Kinetic BalanceKinetic Balance

Now we’re adding movement to balance ideas:Now we’re adding movement to balance ideas:physical balance (from side to side)physical balance (from side to side)

and sometimesand sometimesintellectual balance (from side to side).intellectual balance (from side to side).

We watched a video aboutWe watched a video about

Alexander CalderAlexander Calder,,a sculptor who spent his lifea sculptor who spent his life

achieving balance with metal and stringachieving balance with metal and string

……the original the original mobile innovatormobile innovator..

To hang our mobiles from the ceilings of To hang our mobiles from the ceilings of Aylor Middle School’s libraryAylor Middle School’s library, we learned we , we learned we

had a had a 3 pound weight limit3 pound weight limit per project. per project.

3 lbs.3 lbs. ~ How ~ How heavyheavy is that, actually? is that, actually?

Our balance beam scales Our balance beam scales 2)2) weigh in weigh in metric measurement (grams)metric measurement (grams), not , not

standard measurement (pounds)standard measurement (pounds)3)3) Are Are too smalltoo small to handle 3 lbs. to handle 3 lbs.

??

Students did a quick researchStudents did a quick research

and found out and found out one poundone pound = approximately 453 grams = approximately 453 grams..

By weighing enough By weighing enough stuff to achievestuff to achieve

453 grams (about 1 453 grams (about 1 pound),pound),

we knew 3 x (as much we knew 3 x (as much stuff) = 3 pounds.stuff) = 3 pounds.

Now,Now,

by by holding our mobile in one handholding our mobile in one hand,,and and 3 pounds in the other hand,3 pounds in the other hand,

we can estimate the weight of the projects.we can estimate the weight of the projects.