Motion Teacher Resources

Twisting and turning through the sky, roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks around the world, but how exactly do they work? Explore the physics behind these thrilling rides with an engineering design activity....

New ReviewAnd they are off! Using Styrofoam meat trays and balloons, individuals build racers that demonstrate Newton's Third Law of Motion. Pupils run their racers three times and make improvements between each trial. To conclude the activity,...

Young scientists design a rocket to launch using Newton's Laws of Motion in order to discover for themselves the forces of motion. 

A flipped classroom lesson introduces astrophysics fanatics to Kepler's three laws of planetary motion. After reading about the laws of ellipses, equal areas, and harmonies, and also learning how Newton's gravitation concepts come into...

Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson plan then...

Take a look at acceleration within the context of automotive technology. They vary the mass on a toy car and run it down a ramp, exploring Newton's second law of motion. Though this is a classic lab activity, you will appreciate the...

Three, two, one, blast off to a better understanding of force and motion with this exciting science lesson! Beginning with a discussion about rockets and gravity, young scientists go on to complete a series of worksheets about net forces...

Legos in science class? Watch your pupils fall in love with this activity. After learning to measure potential and kinetic energy, young scientists create their own ramps using Lego Mindstorm sensors and software.

Get things moving with this elementary science unit on simple machines. Through a series of nine lessons including teacher demonstrations, hands-on activities, and science experiments, young scientists learn about forces, motion, and...

Get the ball rolling with this upper-elementary science unit on forces and motion. Offering over three weeks of physical science lessons, this resource is a great way to engage the class in learning about simple machines, friction, the...

A well-developed lab sheet guides physical science learners through an investigation of kinetic and potential energy. In small groups, collaborators discover whether or not the ramp height or mass of an object has an effect on the...

By rolling marbles down a six-foot length of track, physical scientists determine how much energy is lost to heat. It is recommended that you opt for the foam pipe insulation track because more friction slows the marble, allowing...

From creating simple flip books to watching Saturday morning cartoons, we have all experienced the magic of animation. But how is it that a series of still images can be brought to life? It all has to do with the speed at which our brain...

The focus of this chemistry video is kinetics, which is a study of exactly what happens to compounds when they react together. Specifically, kinetics is a study of the rate of chemical reactions, and what forces affect that rate. Sal...

What a wonderful way to explore motion and forces! Learners design a catapult, after watching a video and discussing types of catapults. This is a comprehensive and complete lesson with links to supplementary resources.

After reading a brief overview of automobile history and introduction to energy and motion, automotive engineering teams plan, construct, test, and evaluate a rubber-band-powered car. This manipulative experience can enrich understanding...

A world without friction would be a very strange place. Young scientists explore the impact of this fundamental force on everyday life in this fun science investigation. Given a number of different fabrics children perform experiments to...

Launching Fluffy, the Wonder Hamster, in a catapult might not be humane, but imagining the action to analyze projectile motion should be acceptable. This physics resource injects a little silliness, yet is quite serious about assessing...

New ReviewLead your class in this exciting activity to learn more about motion and its importance. Pupils learn about a centripetal and why it is required to maintain a constant speed in a circulating moving mass. They apply the equation for...

Here is a rare gem for physics teachers! An engaging collection of slides opens with a question about aiming a slingshot at a monkey as it lets go of the branch from which it hangs. Projectile motion concepts are presented with graphics,...

A unique and useful presentation, this covers projectile motion for your general physics class. Many graphs display the vectors involved, and some even act as animations. Motion is broken down into its components and only then are the...

A substantial but viewer-friendly selection of slides presents the topics of forces and motion. The simplicity of format and content make this perfectly suited to an introductory physical science course. Slides begin by addressing...

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Your physics fans will react to you showing this PowerPoint by understanding Newton's third law! It is full of diagrams pertinent to the information being explained. A few...

Raise the energy level of your physical science class with this exciting hands-on activity. Applying their knowledge of kinetic and potential energy and Newton's laws of motion, young engineers use foam tubing and marbles to create...