WaterWaterWaterWaterInvestigation 1Investigation 1

Part 3: Water on a SlopePart 3: Water on a Slope

Essential Question What factors influence the

movement of water?

What You Will Learn• What happens to beads of water when

they are placed at the top of a slope.• Which moves faster down a slope,

small water domes or big water domes.

• Whether water moves faster on a steep slope or a gentle slope.

Vocabulary• Slope – a slanted surface• Flow – the movement of a liquid

over a surface• Tell your partner the meanings of

slope and flow.

Part 3Water on a Slope

What might happen to a raindrop that falls into a stream flowing down a mountainside?

Talk to your partners. Reporters - share.

Task We are going to observe what

happens when drops of water are placed on a slope or slanted surface.

A slope is a slanted surface. Tell your partner what our task is

and what a slope is.

Directions Watch as I demonstrate the task.

1. Create a slope by propping one end of a tray on a book.

2. Lay waxed paper on the tray to create a smooth surface.

3. Use droppers to drop water on the waxed paper. Observe the behavior of the drops.

4. Return the water to the plastic cup when it collects at the bottom of the tray.

Directions Cont’d• You will work in groups of four to do

this task.• Getters will get a tray with materials for

their group when I say “materials.”• Managers, please make sure everyone

in your group gets a turn and is on task. Make sure the waxed paper is dried between races.

• Reporters, be ready to share your group’s observations.

Directions1. Create a slope by propping one end of

a tray on a book.2. Lay waxed paper on the tray to create

a smooth surface.3. Use droppers to drop water on the

waxed paper. Observe the behavior of the drops.

4. Return the water to the plastic cup when it collects at the bottom of the tray.

Suggestions• Drop drops on top of each other.• Drop drops from different heights.• Compare the speed of different sizes of beads

on the slopes.

• Find out if one bead can chase and catch another bead.

• You have five minutes. Begin.

Share Results• Talk to your partners about what

happens when water is placed on a slope.

• Reporters, share the results.

Attention• If you had a race between two

water domes, which one would get to the bottom of the slope first?

• Share your thoughts.

New Task• Let’s set up dome races to see

what will happen if we have a race between water domes.

• Watch as I demonstrate the task.

Directions• Prop one end of the tray on a book.• Hold up the other end of the tray so that it is level.

• Make several water domes of different sizes across the book end of the level tray. The domes will contain one drop, two drops, three drops, and so forth.

• Lower the other end of the tray and observe.

• Guess which dome will make it to the bottom of the tray first.

Start the Races• Managers, please dry the waxed

paper between races.

• Make sure everyone has a turn.

• You have five minutes. Begin.

Attention• Now do your races by setting up domes of

increasing sizes across the top of the waxed paper.

• Put 1 drop, 2 drops, 3 drops, 4 drops, 5 drops.• You may also use other sized domes.• Observe the results of these races.

• You have five minutes. Begin.

Share Results• Reporters, which dome usually

reached the bottom first.

• Raise your hand to share any other observations you made during the water-dome races.

Attention• What would happen to the speed of

the water domes if you increased the slope of the tray?

• Talk to your partners.

• Share.

New Task• You will do the water-dome races

again.• This time you will use two books

for your slope.• Talk to your partners about how

the change in slope affects the water-dome races.

Share Results• Reporters, be ready to share your

group’s results.

Clean Up• Collectors – please return all of the

materials to the materials station.

• Make sure the water is back in the plastic cup.

• Dry the equipment.

Student Sheet No. 4• You have five minutes to complete

this response sheet.

• Remember that this sheet will be graded.

CONTENT/INQUIRY• Water flows down a slope.• Bigger domes of water move down

a slope faster.

• Water flows faster down a steep slope.

• Teach your partner.

Vocabulary Review• Slope – a slanted surface

• Flow – the movement of a liquid over a surface

• Tell your partner the meanings of slope and flow.

What You Learned Today

• Water flows down a slope.

• Bigger domes of water move down a slope faster.

• Water flows faster down a steep slope.

Essential Question What factors influence the movement

of water?

The size of the water-dome.

The steepness of the slope.

Response SheetWater Observations

• Follow along as I read the directions to Student Sheet #5.

• Complete this sheet to the best of your ability. It will be graded.