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Down at Two Backyard Feeders

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Down at Two Backyard Feeders

Use feeder observations and an Earth model to argue about gravity.

1. Compare the feeder trials

Read the report and trial records. Use the observations to answer the questions.

A Bird Feeder Comparison

Imani and Rafael study two bird feeders in Imani's backyard. The north feeder is attached to a tall post near the garden wall. The south feeder is attached to a post near the patio. The platforms are at the same height above level ground. The students want to compare what happens when objects are released near each feeder.

For each trial, a student holds an object 90 centimeters above the feeder platform and releases it without a push. The other student watches the object's first motion and where it lands. They test a wooden bead and a crumpled paper ball. They use the same release height and repeat each kind of trial five times at each feeder. A light breeze is not blowing during the trials.

At the north feeder, all five wooden beads first moved toward the platform, and all five paper balls did the same. At the south feeder, all five wooden beads first moved toward the platform, and all five paper balls did the same. When Rafael gave one bead a gentle push toward the yard, the bead moved toward the yard and also moved toward the platform.

The students make a paper model of Earth. They mark the center with O and mark two places far apart on the outside of the model, a north mark near the top of the paper and a south mark near the bottom. On the model, an arrow for Earth's gravity starts at a place on the outside and points toward O. The arrow at one place may point in a different page direction from the arrow at another place.

Feeder trial records
Location | Object | Trials | First motion observed
North feeder | wooden bead | 5 | toward the platform
North feeder | crumpled paper ball | 5 | toward the platform
South feeder | wooden bead | 5 | toward the platform
South feeder | crumpled paper ball | 5 | toward the platform
1.
Which claim is best supported by the release trials?
Question 1 options
2.
Select the TWO observations that directly show the first direction of released objects.

3.
Which plan would make the fairest comparison of a third feeder location with the two locations in the records?
Question 3 options
4.
Select the TWO observations that show the tested material did not change the first direction at a given feeder.

5.
Across the four sets of trials, how many releases first moved toward a feeder platform?
Question 5 options

2. Reason from the evidence

Use the observations and the model description. Separate what the students observed from what the model helps explain.

6.
What comparison is supported by the records?
Question 6 options
7.
Sort each statement by whether the feeder records provide enough evidence to support it.
8.
Rafael says, “Down must mean toward the bottom edge of our paper.” Which response best uses the Earth model?
Question 8 options
9.
What does the bead's motion after the gentle yardward push show?
Question 9 options
10.
Select the TWO statements that correctly connect the feeder evidence with the Earth model.

11.
On the paper Earth model, the north mark is above O and the south mark is below O. Which pair of arrows best represents gravity at those two marks?
Question 11 options
12.
Which statement carefully describes what the trials do and do not show?
Question 12 options

3. Build the argument

Use the evidence to complete the model connection and write a scientific argument.

13.

On the Earth model, a gravity arrow from the south mark points toward the model's . Write one word from the word bank: center, edge, or sky.

14.
Argue for this claim: Earth's gravity pulls objects down toward the center of Earth. Use one observation from the north feeder, one observation from the south feeder, and the Earth model. Explain why “down” can point in different page directions at different places on Earth.