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Rock-A-Bye Pendulum
Third graders analyze the effects of force on an object in motion and its relationship to a change in speed. This lesson uses a pendulum to demonstrate the principle.
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Motion and Forces
Ninth graders create PowerPoint presentations to present Newton's three laws of motion, and make and launch rockets.
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Exploring Force: The Nutcracker
Students explore basic dance element of force, compare and contrast the use of force as it distinguishes the expressive qualities of a given dance, and explore the use of force in several of its many expressions.
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Medieval Catapults
Students design and build a working catapult or trebuchet to explore the concepts of force, motion, and distance.
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UFOs
Young scholars, in groups, construct a catapult. Then they conduct a series of experiments by catapulting a marshmallow, using different lengths of spoons, across the room. They predict, measure, and record the measured distance on a...
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Ready, Set, Go!
Students predict if the height of a ramp affect how far an object travels. They design and conduct an experiment to test their predictions. The results are recorded and a graph is created to show the relationship between ramp height and...
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Simple Machines: Levers
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
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Simple Machines: Levers
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They investigate basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
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Aircraft vs. Spacecraft
Students investigate differences between aircraft and spacecraft, and the differences in propulsion systems. They build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. An interactive activity quizzes students on thrust.
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Friction
Students explore friction as a force that slows moving objects, explain conclusions in terms of the roughness or smoothness of surfaces, relate results to predictions, and begin to know how to plan a fair test.
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NEWTON'S 3RD LAW
High schoolers examine the formal definition of Newton's 3rd law: "forces always originate in pairs, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction." --The informal, qualitative version: "Each action has an equal and opposite reaction."
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The Egg Drop
Students design and create a container that allows a raw egg to drop from the second floor of a building without breaking. They develop and compute an invoice for project expenses using spreadsheet software. Students role-play a proposal...
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Making Waves
Students predict and test how the effects of velocity and force of an object or air on water affect the waves created. They diagram a water park ride using their knowledge of these effects to create their desired outcomes.
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Newton's Laws
Beginning with definitions of mass and foce, this excellent set of slides summarizes Newton's Laws of motion and universal bravitaions. Components of each law are explained along with examples and questions to inspire discussion. This is...
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Motion
Starting off with a definition of motion and some examples, this slide show goes on to describe different categories of movement. Terminology connected to this general physics topic is explained on subsequent slides. It is a good summary...
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Pop Rocket - Trash to Treasure
First off, Newton's laws of motion aren't often taught at 2nd grade, so this lesson may be more appropriate for upper elementary learners. It begins with a discussion and demonstration of the laws of motion, and then has individuals...
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Pressure
In this physics worksheet, students use the clues at the bottom of the sheet to complete the crossword related to pressure. There are 15 clues to solve in the puzzle.
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Power in the Tubes
Eighth graders investigate the relationship between force, distance and time. In this physical science lesson students compute the work done, graph and find the relationship between work and power.
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Ar.... What Gives?
Learners investigate the properties of air through inflated objects. In this physical science lesson, students examine gas as a state of matter. Student push on inflated objects and note the space the gas has taken up inside. Learners...
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Work
Use these slides to review the concepts involved with work. If the students have had practical experience and a basic understanding of physics, then these pages will help outline the basics and reinforce newer applications. There is one...
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Magdeburg Hemispheres
Students investigate whether air exerts a force. In this physics lesson, students calculate air pressure using force and area information.
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Magnus Effect
Students examine the Magnus effect and its history. In this forces lesson students investigate the lift of a rotating cylinder.
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Liquids and Solids
Students describe the properties of solids and liquids, and explain how a semiconductor works. In this atom lesson plan students demonstrate the bonding properties of carbon and silicon.