‌your‌‌hands‌‌get‌‌warm).‌  ‌
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A. Does‌‌friction‌‌waste‌‌more‌‌work‌‌on‌‌longer‌‌or‌‌shorter‌‌planes?‌  ‌ Longer‌‌planes‌  ‌
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B. How‌‌can‌‌you‌‌tell?‌  ‌ The‌‌most‌‌work‌‌is‌‌required‌‌with‌‌the‌‌longest‌‌stick.‌  ‌
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C. Why‌‌do‌‌you‌‌think‌‌this‌‌is?‌ ‌[Hint:‌‌Remember‌‌the‌‌stick‌‌presses‌‌up‌‌on‌‌the‌‌item.‌‌Do‌‌your‌‌hands‌‌get‌‌
 
warmer‌‌faster‌‌if‌‌you‌‌press‌‌them‌‌together‌‌harder‌‌as‌‌you‌‌rub?]‌  ‌
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On‌‌flatter‌‌sticks,‌‌the‌‌item‌‌and‌‌stick‌‌press‌‌against‌‌each‌‌other‌‌more.‌‌This‌‌increases‌‌friction.‌  ‌
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4. Conjecture‌:‌‌Does‌‌friction‌‌cause‌‌more‌‌energy‌‌to‌‌be‌‌wasted‌‌if‌‌the‌‌object‌‌is‌‌heavier?‌‌Why?‌‌
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Yes,‌‌because‌‌it‌‌heavier‌‌objects‌‌will‌‌press‌‌more‌‌into‌‌the‌‌stick‌‌than‌‌lighter‌‌ones‌  ‌
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Use‌‌the‌‌Gizmo‌‌to‌‌test‌‌this.‌‌Describe‌‌your‌‌results‌‌in‌‌your‌‌notebook‌‌or‌‌on‌‌a‌‌separate‌‌sheet.‌  ‌

  
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