[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Acceleration due to gravity and why falling objects with different masses accelerate at the same rate.

An exceptional tutorial on the topic of vectors that offers many helpful graphics, some of which are interactive.

This site from NASA provides an excellent tutorial on vectors and their use in physics to describe the motion of objects. Vector addition and resolution are illustrated.

Students explore the physics utilized by engineers in designing today's roller coasters, including potential and kinetic energy, friction, and gravity. First, students learn that all true roller coasters are completely driven by the...

An interactive simulation that teaches about motion, acceleration, and velocity by allowing students to build their own solar system and watch the effects of gravitational pull and how that changes with initial position, velocity, and...

Animated simulation re-enacts Galileo's experiment of dropping objects off the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

An article describing free fall principles in roller coaster rides. In addition to the explanation of free fall, an experiment is described that allows you to test free fall with a cup of water. Part of a larger presentation on roller...

A metal pie pan demonstrates the acceleration of gravity.

[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the relationship between position and velocity for a diver accelerating under the influence of gravity and air resistance. Measure velocity and position based on variables of the height of...

In this culminating activity of the unit which highlights how forces play a role in engineering design and material choices, students explore and apply their knowledge of forces, friction, acceleration, and gravity in a two-part experiment.

Students will learn about the force of gravity and the factors that affect it, and use and analyze the universal gravitation equation using Excel spreadsheets.

In this activity, students will perform a series of experiments with inclined planes. They will learn that as the angle of inclination of the inclined plane approaches 90 degrees, the value of the acceleration of the cart traveling down...

Students understand the physics of a free falling object through these illustrated example problems.

This project is an experiment in classical physics. You'll be following in Galileo's footsteps, and investigating Newton's laws of motion, but you'll be taking advantage of modern video recording technology to make your measurements. The...

This lab was designed to have students test the factors that affect the acceleration due to gravity on a planet. Students will be able to modify the planet and then drop an object to determine the acceleration on the planet. As the...

Students will collect data of different massed cars and compare the acceleration down an incline.

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...

Students investigate the effects of force on objects in motion particularly as it relates to gravity and wind resistance by performing a classroom egg-drop activity.

In this lab, middle schoolers will investigate how gravity affects an object that falls from a state of rest and how it affects an object that is projected outward from the same level at the same time. Students will observe the objects...

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...

In this lesson plan we'll explore how we use fairly simple physics to draw particles which move according to the forces we feel in the real world (such as wind & gravity).

Background information on vectors and their use in describing motion in two dimensions. A comparison of Aristotle's and Galileo's perspectives on force and motion is given.

Learners learn the basic properties of periodic and harmonic motion, and how the rearrangement of the simple pendulum equation can be used to solve for gravitational acceleration, pendulum length, and gravity. At lesson end, students are...

Manipulate the mass of a weight and the length of string in this interactive pendulum simulation. Change the speed, friction, and gravity to make the pendulum swing change as measurements are displayed on the screen. Younger students can...