Grade 5: Science-Galileo

Question 1

Pendulum

Answer 1

a mass on one end of an arm that is free to swing back and forth in response to gravity

Question 2

Cycle

Answer 2

a set of events or actions that repeats

Example:

Question 3

Period

Answer 3

length of time it takes to a pendulum to complete a cycle

Example: Galileo timed the swing of the pendulum when it swung back in forth x number of times

Question 4

bob

Answer 4

a mass at the end of the pendulum

Question 5

what did Galileo observe about the pendulum

Answer 5

the distance of the pendulum’s swing got shorter & shorter, but the time required to complete a cycle remained the same;

He also observed that the length of the pendulum was related to the period of the swing

Question 6

Controlled Experiment

Answer 6

a scientific test where only one variable can change

Example: Galileo chose only one variable at a time for observations.
Therefore, he changed the release position for his first experiement;
then he later chose the size of the bob;
then he later chose the length of the pendulum

Question 7

Variable

Answer 7

anything you can change in an experiment that might affect the outcome

Example: the length of the string of the pendulum, 
the weight (mass) of the bob

Question 8

Independent Variable

Answer 8

the variable in an experiment that you control the value of in advance

Example: Galileo pendulum’s release positions

Question 9

Controlled Variable

Answer 9

any variable in an experiment that is not allowed to change

Example: in order to control his experiment, only one variable can change while the others remained the same (or cannot change)

Therefore, when he only changes the Release Position, Galileo kept the length of the string of the pendulum the same and the weight (mass) of the bob the same.

Question 10

Dependent Variable

Answer 10

What you find out as a result of doing an experiment

Example: Period of the pendulum is the dependent variable; the final result that Galileo wanted to find out at the end.

Galileo wanted to find out if the period of the pendulum will change (number of swings in x seconds) after deciding which Independent Variable (release position) and Controlled Variable (length of string & mass of bob) to use

Question 11

what variables did Galileo test when he conducted his pendulum experiment

Answer 11

he used the Independent Variable (release positions); Controlled Variable (same length of string; same bob weight - never changed) and Dependent Variable is the period of the pendulum he wanted to find out at the end

Question 12

Galileo conducted experiments to see if the length affects the period of the pendulum.
What was the independent variable in his experiment?
What was the dependent variable?
What was the Controlled Variable?

Answer 12

Independent Variable the length of the String

Dependent Variable was period of the pendulum (because he wanted to know that as a result of the experiment)

Controlled Variable was the mass of the bob, and the Release Position

Question 13

Describe the Galileo’s Graph

Answer 13

X-Axis had information on the Independent Variable (the length of the Swinger that changes)

Y-Axis has information on the Dependent Variable (the number of swings in 15 seconds are the results)

Question 14

Tina’s Graph regarding a steel ball launching the plastic egg

Answer 14

X-Axis had information on the Independent Variable (the Ball’s Starting Positions - which changes)

Y-Axis has information on the Dependent Variable (the Egg’s Landing Position is the result that was found)

Question 15

What was the purpose of Tina’s experiment

Answer 15

She wanted to predict (or find out) where to position the basket to catch the flying egg in her game

So she observed that placing the basket at 60 cm to catch the egg, she would have to roll the ball at 23 cm