Lever Arm Force Difference

1. Lever Arm Force Difference Materials: Meter stick/ruler pivot; small load; spring scale What you do: Lift same load with force applied near vs far from pivot. What students see: Farther from pivot requires less force. Question: Why does a longer handle make lifting easier? 2. Brachistochrone Ball Race Materials: Two tracks: straight shallow slope and steeper curved/cycloid-like track; identical balls What you do: Release balls simultaneously from same height to same end height. What students see: The longer-looking curved path can win. Question: Why can a longer path be faster? 3. Falling Chimney Paradox Materials: Long stick/ruler or hinged segmented model What you do: Tip long ruler from vertical and watch top/sections. What students see: Different points accelerate differently; model may bend/break in segmented version. Question: Why doesn't every part fall the same way?

Predict → observe three demonstrations → compare what changed → choose independent activity station → cleanup/share. Guiding questions: Question: Why does a longer handle make lifting easier? Question: Why can a longer path be faster? Question: Why doesn't every part fall the same way?