Station 1: Free Fall

Goal: Demonstrate Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion

Materials: coin, marble, pencil, golf ball, meter stick, stop watch, digital scale, Newton’s Laws card

Directions:

Free fall occurs when the only force acting on an object is the force of gravity. When objects are in free fall, the acceleration of each object is the same, no matter the mass of the object. The acceleration is called the acceleration due to gravity (g) and has a value of 9.8 m/s².

Object / Drop Height (m) / Time (s) / Acceleration (m/s²) / Mass (g) / Force (N)
Coin / 9.8 m/s²
Marble / 9.8 m/s²
Pencil / 9.8 m/s²
Golf ball / 9.8 m/s²
  1. Determine a safe area for dropping four objects.
  2. Measure the drop heights in meters. Record data in yourdata table.
  3. Measure the mass of each object. Record data.
  4. Time the drop for each object. Record data.
  5. Based on the data collected, calculate the force (F=ma) applied to each object during free fall.

CONCLUSION: Draw a creative picture on the back of your data slip to help explain the 2ndlaw of motion and write the answer to the STAAR question (Flip task card to see STAAR question).

STAAR Question:

Station 2: Force and Motion Vocabulary

Goal: Use science vocabulary in appropriate science conversation

Materials: headbands, index cards with words, Newton’s law card

Directions:

  1. With your group, match the vocabulary word with the definition.
  2. Play the game headbands.

Rules:

  1. Shuffle the cards.
  2. Each player wears a headband with a word attached that they have not seen.
  3. Face the word towards the other players so they can see it.
  4. The other players will take turns describing the word until the player guesses the word. Be sure not to say the word.
  5. Continue for each player.
  6. Shuffle the cards and play again.

CONCLUSION: Divide the paper provided into thirds. Create a cartoon or story using at least 6 of the vocabulary words. Write your name and the answer to the STAAR question on the back of your cartoon.

STAAR Question:

Which of the following is an example of inertia?

  1. You have to push a heavy ball harder to get it to move as fast as a small one
  2. A fireman turns on his hose and is knocked backwards
  3. A soccer ball will not move until a player kicks it
  4. A boy can throw a football farther than his friend because he uses more force

Station 3: Reading about Force and Motion

Goal: Describe Newton’s laws of motion

Materials: McGraw Hill book, Newton’s law card

Directions:

  1. Make a three flap foldable. (see example)
  2. Read about Newton’s first law of motion. Pages 198-199.
  3. Describe this law on the first flap using a description and picture.
  4. Read about Newton’s second law of motion. Page 207.
  5. Describe this law on the second flap using a description and picture.
  6. Read about Newton’s Third law of motion on page 216.
  7. Describe this law on the third flap using a description and picture.

CONCLUSION: Write your name and the answer to the STAAR question on the back of your foldable.

STAAR Question:(Reminder Force = mass x acceleration)

Station 4: Force and Motion Slap Down

Goal: Describe and distinguish between Newton’s 3 Laws.

Materials: Situation Cards, Newton’s Law Cards (1 set for each player), paper and pencil for keeping score

Directions:

  1. Lay the situation cards face down in the center of your table.
  2. Each player should have a Newton’s 1st Law, Newton’s 2nd Law, and Newton’s 3rd Law cards.
  3. One person should be chosen to be card reader. Turn the top situation card over and read it aloud.
  4. Give players 20 seconds of think time to decide which law the situation describes.
  5. The card reader should then say 1-2-3 slap down.
  6. All players should slap down, face up, the law that they think matches the situation.
  7. Justify why you chose that answer.
  8. Check your answer.
  9. Each person slapping down the correct answer gets a point.

CONCLUSION: Using the strategy “Don’t Break the Bank,” write on the index card about what laws you have experienced today. Each word is worth 10 cents. You need $3.00 to create an account at the bank and you break the bank at $3.50. Please write how much you have spent at the end of your experience. Write your name at the top and answer the STAAR question.

STAAR Question:

An attempt is made to dislodge ketchup from the bottom of the ketchup bottle. The bottle is turned upside down, quickly pushed with a strong force in a downward motion, and then stopped. The ketchup immediately moves to the opposite end of the bottle. This scenario is an example of Newton’s –

  1. Law of force and acceleration
  2. Law of magnetism
  3. Law of inertia
  4. Law of gravity

Station 5: Calculating Net Force and Acceleration

Directions:

1.Write your name and draw a formula pyramid for force on the sheet of paper provided.

2.For each of the following problems, give the net force on the block, and the acceleration, including units. Record your answers on your paper.

1) 2)

Net Force = _____ a = ______Net Force = ______a = ______

3) 4)

Net Force = ______

Net Force = _____ a = ______

a = ______

5)

Net Force = ______a = _____

6) STAAR Question:

Which model would represent Newton’s law of action-reaction?

f. Toy car rolling down a ramp

g. Toy rocket being launched

h. Toy boat floating in the water

j. Toy tractor being pushed over a hill

Station 6: Newton’s Laws

Goal: Investigate Newton’s first and third laws of motion.

Materials:cup, index card, coin, ball, balloons, 2 toy cars, Newton’s law card

Directions:

Activity 1: Investigating the Motion of Objects

  1. Perform the activities.
  2. Draw and record your observations in the chart.

Action / Observation
Flipping a coin
Catching a ball

Which of Newton’s Law would apply to this activity?

Draw a creative picture in your notebook to help explain this law of motion.

Activity 2: Where Does It Go?

Perform the activities and record observations In the table provided.

Which of Newton’s Law would apply to this activity? Why?

Draw a creative picture in your notebook to help explain this law of motion.

STAAR Question

The risk of injury in a car accident is much greater if occupants do not wear a seat belt. Which of Newton’s laws explains why this is true?

  1. Law of inertia
  2. Law of force and acceleration
  3. Law of action-reaction
  4. Law of gravity