Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Projectile Motion: Creating a Catapult
This activity is for 9th grade physical science young scholars. It begins with an inquiry-based activity using a projectile motion computer simulation. It culminates with students building a catapult; applying and connecting science...
Read Works
Read Works: Sir Isaac Newton and Le Bron James
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text explaining how the laws of motion apply to basketball. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Newton's Law System (No Friction)
Students must find out different things for a series of objects moving as a system.
Michigan Reach Out
Nasa: Soda Pop Can Hero Engine
Students explore all three parts of Newton's Laws of Motion by observing a spinning pop can.
Other
Live strong.com: The Physics of Throwing a Football
Discussions on the subject of throwing a football are as common as chalk lines on a football field. Coaches and players talk about the proper grip, footwork and throwing motion, but few discussions mention the physics involved. Prolific...
Quia
Quia: Newton's Laws Quiz
A short quiz on Newton's famous laws of motion. Has ten multiple-choice questions.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Aerodynamics: What Causes Lift?
How does an airplane stay aloft when upside down? This media-rich essay from the NOVA Web site offers an explanation based on Newton's third law of motion.
Other
Federal Aviation Administration: Anti Gravity Marble [Pdf]
This experiment examines Newton's Second Law of Motion. Learn how centrifugal and centripetal force help to keep a marble in a can when turned upside down.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Rock a Bye Pendulum
Activity uses scientific process to explore the effects of force on an object in motion.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Forces in Motion
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson explores forces, and how they react to the world around us. It also discusses Newton's Laws of Science.
Libre Text
Uc Davis Geo Wiki: Newton's 2nd Law
The wind blowing over your house, the Gulf Stream flowing into the North Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Europe, the jet stream at 10 km altitude. All these different flows in the atmosphere and in the ocean can be understood using ideas...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Newtons Laws: Rocket Sledder Interactive
Experience the effect of friction, air resistance, and applied force upon a sledder. The speed, acceleration, and force values are displayed as the sled moves. Learners can vary the mass of the sledder and the size of the parachute...
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota: Mechanics Problems: Force Problems
This University of Minnesota site provides a series of contextually rich, real-world problems demonstrating force and Newton's second law of motion.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: System of Particles in an Object
This presentation explains why an object remains at rest, despite the fact that the particles within the object are in motion.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Best Amount of Water to Fly a Bottle Rocket
In this rocket experiment, students will investigate the question, "Which amount of water will cause the rocket to stay in the air the longest?" Students will compare how long the rocket was in the air with how much water was in the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Catapults!
Students observe the relationship between the angle of a catapult (a force measurement) and the flight of a cotton ball. They learn how Newton's second law of motion works by seeing directly that F = ma. When they pull the metal "arm"...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: You're a Pushover!
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate Newton's 3rd Law of Motion, which is the physical law that governs thrust in aircraft. The students will do several activities that show that for every action there is an equal and opposite...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: May the Force Be With You: Thrust
In this instructional activity, students will study how propellers and jet turbines generate thrust. This instructional activity focuses on Isaac Newton's 3rd Law of Motion, which states that for every action there is an equal and...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Free Fall and Air Resistance
This lesson in high school physics on Newton's Second Law of Motion provides a discussion of free fall and air resistance, and answers, "Why do objects which encounter air resistance ultimately reach a terminal velocity?" and "In...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Newton's Laws at the Atomic Scale
Explore how Newton's three laws apply to the world of atoms and molecules. Start with the originally contradictory observation of Brownian motion. Then, each law is addressed at the atomic level.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Motion on Incline Level 2
Students must calculate the distance an object will move up an incline using Newton's Laws. Mass, angle, gravitational field, coefficient of friction and initial speed will be generated randomly.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Motion on Incline Level 3
Students must calculate the speed of a block when it returns to its original location on an incline using Newton's Laws. Mass, angle, gravitational field, coefficient of friction and initial speed will be generated randomly.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: 4.1 Development of Force Concept
By the end of this section, you will be able to understand the definition of force.
Science Struck
Science Struck: A Comprehensive List of All the Physics Formulas
Provides a long list of physics formulas for easy reference.