Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: 4.5 Normal, Tension, and Other Examples of Force

For Students 11th - 12th
By the end of this section, you will be able to define normal and tension forces, apply Newton's laws of motion to solve problems involving a variety of forces, and use trigonometric identities to resolve weight into components.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Rocket Me Into Space

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
One of the exciting challenges for engineers is the idea of exploration. This lesson looks more closely at Spaceman Rohan, Spacewoman Tess, their daughter Maya, and their challenges with getting to space, setting up satellites, and...
Activity
University of Minnesota

The Physics of Flight: Bernoulli's Principle

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses air flow around the wing of a plane and its effect upon the lift and drag forces. Focuses on the application of Bernoulli's principle to wing design and the subsequent airfoil shapes.
Website
Learn AP Physics

Learn Ap Physics: Physics B: Gravitation

For Students 9th - 10th
A site dedicated to help students prepare for the AP Physics B test. This specific site reviews gravitation including Newton's Law of Gravity, orbits of planets and satellites, and Kepler's three laws. Site contains links to video...
Online Course
Yale University

Open Yale Courses: Physics 200: Fundamentals of Physics: Kepler's Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
This lecture explains Kepler's Three Laws of motion. Application of these laws are made to planetary movements around the sun. The lecture is available in multiple formats (audio, video, written transcript). Practice problems are also...
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular Motion Principles for Satellites

For Students 9th - 10th
From The Physics Classroom. Uses easy- to-understand language to discuss how circular motion principles apply to the motion of satellites. Describes the tangential velocity and centripetal acceleration of a satellite. Includes many...
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Mathematics of Satellite Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
The mathematics associated with the motion of satellites is described. Equations (for period, velocity, acceleration and force) are stated, symbols described, and sample problems solved. Includes five practice problems with solutions and...
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Gravity

For Students K - 1st
Peruse this resource to learn about gravity, its importance, the Universal Law of Gravitation, the difference between mass and weight, and more fun facts.
eBook
Cornell University

Cornell University: Astronomy: Orbital Motion and Kepler's Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from the Astronomy Department of Cornell University, Kepler's three laws of planetary motion are stated. There are brief explanations of each, along with links to additional information on related subjects.
eBook
NASA

Nasa: Kepler's Third Law

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA states Kepler's third law of motion and extends it to develop an equation for the velocity of an orbiting planet.
eBook
NASA

Nasa: Kepler's Second Law

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA states Kepler's second law of planetary motion and depicts its meaning with an informative diagram. Relates the law to conservation of energy principles and discusses the eccentricity of a satellite's (or a planet's)...
Website
University of St. Andrews (UK)

University of St. Andrews: Orbits and Gravitation

For Students 9th - 10th
A page describing the physics, mathematics, and historical figures associated with planetary motion, satellite motion, and universal gravitation.
eBook
NASA

Nasa: The Way Things Fall

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA compares free falling motion to falling with air resistance. Discusses Galileo's experiment. Explains why we believe all objects free fall with the same acceleration.
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Static Electricity: Lesson 3: Inverse Square Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Electrical force between two electrically charged objects is inversely related to the distance between the two objects. Investigate why this becomes the inverse square law of physics. Engage in the Coulomb's Law interactive and check...
Handout
Upper Canada District School Board

Tom Stretton's Chemistry Pages: Universal Gravitation

For Students 9th - 10th
Deepen your understanding about the Law of Universal Gravitation. Find out how the many scientists throughout history contributed to one of the most widely known scientific theories.
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Gravity Force Lab

For Students 9th - 10th
Manipulate the mass and distance of two objects to see how these properties change the gravity force.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Flying With Style

For Teachers 10th - 12th
As students begin to understand the physics behind thrust, drag, and gravity and how these relate these to Newton's three laws of motion, groups assemble and launch the rockets that they designed in the associated lesson.
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Newton's Mountain Model

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A science simulation launches a projectile from the top of a mountain testing Newton's theory introduced in Principia.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Potential Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department defines and explains the concept of potential energy. Using equations and graphics to illustrate the idea, it discusses the many types of potential energy (gravitational,...
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: How Can a Clock Part Measure Gravity?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity students will learn how to make a simple pendulum. Students' will use a motion detector to measure the period of a pendulum and calculate its acceleration.They will also understand the effect that gravity has on the...
Website
NASA

Nasa: Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics

For Students 9th - 10th
Includes exhaustive information and a wealth of activities pertaining to aerodynamics and the physics of flight.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Science: Force and Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
In this student-paced module, students apply Newton's Laws of Motion to everyday life, calculate mathematical relationships involving force and motion using algebraic formulas, and understand the difference between mass and weight.
Website
MadSci Network

The Mad Scientist Network: Bouncing Rubber Ball

For Students 9th - 10th
A question and answer format is used to relate elastic potential energy to the bounce of a rubber ball. Explanation of this simple phenomenon is thorough, complete, and free of trite statements.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Would You Weigh Less in an Elevator?

For Students 9th - 10th
Video that uses an elevator in motion to describe the relationship among weight, gravity, and relative motion. [3:36] Includes a short quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.