In this motion worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given 11 clues related to rate, acceleration, force of gravity and velocity. They also complete a puzzle where they unscramble 11 words related to motion to solve for a final...

Students design an experiment to investigate how objects with different masses fall. In this physics lesson, students predict how these objects will fall in a vacuum tube. They write a report explaining experimental results and conclusion.

Students design a roller coaster that allows a marble to run the course as fast as possible. Students create an experimental roller coaster taking into account the steepness of the hills and the sharpness of the turns. Students use a...

In this force activity, learners draw motion maps given diagrams and construct qualitative force diagrams. They calculate such things as acceleration, upward forces and the magnitude and direction of the forces.

Students build parachutes for chicken eggs. In this physics lesson, students describe the forces acting on a falling object. They predict which of the three parachute models they made has the best chance of keeping the egg intact after a...

Learners study the concepts of weight and drag while making paper helicopters. They measure how adding more weight to the helicopter changes the time for the helicopter to fall to the ground. They apply what they examine to the work of...

Students view a video on friction and examine how friction and gravity affect some sports.  In this investigative lesson students write a paragraph and draw a picture that illustrates how friction and gravity affect sports.

Fourth graders use a matchbox car to push across a hard surface and observe what happens. They then push the car across a soft or rough surface and discover what happens. The two ideas are discusses as Newton's First and Second Laws of...

Young learners explore friction. They view a video or DVD (bibliography provided) and define terms related to friction, and work in groups to experiment with the effects of friction on speed and motion using ramps and toy cars.

Gravity does more than keep our feet on the ground — it holds a satellite in orbit, too. Help learners understand the effects of gravity on an orbiting object through a simulation activity. Individuals adjust a launch speed and watch as...

What forces are at work when playing tetherball? Using a simulator, pupils control the ball mass, tether length, and ball speed to better understand the physics of the game. A worksheet and challenge questions reinforce the concepts...

Students distinguish between kinetic and potential energy. They recognize that energy can change from one form to other forms. They identify and describe several forms of energy.

In this Newton's laws and forces learning exercise, students answer 11 questions about inertia, vectors, force, and acceleration using Newton's laws. They also answer 3 questions about classification of species.

In this ion rocket and orbits worksheet, students read about the spiral orbit the Dawn spacecraft took due to its ion rocket motor. Students solve 3 problems including finding the path taken by the spacecraft, determining the total path...

In this solar tsunami worksheet, students are given three images of the progress of a Morton Wave on the sun. They solve six problems using the images to find the radius of the sun's disk, the scale of the image, and the time that passed...

Fourth graders investigate the principles and uses of gears, and examine how gears can be used to alter the direction of motion or the speed of an object. They observe two cars with different sized wheels roll down an inclined plane,...

Students examine the importance of good quality safety gear. In this investigative lesson, students will tests various polymers, collect data, and analyze the data to determine which polymer is best for safety helmets. They will design a...

Students capture the serve motion of a tennis player with a digital or video camera. Using transparencies or a software package, analyze the speed, acceleration, displacement and time of the racquet head and ball in the tennis stroke.

Young scholars develop an understanding of velocity and to distinguish it from speed. To determine the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity. To explore how acceleration is derived from velocity and time.

Students analyze the formula for speed and velocity. They explore and demonstrate how to calculate the speed of wind up toy pets, average the speeds and identify the correct units of measure of speed.

Investigate force, acceleration, Newtons, and vectors with this worksheet packet that starts with an overview fact sheet for reference. Learners label images as either push or pull forces, indicating if the force causes a change in...

Simply find the slope to find the average rate of change. A short video provides the definition of the average rate of change. Using the definition, pupils calculate the average rate of change to solve problems that cover finding average...

There's more to fluids than meet the eye—they include gases, liquids, and polymers, too! Scholars complete three hands-on activities exploring different properties of fluids. They explore viscosity by measuring the resistance, or...

Did you know physicists can identify new particles by observing the path they take in a particle accelerator? Scholars explore the variables that determine the direction and radius of the circular path different particles take. They...