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Experimenting with Force

Supporting

Experimenting with Force

TEKS Objective

Students will design an experiment that tests the effect of force on an object.

Essential Understanding

The student knows that energy occurs in many forms and can be observed in cycles, patterns, and systems.

Science Background

Galileo Drops the Ball: Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development (website) - What would drop faster, a feather or a cannonball? How about a large cannonball versus a small one? Use this fun, interactive website to simulate the test. You even can switch from Normal to Vacuum Mode, to run the test where there is no air.

Galileo Drops the Ball
Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development, www.planetseed.com

 

The Meaning of Force: The Physics Classroom (website) - Detailed background information about the meaning of force in the study of physics, with links to further content about different kinds of forces and more.

The Meaning of Force
The Physics Classroom, www.physicsclassroom.com

Force: Hyperphysics (website) - Succinct explanation of force, the interaction of all forces, and causes of motion, with links to additional information.

Force
Hyperphysics, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Signature Lesson

Rockets, Force and Motion: BioEd Online (video) - Preview video before teaching the lesson. Explore Newton’s laws of motion, using rockets as an example.

Rockets, Force and Motion
by Gregory Vogt, BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

 

Pop! Rocket Launcher: NASA Rockets Educator Guide (PDF) - Students stomp on an empty two-liter soft drink bottle to force air through connected plastic pipes and propel a paper rocket into the sky (pp. 63-71). After the investigation, lead a class discussion about all the forces involved in launching the rockets, and make sure your students understand how such forces affect the rocket’s behavior.

Pop! Rocket Launcher
NASA Rockets Educator Guide, www.bioedonline.org

Supporting Lessons

Hero’s Engine, Force and Motion: BioEd Online (video) - Preview video before teaching the lesson. Construct a simple device to demonstrate the laws of force and motion.

Hero’s Engine, Force and Motion
by Gregory Vogt, BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Hero’s Engine: NASA Rockets Educator Guide (pdf) - Students construct water-propelled engines from soft drink cans and investigate ways to increase the action/reaction thrust produced by water shooting out of holes punched in the can sides.

Hero's Engine
K8 Science, www.k8science.org

Motion, Forces, Energy & Electricity: Discovery Education (website) - Student groups build catapults from everyday materials and explore force and motion by using the catapults to launch marshmallows. Could serve as a culminating activity after studying force and motion.

Motion, Forces, Energy & Electricity
Discovery Education , www.discoveryeducation.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Rules of Forces and Motion: Discovery Education (website) - Students experiment with the effects of mass and friction on speed and motion.

Rules of Forces and Motion
Discovery Education, www.discoveryeducation.com

Falling for Gravity: Science NetLinks (website) – Students will observe different objects fall from the same height to see if they reach the ground at the same time. They will also roll marbles of different sizes down an inclined plane to see if they reach the bottom at the same time.

Falling for Gravity
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

The Marble and the Ramp: K8 Science (PDF) - Students investigate the relationship between gravity, force and motion, and learn about gravitational potential energy.

The Marble and the Ramp
K8 Science, www.k8science.org

Assessment Ideas

Forces: Discovery Education (website) - Students build a simulated luge track to investigate friction, wind resistance, slope, force and gravity. Before starting the activity, students should discuss the variables to be considered, including force and friction.

Forces
Discovery Education, www.discoveryeducation.com

Literature Connections

 

Force and Motion: Science Concepts, Second Series. Silverstein, A. (ISBN-13: 978-0822575146)

A Crash Course in Forces and Motion with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. Sohn, Emily (ISBN-13: 978-0736868372)

Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion. Gianopoulo, Andrea (ISBN-13: 978-0736868471)

Related Science TEKS

(5.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices and the use of safety equipment as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations.

(5.2B) Ask Questions, Formulate a Hypothesis
The student is expected to ask well-defined questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and select and use appropriate equipment and technology.

(5.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected to analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct (observable) and indirect (inferred) evidence.

(5.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments
The student is expected to demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results.

(5.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions in both written and verbal forms.

(5.2G) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected to construct appropriate simple graphs, tables, maps, and charts using technology, including computers, to organize, examine, and evaluate information.

Related Math TEKS

(5.10C)   The student is expected to select and use appropriate units and formulas to measure length, perimeter, area, and volume.

(5.12B)   The student is expected to use experimental results to make predictions.

(5.14B)   The student is expected to solve problems that incorporate understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness.

(5.15A) The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

The Constant Pull of Gravity - How Does It Work? NASA (website) - Video illustrates the critical role that gravity plays in many aspects of everyday life.

The Constant Pull of Gravity - How Does It Work?
NASA, www.nasa.gov

 

Mechanical Energy: Kids & Energy: Mechanical energy explained in a fun, kid-friendly way.

Mechanical Energy
Kids & Energy, www.kids.esdb.bg

Roller Coaster Builder: FOSS (website) - Interactive site on which students “build” roller coasters and test them by experimenting to see how far a ball will roll.

Roller Coaster Builder
FOSS, http://fossweb.com

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