Barbie Bungee Jumping Lab

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Barbie Bungee Jumping Lab
Maximum Drop Distance Maximum Drop Distance Maximum Drop Distance Maximum Drop Distance
Number of Rubber Bands Initial Length of Bungee (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average (Mean)
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Mass of Barbie Mass of Barbie Mass of Barbie Mass of Barbie Mass of Barbie Mass of Barbie
Equation Equation Equation Equation Equation Equation
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Barbie Bungee Jumping

• 8th Grade Physical Science
• Instructor Mrs. K

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Your Mission

• Team members have been hired to work for the Evil
  Knievel Entertainment Company.
• This company provides rock climbing, sky diving,
  extreme skateboarding and hang gliding adventures
  to the public.
• The current market research indicates that the
  company should add bungee jumping to its list of
  entertainment services.
• As part of the preliminary research, the
  management assigned teams the task of working out
  the details of the jump that will ensure a safe
  yet thrilling experience.
• The company has several sites planned for bungee
  jumping and each site is at a different height.

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Purpose

• To ensure a safe and thrilling jump you will
  determine the relationship between the jump
  height and the number of rubber bands used to
  make the bungee cord. You must allow your Barbie
  to come as close to the floor as possible without
  sustaining any injuries or fatalities.

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Problem Statement

• How many rubber bands does it take to give Barbie
  the best bungee jump without hitting the ground?

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Hypothesis

• If I use rubber bands for the bungee jump, then I
  think that __________ rubber bands will give
  Barbie the most thrilling ride without hurting
  her.

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Materials

1. Meter Stick
2. Rubber Bands, 7 to start
3. Barbie Doll
4. Scale
5. Graph Paper

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Procedure

1. Create a double loop to wrap around Barbies
   feet. A double loop is made by securing a rubber
   band to another with a slip knot
2. Wrap one end of the double loop around Barbies
   ankles to serve as a point of attachment for the
   bungee cord.
3. Use a rubber band to tie back Barbies hair.
4. Barbie will fall freely from a standing position,
   plunging head first throughout this lab.
5. Measure the initial length of the 1 band bungee
   (double loop) you constructed once it is attached
   to Barbies ankles.

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Procedure Pt. II

1. Test drop Barbie three times to practice taking
   readings.
2. Drop Barbie three times and record the data each
   time.
3. Add a rubber band to your attached bungee cord.
4. Measure the new cord length.
5. Drop Barbie three times and record the data each
   time.
6. Repeat the steps until you have a total of 6
   rubber bands.
7. Record the data each time.
8. You may have to devise a way to take measurements
   that are longer that 1.0meter.

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Procedure Pt. III

1. Calculate the average of the data and record it
   in the data table.
2. Using graph paper, construct a graph of drop
   distance vs. number of rubber bands.
3. Use the equation in ymxb format in the space
   provided in the data table. (y drop distance,
   x of Rubber bands, b length of Barbie, m
   slope)
4. Use the equation to predict how many rubber bands
   will be needed in order for Barbie to perform a
   safe, yet thrilling jump for a location specified
   by Mrs. K

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Conclusion Questions

• Use your equation to predict how many of your
  rubber bands would be needed to allow Barbie a
  successful, yet thrilling jump from a height of
  1000 cm.
• Ken wants to jump and have some fun too. Barbie
  loans Ken her bungee cord, but warns Ken that
  this may not be a safe plan. Why may it be a bad
  idea for Ken to use Barbies bungee cord?
• A student measured the mass of Barbie before
  attaching the first rubber band that secures
  Barbies ankles to the bungee cord. How will
  this error affect the calculated value of the
  stretch factor?
• Use this experiment to describe and illustrate
  gravitational potential energy, free fall,
  kinetic energy, elastic potential energy,
  Newtons 1st Law of Motion, Newtons 2nd Law of
  Motion, Newtons 3rd Law of Motion
• Find the Kinetic and Potential Energy of Barbie
• K ½ mv2 Pmgh