Fourth graders are introduced to a spring scale to show that the forces on both sides of the pulley are the same. They break into groups to lift objects with fixed pulleys and with multiple looped pulleys and then measure the force...

Third graders examine and identify the six types of simple machines. Using a model of each simple machine, they demonstrate the state the function of them to the class. They discover examples of simple machines at school and home and...

Students research automobile operating systems in relation to racing. They design and construct vehicles from recycled material which they race to study the concept of propulsion.

Middle schoolers give examples of each of Newton's three laws as they occur in everyday experiences. They visually represent and differentiate the difference between a direct proportion and an inverse proportion. Students explain how...

Students investigate the various uses of a paper cup. In this scientific inquiry lesson plan, students investigate various ways to use a paper cup by identifying its characteristics. Students sketch their discovery.

Students complete several worksheets about machines.  In this machine instructional activity students complete several handouts that describe the different machines  and how pulleys work. 

Fifth graders work cooperatively in groups to assemble and launch a rocket.

In this activity, students will use different materials to find the most effective way to use an inclined plane (in other words, moving an object with as little force as possible). This is a guided inquiry. Although the students will be...

A video presentation providing example problems on finding the net force acting on objects at rest or sliding across inclined planes. [13:08]

This site is an interactive app of an inclined plane showing the effect of the angle, the weight of the block, and the friction as a block is pulled up an incline.

Here is a simulation demonstrating an object placed on an inclined plane. The user will vary the slope of the plane to see the relationship the slope has on the gravity of the object and the static friction.

Students use inclined planes as they recreate the difficult task of raising a monolith of rock to build a pyramid. They compare the push and pull of different-sized blocks up an inclined plane, determine the angle of inclination, and...

A webpage with equations and examples of how to solve inclined planes problems. Learn how to deal with slopes when surfaces usually aren't perfectly horizontal.

In this problem, a box is released from rest at the top of a 30-degree ramp. The box slides down the ramp, dropping a vertical distance of 1.5 m to the floor. How long does it take to reach the floor? Neglect friction. Includes...

[Free Registration/Login Required] Use given friction formulas and an interactive diagram for an inclined plane to solve a motion problem. After the activity, answer a challenge question to check for understanding.

This program gives students a visual representation of the forces on a block that is on an inclined plane. The students can watch how force gravity, force normal, and force friction change as the angle of the plane changes. Students can...

This lab was designed to have students look at the factors that might affect the angle at which an object will start to move when it is placed on an inclined plane. The friction coefficient of the surfaces, the strength of the...

Students must predict the final speed of the block on the incline after sliding down a certain distance. Students must account for the energy lost due to the friction between the block and the incline.

Learn about the force of friction on this reference page which defines why friction is important and how it can change physic problems.

A full and complete discussion of the simple machine called the screw, a modified inclined plane. Many examples and drawings and applications.

This passage will test your knowledge on forces on inclined planes.

This activity is a take off of Galileo's experiment with the inclined planes to show that an object in motion would stay in a straight line motion if no outside forces acted were acting on it. In this version, students will roll a ball...

An interactive Java applet from the University of Utah that allows users to investigate the effect of the coefficient of friction on the motion of a block sliding down an incline. Initial height of the block and the friction coefficient...

By taking a look at the energy of motion all around us, students learn about the types of energy and their characteristics. They first learn about the two simplest forms of mechanical energy: kinetic and potential energy, as illustrated...