Circular Centipede

SCIENCE CONCEPT:

In Sir Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion there is the explanation for an object that is pushed or pulled. If the object is pushed or pulled, it will push or pull to an equal extent in the opposite direction. For example, if a person pushes against a wall, the wall will exert an equal and opposite force on the individual.

STUDENT OBJECTIVE:

The student will explore Newton's Third Law of Motion in relationship to the push and pull dynamic that takes place when people make 'human chairs'.

OVERVIEW:

In this activity, students will get as many of the class to participate. Ask the students to all stand in a circle. Then on the teacher's command, everyone will sit down at exactly the same time. If each person sits on the knees of the person behind them, nobody will fall over. But everyone should then get up at the same time.

PREPARATION TIME:

No time needed

LESSON TIME:

20 minutes.

TEACHER PREP:

There is no teacher preparation for this experiment.

WORDS TO KNOW:

pull

push

equal

circular

balancing force

TEACHER TEXT:

When each person sits, the legs of the person behind them takes their weight in the same way as a chair. The ground exerts a balancing force on their feet and the circle of people does not collapse. If everyone in the circle shuffles their legs, the circle will rotate like a circular centipede. The world record for circular sitting like this is over 10,000 people.

Because Newton's Third Law of Motion is in action there is the dynamic of the push or pull to an equal extent in the opposite direction when each person 'sits down'. Think of other ways you can utilize Newton's Third Law of Motion with the children.

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Last modified: Wed Nov 26 10:48:08 PST 1997