Exploring Chain Reactions

Lesson: Two 60-minute sessions; Activity: 30 minutes

Grade Levels: 2-12

Explore stored energy and energy transfer while building a series of chain reactions.
Resources

Lesson Plan PDF

Tech at Home activity

Lab Connections Icon Lab Connection: Advanced Physics of Roller Coasters, Physics of Roller Coasters

 

Grade Levels: 2-12

Duration: Lesson: Two 60-minute sessions; Activity: 30 minutes

Concepts/Skills: Simple machines, energy transfer, potential and kinetic energy, cause and effect

Objectives:

  • Explore simple machines and energy transfer by
    building several components of a chain reaction.
  • Identify the ways that energy is transferred and
    stored in a chain reaction.
  • Iterate and improve designs based on testing and
    observation of failure points.

The Tech Challenge

This resource was developed to prepare students for the 2022 Tech Challenge. Each year The Tech Challenge invites teams of students in Grades 4-12 to use the engineering design process to solve a real-world problem.

Learn about this year's Tech Challenge.

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