Act 1 – Hanging By a Hair

 

Download the Task

 

Watch the Video:

  1. How many pieces of hair would you need to support your body weight?
  2. Write down your estimate
  3. Write down an estimate you know if too high? Too low?

 

 

Act 2A

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What information would you like to know? How strong is a single strand of hair?  Since we need to determine the tinsel strength of your hair, how many pennies would a single strand of your hair support until it breaks?

  1. Write down your estimate
  2. Write down an estimate you know if too high? Too low?

The test: Take a single strand of hair and securely tape one end to a pencil.  Wedge the pencil into the stack of books so that the pencil is sticking out and the hair is hanging down. Securely tape one penny onto the strand of hair and see if the hair can hold it. Keep taping pennies to the strand of hair until it breaks.

 
 

Act 2B

Here are the measurements and conversions to figure out how many hairs it will take to suspend you in the air by your hair.

Coin Specifics

 

 

 
 

Act 3

Compare and share solution strategies.  How appropriate was your estimate?

 
 

Act 4 (The Sequel)

  1. Can you find the rule that would determine how many hairs would be needed for a person of any weight?
  2. Can you write it as an expression?

 
 

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