Ball and Cup Make and Take Toy Level II

The ball and cup is a traditional toy used by people all around the world, from Japanese people to Native Americans. The cup should be just slightly larger than the ball and held by a handle. The ball is attached to the handle with a string. Your homemade version is designed to be as challenging as the real wooden folk toy.

Science Concepts
Comparing how toys act in free fall and on Earth
Newton's First and Third Laws; centripetal force

Science Process Skills
Observe, communicate, compare, organize, relate, infer, apply

Life Skills
Communication, learning to learn, critical thinking, problem solving

Time
10 to 15 minutes

You Will Need

• Scissors
• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Ping pong ball
• Plastic fork
• Paper bathroom cup
• A piece of string, about 3 feet long

How to Make the Toy

1. Tape the fork to the bottom of the cup with the tines curved upward. This is the handle of your new toy.
2. Tape one end of the string to the ping pong ball.
3. Tie the other end of the string to the handle of the fork at a point near the cup.
4. If you are having difficulty, wrap up more of the string. The longer the string, the harder it is to catch the ball.

How to Do the Activities
A. Catching the Ball
Hold the cup in one hand. Give the cup a swinging motion that causes the ball to swing upward. Try to catch the ball in the cup. Ask your partner to draw the path of the ball and make suggestions about how to catch the ball. Follow his or her suggestions until you catch the ball in the cup. Write a description of your technique.

B. Adjusting the String
Wind the string around the handle until it just reaches the cup. Then try catching the ball in the cup. Record how many tries are needed. Unwind the string one turn, and try to catch the ball again. Record the number of tries required. Continue with this procedure until the string is unwound.

C. The Rising Ball
Place the ball in the cup. Push the cup upward and then pull downward. Watch what happens to the ball. Then push the cup back to catch the falling ball.

Astronaut Challenge

What is the best technique for catching the ball on Earth?

What keeps the ball in the cup after it is caught?

From your data, what is the best length for the string? What happens when the string is too long or too short?

Can the astronauts use your technique in space? What would happen if they did?

Can an astronaut catch the ball by just pulling on the string with the cup?

How can an astronaut keep the ball from bouncing out of the cup?

If the astronauts leave the cup floating in space, what will happen when they throw the ball into the cup?

Will this toy be easier or harder to use in space?

Physics Fun Fact
On Earth, gravity causes the ball to fall into the cup and holds it there. In orbit everything is in free fall so there is nothing to keep the ball from bouncing right back out of the cup! Newton's Third Law predicts that this will happen. Newton's Third Law says forces (pushes or pulls) will always act in pairs.

Return to Toys in Space