Group Activity: Black Disks This is a picture of what your disks look like on the inside. Notice that in each disk there is a ball bearing and a pattern of plastic ridges. There are 12 different patterns of ridges – here are just three of the patterns. DO NOT BREAK THE DISKS!!!!

Group Activity: Black Disks and the Scientific Method With your group, do the following: First, write down the Roman numeral on the bottom of the disk that your group has on your group’s handout sheet. Next, have each person in your group hold the disk, and by gently rotating and shaking the disk, try to figure out which shapes the disk cannot be on the inside. Next, try to figure out what the real shape is. Write that down on your sheet. Discuss this with your group. After a few minutes, when I tell you to, pass your disk to a different group, and repeat steps 1 and 2. With your group, then fill out the questions on the back of the piece of paper.  

The 12 black disk shapes

Do you want to see the answers? Are you sure? Remember, in nature, we don’t get the answers so easily!