Unit 1 - Objects Move and Collide

Unit 1 in 8th Grade is about how objects move and collide. The central theme in this unit is asteroid collisions. In studying this we will see how there is evidence of past asteroids collisions in the fossil record, learn how Newton's Laws and the Law of Conservation of Energy explain why some asteroids are more devastating than others, and analyze the impact size of asteroids with different speeds and masses.

Resources About Asteroids

Learn about the difference between asteroids, meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites:

• http://www.universetoday.com/36398/what-is-the-difference-between-asteroids-and-meteorites/

Learn about the 10 biggest known asteroid impacts on Earth:

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130214-biggest-asteroid-impacts-meteorites-space-2012da14/

Explore how differences in variables can change the impact crater size. How are energy and crater size related? (Computer only - doesn't work on the iPad.)

• http://simulator.down2earth.eu/input.html?lang=English&dist=312&diam=15000&trag=60&velo=37&pjd=1&tjd=1&wlvl=1520

Read about a massive asteroid impact that occured 3.26 billion years ago:

• http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/geophysics/science-giant-asteroid-impact-01846.html

When discussing motion there are several terms we use:

• Distance - How far an object travels.

Ex: 5 meters or 5 m

• Displacement - How far an object is from its starting point.

Ex: 5 m South

• Speed - How fast something is moving.

Ex: 5 meters per second or 5 m/s

• Velocity - How fast something is moving and what direction it is traveling.

Ex: 5 m/s North

Read more about motion terms here and watch this video about Speed and Velocity.