Curated OER
Forces and Acceleration Unit
Young scholars investigate that an unbalanced force, acting on an object, changes it speed or path of motion or both, and know that if the force always acts toward the same center as the object moves, the objects path may curve into an...
Curated OER
Exploring Force and Motion
Young scholars explore the concepts of force and motion by creating a video. In this physics lesson, students are assigned one particular aspect of force and motion to investigate and work in groups to create a video that will be...
Curated OER
Balloons
Students explore the different types of balloons. In this materials lesson students can complete several experiments including building their own hot air balloons, making balloon animals and experimenting with static...
Curated OER
Airplane Propeller
Students examine the different kinds of propellers and their functions. In this airplane activity students build a hand made propeller.
Curated OER
Motion Through the Ages
Eighth graders conduct internet research to produce a timeline of man's growth in understanding of concepts of motion and planetary motion through history.
Curated OER
Rocketry in Motion
Students investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a...
Curated OER
Help! I'm Under Too Much Pressure!
Students play with a ping pong ball sized piece of modeling clay observing what happens to the clay as they play with it and write their observations in their notebooks. They share the results of their observations introducing the term...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Newton's Law Lab
This lab was designed to have students investigate the factors that affect the acceleration of an object on a frictionless horizontal surface. The simulation will give the students a position vs. time graph and a velocity vs. time graph....
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Newton's Law Lab With Photogates
This lab was designed to have students investigate the factors that affect the acceleration of an object on a frictionless horizontal surface. The simulation will give the students data from two photogates which they must use to find the...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Newton's Law Lab
This lab was designed to have students investigate the factors that affect the acceleration of an object on a frictionless horizontal surface. The simulation will give the students position vs. time data and they will have to determine...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Newton's Laws of Motion and Projectiles
Through informational text, interactive activities, practice problems, online labs, virtual simulations, and video clips, students learn about Newton's Laws of Motion.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Gravity Force Lab
An interactive simulation that teaches about gravitational force, Newton's Third Law, and force pairs by varying properties affect the gravitational force exerted between two objects. This simulation can either be downloaded or played...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Newton's Third Law Through Film Canister Cannons
In this physics lab (best done outside), students will explore Newton's Third Law - 'For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction'. Students will fill empty 35-mm film canisters with water and part of an Alka-Seltzer tablet,...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Inertia and Mass
This is part of a lesson on Newton's Laws of Motion that focuses on inertia and mass. It restates Newton's first law of motion. The lesson also gives a helpful visual description concerning friction.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Atwood Machine Lab
This lab was designed to have students practice the Atwood lab prior to doing it for real. Students can adjust the masses and the planet and then collect position vs. time data and velocity vs. time data.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Newton's Second Law: How Does Acceleration Change With Varying Forces?
In this lab activity, students investigate the effects of changing force on the acceleration of a lab cart testing Newton's Second Law of Motion. They will use distance and time to calculate velocity and create a graph representing their...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Newton's Second Law: Constant Force Applied to a Skateboarder
In this lab activity, young scholars will become familiar with Newton's 2nd Law of Motion. By investigating the motion of different skateboarders pulled with a variety of constant force values, they will discover that bodies acted on by...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Newton's 3rd Law: Explosive Reaction Pairs
This lab can be used to introduce Newton's 3rd Law of motion - For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (of the same magnitude). In this exercise, learners use miniature explosives to analyze actions and reactions.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Lab Activity: Tops
The Illinois Institute of Technology provides a lab activity on precession and spinning tops. Designed for primary grades, but easily adapted for any level. Includes directions and assessment ideas.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Third Law of Motion
This Illinois Institute of Technology site is a lesson plan and lab that utilizes a toy rocket to investigate Newton's third law. Includes directions and practical applications.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Measuring the Gravitational Constant, G
A demonstration/lab idea for determining the numerical value of the universal gravitation constant using a torsion balance.
Physics Central
Physics Central: Physics in the Bathroom: Ripping Neatly
A great science experiment to demonstrate Newton's First Law of Motion, inertia. There is a step-by-step guide on how to conduct this experiment and links to other sites about inertia.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Water Bottle Rockets, Etc!
In this science lab, students investigate Newton's Laws of Motion. They will make and fly water bottle rockets, as well as measure the height of each rocket's flight.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Projectile Motion: Creating a Catapult
This lesson is for 9th grade physical science students. It begins with an inquiry-based lesson using a projectile motion computer simulation. It culminates with students building a catapult; applying and connecting science knowledge from...