What Can You Learn From a Quarter, A Nickel and a Dime?

STEM

This week’s STEM activity was a milder one, but it had some far reaching ideas. We discussed 

momentum, how it is a physical and a mental phenomenon. To demonstrate this we took a quarter and placed it on the table. Then, we slid a nickel and a dime at it in turn and observed its reaction. We found that if we slid the nickel at the same speed as the dime, the nickel would make the quarter move further every time. But, we also found that if we slid the dime faster, it could match the displacement caused by the nickel. What we were observing was momentum in action. Since momentum equals mass times a velocity (p = m X v), something with smaller mass (the dime) can have the same momentum as something much heavier (the nickel) with an increase in its velocity. We also talked a little bit about inertia and how it is harder to start or stop an object than it is to keep it in motion. This led us into our next discussion.

While this experiment wasn’t quite as explosive as some of others, we decided to relate it to ourselves. We decided that it is always very difficult to start doing our homework, but once we start it, the hardest part is over. Same thing with bad habits. If we’re stuck in a rut and can’t quite seem to get out, don’t despair. The initial change is always the hardest part, but once you’ve made that change, it is sooo much easier to keep from doing it again. Keeping your momentum going is always easier than having to restart all the time. Hopefully this simple act of seeing quarters and nickels colliding will help them remember that lesson. I know it’s helped me.

Prepared by Ben Lovett