Physics Comes to the Fourth Form
By Kat Celata, Eaglebrook Science Teacher
Eaglebrook Fourth Formers (seventh graders) are learning physics through engineering this winter. They have been challenged to build multi-story structures, for example a tower, that can withstand an earthquake. Through this process, they are learning teamwork, the engineering design process, and physics concepts.
While class periods are spent building, at night the boys are reading about physics concepts that will help them be successful. We start each class reviewing the concepts to help their building.
Overall, the project was a great success in many ways - and unsuccessful in others.
The boys learned to work together, manage their budget (they were given $200 science dollars to purchase supplies), brainstorm ideas, and were challenged to adapt their ideas based on observations and inferences during a testing phase.
Some groups were quite successful, and two towers were able to withstand the earthquake for the entire 45 seconds. Others were less successful. See a video of a structure experiencing an “earthquake” here, and see photos from the project here. Learn more about the Science program at Eaglebrook at www.eaglebrook.org/academics.
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