Curated OER
Skateboard Science
Students investigate how skaters can turn in midair. In this physics lesson, students relate Newton's Laws to skateboarding. They carry out the maneuver with the help of their classmate.
Curated OER
Rocket Me into Space
Fourth graders study the concept of thrust and how it propels rockets into space. They discover why airplanes cannot travel into space while considering the engineering techniques use in designing rockets. They look at how space...
Curated OER
3-2-1 Blast Off!
Students explore physics by participating in a flight experiment. In this rocket design lesson, students discuss the scientific process and how chemical reaction can create the energy needed to boost a rocket. Students utilize...
Curated OER
Impulse and Momentum
Learners are introduced to the concepts of impulse and momentum and problem solving strategies for these types of problems. In groups, they discover the law of conservation of momentum and share their answers with the class.
Newspaper Association of America
Cereal Bowl Science and Other Investigations with the Newspaper
What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Newton's Third Law of Motion: Symmetry in Forces
In the following interactive students will begin to understand Newton's third law of motion and also apply it to define systems and solve problems of motion.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Newton's Third Law of Motion
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students find out about Newton's Third Law of Motion, and explore situations involving multiple objects.
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,...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Newton's Third Law
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Newton's Third Law of Motion - action and reaction forces and why they are not balanced forces.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: 4.4 Newton's Third Law of Motion: Symmetry in Forces
By the end of this section, you will be able to understand Newton's third law of motion and apply Newton's third law to define systems and solve problems of motion.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Newton's Third Law Review
Review the key concepts and skills for Newton's third law of motion, including how to identify action-reaction pairs.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: What Is Newton's Third Law?
This article offers a description and real-life examples of Newton's Third Law. Practice questions are included to test your knowledge!
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Newton's Laws: Newton's Third Law
Through illustrated examples, and interactive practice problems, students examine Newton's Third Law of Motion.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Horse and Cart
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about Newton's third law of motion, calculations in two dimensions, and the interaction of multiple objects in the context of a horse pulling a cart.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Newton's Third Law
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Understand why for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Newton's 3rd Law: Coin Flick
In this elementary physics investigation, students explore Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: To every action there is an equal & opposite reaction. Pairs of students will line up 5 pennies, (touching each other), between 2 rulers. The row...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Third Law Simulation
This simulation explores changing forces to move a heavy cart to exact positions.
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Pirate Ship
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about Newton's 3rd Law, and how the concept of the 'force pair' allows us to understand interactions between objects using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are...
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: The Physics of Bridges
Introduce learners to physics concepts that engineers use when building a bridge. This curriculum unit includes concepts such as Newton's Third Law, stress on a material, vibration, and resonance. Unit includes lectures, lab activities,...
Open Curriculum
Open Curriculum: Analysis of Forces
This study information helps students apply Newton's third law and understand forces.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics: Newton's Laws Study Guide
This study guide on Newton's Laws covers key terms, the three laws, free body diagrams, friction coefficients and tension. Includes equations and an example problem with solution. It is available for download with free registration.
Physics Central
Physics Central: Physics by the Fire: Match Stick Rocket
Match stick rockets makes a great demonstrations to show students Newton's third law. By covering a match with tin foil, students can see the reaction thrust as the molecules escaping the matchstick are propelled into the air. Lesson...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Linear Momentum and Force: Introduction to Rocket Propulsion
By the end of this section, you will be able to state Newton's third law of motion, explain the principle involved in propulsion of rockets and jet engines, derive an expression for the acceleration of the rocket , discuss the factors...