Week 1: The Cheetah-Gazelle Arms Race
Name: Period: Date:
REF STUDY GUIDE: Big Ideas Use to answer form questions
1.Newton's 3rd Law: forces are always equal and opposite. Students often think larger objects exert more force, but evidence from investigations shows otherwise.
2.Populations evolve; individuals don't change their traits. Students often think individual organisms change/evolve, but evidence from investigations shows otherwise.
3.Can apply F=ma to novel biological scenarios. Students often think f=ma works but conceptual understanding is weak, but evidence from investigations shows otherwise.
DRAW KEY TERMS Google each → Images tab → sketch what you see
OTHER VOCAB: natural selection · trait · variation · selection pressure · adaptation · force · acceleration · newton's third law
Natural selection
Process where beneficial traits become more common
Trait
A characteristic or feature of an organism
Variation
Differences in traits within a population
Cycle 2 Connection …
If a 50 kg cheetah and a 25 kg gazelle experience the same force during a collision (Newton's Third Law), which animal will accelerate more? Why?
WRITE FOCUS QUESTION Answer BEFORE Hook form
Cheetahs sprint at 70 mph, yet gazelles escape about half the time. High-speed camera studies reveal that survival depends on agility, acceleration, and split-second turning forces — not just top speed.
🐆 What factors besides top speed determine survival in a predator-prey chase?
Your initial thinking:
I think...
WRITE AFTER HOOK FORM Reflect before continuing
I learned that...
WRITE & 2 NOTES
Station 1 — Predator-Prey Force Analysis
Main idea:
Evidence:
Station 2 — Trait Variation Simulation
Main idea:
Evidence:
CHECK DAY 1 CHECK-IN Before you leave
Q1: If cheetahs are the fastest land animal, why haven't gazelles gone extinct?
Confidence: [ ] Still confused [ ] Getting it [ ] Got it!
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Week 1: The Cheetah-Gazelle Arms Race (Day 2)
Name: Period:
Station 2 — Trait Variation Simulation
Main idea I observed:
Evidence from my data:
I can apply this by:
DRAW CONCEPT MODEL Show your understanding visually
Draw a model that shows the main concept. Include labels and arrows to explain relationships.
Labels included
Relationships shown
Key terms used
CHECK TEST YOUR THINKING Rate each: FALSE ← 1–2–3–4–5 → TRUE
1. A bigger animal always exerts more force on a smaller one during a collision.
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2. Individual organisms can change or evolve during their own lifetime.
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3. F = ma only works for cars and machines, not for living things.
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4. The fastest animal in a predator-prey relationship will always win the chase.
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5. Natural selection means animals "try" to develop better traits to survive.
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Pick any TWO statements — especially any you rated 2, 3, or 4. Justify your rating with evidence:
Statement #___ — I rated it ___ because:
Statement #___ — I rated it ___ because:
THINK SCIENTIST CIRCLE DEBRIEF Reflect after your Scientist Circle discussion
AHA! Moment
The one I changed my thinking most about is...
Remaining Question
I still wonder...
WRITE FOCUS QUESTION REVISIT Final written response
If cheetahs are the fastest land animal, why haven't gazelles gone extinct?
Word Bank: natural selection · trait · variation · selection pressure · adaptation · force · acceleration · newton's third law · Why This Matters: · Cycle 2 Connection … B…
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