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Carrier Trials at the Bee Farm

Analyze a bee-farm model carrier investigation to explain balanced and unbalanced forces, predict motion, and plan fair tests.

Grade 3ScienceInteractive · Printable

Aligned to3-PS2-1

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What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 NGSS standard
Printable answer key
14 questions
Classroom-ready

Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 3
Subject: Science
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students use trial results to explain how balanced and unbalanced forces affect motion.
Students compare distances traveled in equal times to identify speeding up and slowing down.
Students plan fair tests of how changing a pull affects an object's motion.

How to use

Read the investigation together, then have students compare the graphs and explain their predictions. No equipment or farm visit is needed.

Curriculum

NGSS standard covered

3-PS2-1

Investigate how balanced and unbalanced forces change, or do not change, an object's motion.

Preview

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Carrier Trials at the Bee Farm

Use a class investigation to explain changes in motion.

1. Examine the Carrier Trials

Read the class investigation. Use the trial notes and both graphs to answer the questions.

A Model for the Honey House

At a bee farm, workers pack sealed honey jars in a building called the honey house. A visiting class builds a small model carrier to investigate motion. Their carrier has freely turning wheels and carries no jars. The investigation takes place indoors, away from the bees.

Step 1: The teacher puts the carrier on a level track. Short cords connect it to spring scales on the left and right. The scales show whether the pulls are equal or one is stronger. The teacher handles the cords.

Step 2: The class keeps the carrier, track, and cord height the same. Upward and downward forces stay balanced. For this model, ignore the tiny rubbing force at the wheels. Consider the left and right pulls.

Step 3: Students note whether the carrier starts at rest or moving. They record its direction and the distance it travels during each one-second interval.

Trial A: The carrier starts at rest. Equal pulls act in opposite directions. It stays at the starting mark.

Trial B: The carrier starts at rest. The right pull matches Trial A, but the left pull is stronger. The carrier begins moving left.

Trial C: The carrier starts moving right. Equal pulls act in opposite directions. It travels right 7 centimeters during each of three one-second intervals.

Step 4: Students try two more trials. In Trial D, the carrier starts moving right, with the right pull stronger. In Trial E, it starts moving right, with the left pull stronger. The graphs show their results.