Curated OER
Rocket Science
Students conduct an experiment. In this physical science lesson, students learn about Isaac Newton's theory that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. Students show this theory by looking at how a rocket is propelled...
Curated OER
The Galapagos Spreading Center
Students explore the basic concept of seafloor spreading. They describe the processes involved in creating new seafloor at a mid-ocean ridge. They investigate the Galapagos Spreading Center system.
Curated OER
Kure Waste Chase Game Lesson
Students work together to identify marine debris. They explain the effect of the debris on various ecosystems. They draw different types of ocean currents as well.
Curated OER
Properties of Matter (Biomaterial Through Nanotechnology)
Students investigate friction between different surfaces. In this physics lesson, students research biomaterials that can reduce friction. They calculate efficiency using a mathematical formula.
Curated OER
Virial Theorem Lesson
Ninth graders describe how equilibrium can occur as the balance of two effects. They model the stability of elliptical galaxies based on how fast stars within the galaxy are moving.
Curated OER
Twister: The Tornado Story
Students examine dangerous weather by researching tornadoes. In this extreme weather lesson plan, students identify the states included in Tornado Alley. Students create a virtual tornado using 2 plastic bottles.
Curated OER
The Unit Circle
Young scholars relate the trigonometric functions to the coordinates of the unit circle with access to explorelearning.com. They determine the signs of trigonometric functions in each quadrant.
Curated OER
Wing Area
Learners demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to the calculations involving the area of a wing. They use an online textbook to help them calculate the area of the surface of wing planforms.
Curated OER
Upside-Down Wings
Young scholars use FoilSim to demonstrate that the graphic analysis of the airflow around one object can be used to hypothesize airflow graphs for objects as they are elongated from a sphere to an airfoil shape.
Curated OER
Lift Relationships
Young scholars use FoilSim (downloadable) to determine how lift is affected by varying parameters on the Airfoil simulation.
Curated OER
Fun with Balloons
Fifth graders design their own hot air balloon. In this science lesson, 5th graders investigate how factors like weight and sizes affect a balloon's lifting power. They also write math problems based on facts written in the...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/mechanics (Force and Motion)
A collection of mechanics activities. Many pertain to Newton's laws of motion. Step-by-step directions provided with illustrations. Great for teacher demos or student projects.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Magical Motion
Students watch video clips from the October Sky and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movies to see examples of projectile motion. Then they explore the relationships between displacement, velocity and acceleration, and calculate...
Utah State Office of Education
Utah State Office of Education: Force, Energy, & Motion
A unit on energy, force, and motion presented with interactive and classroom activities. Students gain an understanding of weight, mass, potential and kinetic energy, sound, and heat with this engaging resource.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Analyzing Forces and Motion Graphs by Riding an Elevator
A high school physics lab on classical mechanics in which students study force versus time and acceleration versus time. Students need access to an elevator to complete the experiments. A lab handout is provided.
My Science Site
Forces and Motion [Pdf]
This resource provides reproducibles that aide in student learning of force and motion. Also offers hands-on and cooperative learning activity ideas as well as an ESL/ELD activity. This resource is in PDF form; requires Adobe Reader.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Force and Motion: Gravity and Wind Resistance
Students investigate the effects of force on objects in motion particularly as it relates to gravity and wind resistance by performing a classroom egg-drop activity.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Forces: Balloon Car Activity
In this activity, teams of students build a car out of common materials which is then propelled by the release of air out of a balloon and must travel a minimum distance. The activity is then extended to a competition to build the car...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Motion With Marbles
For this guided inquiry activity, students will use 2 marbles of different size and a box to investigate what makes the marbles move and what will cause the marbles to change speed and direction.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: A Change of Direction Exploring the Impact of Forces
Students will be able to determine a way to change the direction of a moving object by conducting a simple experiment. Included in this instructional activity are videos of the activity in action, a printable recording sheet, pictures of...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Vectors Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions
Three complete tutorials on vectors and two dimension forces and motion. Lessons include informational text, interactive activities, animations, and quick, interactive comprehension checks along the way.
Other
Bscs: Forces Lesson 2: Representing Forces
What makes something start to move? What makes something stop moving or change direction? This hands-on lesson will show students that forces acting on an object have a strength and a direction that can be represented by arrows of...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Forces in Action
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains weight and gravity and engages students in activities using force and motion.