Hooked on Science: Notebook spring launcher

Materials

• Plastic spiral notebook
• Dowel rod
• Ruler

Instructions

• STEP 1: Remove the paper from the notebook.
• STEP 2: Hold the dowel rod by placing your thumb and index finger at one end of the rod. Slide the notebook spring onto the other end of the rod.
• STEP 3: Using your hand, barely compress the notebook spring against your thumb and index finger. Release the spring and observe. Using the ruler, determine how far the spring launched.
• STEP 4: Using your hand, completely compress the spring against your thumb and index finger. Release the spring and observe. Using the ruler, determine how far the spring launched.
• STEP 5: Apply scientific ideas to refine the design of your notebook spring launcher so the spring launches the greatest distance.

Explanation

When the spring is compressed, energy is stored. Potential energy is stored energy. When the compressed spring is released, potential energy is transformed or changed to kinetic energy, and the spring launches across the room. Kinetic energy is energy of motion.