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The Planetarium Orbit-Wheel Challenge

Use a planetarium model, test data, and evidence to design a device that changes electrical energy into motion.

Grade 4ScienceInteractive · Printable

Aligned to4-PS3-4

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What’s included

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

Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 4
Subject: Science
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer, Drawing

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students identify how a device changes electrical energy into motion energy.
Students use test evidence to compare designs against requirements.
Students plan and explain a device that changes energy from one form to another.

How to use

Read the model description and test results together first. Have students use the evidence to evaluate the designs and plan an improved orbit wheel.

Curriculum

NGSS standard covered

4-PS3-4

Design a device that changes energy from one form to another.

Preview

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The Planetarium Orbit-Wheel Challenge

Design a device that changes electrical energy into motion.

Study the orbit-wheel model

Read the planetarium club's model description and test notes. Use them to answer the questions.

The Sky Model Notes

At the North Star Planetarium, Keiko's club built a small orbit-wheel model for a new space exhibit. A battery pack connected to a switch, wires, and a small motor. The motor's axle connected to a wheel marked with stars. When a student closed the switch, the axle turned and the wheel spun. The model represented an orbiting object moving around a star. The battery supplied electrical energy, and the motor changed that energy into motion energy in the axle and wheel.

The club wanted the wheel to spin at least 10 turns in one minute and keep moving for 3 minutes. They tested three wheel designs. For each design, they used the same motor, battery pack, axle, switch, and test time. They changed the wheel material: Design A used cardboard, Design B used foam board, and Design C used thin plastic.

The club recorded three trials for each design. Design A made 12, 10, and 11 turns in one minute. It kept moving for 3, 3, and 2 minutes. Design B made 8, 9, and 8 turns in one minute and kept moving for 3, 2, and 3 minutes. Design C made 15, 14, and 16 turns in one minute and kept moving for 3, 3, and 3 minutes.

During each test, the club closed the switch to start the model and counted turns for one minute. The club checked the running time after the one-minute count. A student suggested that the plastic design might work well, but the club planned to use more evidence before building the full-size exhibit.

Which energy path describes the working orbit-wheel model?

A. Motion energy in the wheel changes into battery energy.
B. Electrical energy in the battery changes into motion energy in the motor and wheel.
C. Light energy from the stars changes into motion energy in the battery.
D. Motion energy in the axle changes into electrical energy in the switch.