Patterns of Motion for Kids: Predicting How Things Move (Grade 3 to 5 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Some things move in a pattern that repeats again and again. When we spot the pattern, we can predict what will happen next. Today we will study patterns of motion!

Think about a playground swing. It goes forward, stops, swings back, stops, then goes forward again. That back and forth pattern is easy to predict once you watch a few swings.

A pendulum is a weight hanging on a string. When you pull it aside and let go, it swings back and forth in a steady rhythm. Old grandfather clocks use pendulums to keep time.

Here is a cool fact. A longer pendulum swings more slowly. A shorter pendulum swings faster. The weight of the bob barely changes the timing at all. Scientists measure this to make predictions.

A bouncing ball has a pattern too. Each bounce is a little lower than the one before, because some energy is lost as sound and heat. We can predict that the next bounce will be lower.

Other motion patterns are all around us. A merry go round spins in circles. A seesaw goes up and down. Earth spins once each day, which makes day and night repeat.

Now it's your turn. A pendulum swings back and forth ten times in ten seconds. Predict how many swings it will make in twenty seconds. Pause and try. About twenty swings, because the pattern repeats.

Great job! Remember, many motions repeat in patterns, like swings, pendulums and bouncing balls. Observing the pattern lets us predict future motion. Practice patterns of motion in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!