Columbus City Schools
The Magic of Energy: A Disappearing Act?
Using the 5E method for teaching about kinetic energy, potential energy, and conservation of energy, this two-week unit with many videos and possible extensions is sure to keep pupils engaged as they are learning.
Curated OER
Travel Mug Design
Young scholars create and develop a travel mug. They create visuals and a three dimensional infomercial. They apply an engineering design and demonstrate knowledge of thermodynamics involved in heat transfer. They illustrate Newton's Law...
Curated OER
Electricity and Magnets
In this physics review instructional activity, students compare average and instantaneous speed, review Newton's laws, electricity, and magnets. This instructional activity has 12 fill in the blank, 8 short answer questions, and 6...
Curated OER
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
Young scholars explore the nature and magnitude of gravitational forces. In this gravitation lesson students study gravity and answer questions.
Curated OER
Balloon Rockets
Students, after reviewing and analyzing Newton's third law of motion, make balloon rockets and experiment with a variety of models. After the experiment, they chart the results and form conclusions. In addition, they compare/contrast...
Curated OER
The Art of Forces and Motion
Young scholars view a video and use their knowledge of forces and motion to create an art piece. In this forces and motion lesson, students research forces and motion vocabulary and view a QuickTime video. They apply their knowledge by...
Teach Engineering
The Great Gravity Escape
Groups simulate an orbit using a piece of string and a water balloon. Individuals spin in a circular path and calculate the balloon's velocity when the clothes pin can no longer hold onto the balloon.
CK-12 Foundation
Elevator
Do you weigh slightly less when an elevator first starts its descent? The simulation teaches the change in the force based on the acceleration, constant speed, or deceleration of an elevator. Scholars control the mass and acceleration...
Teach Engineering
Pushing it Off a Cliff
Focus on the conservation of energy, specifically looking at gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy, with a lecture that involves having friends throw light objects at each other to determine which has more kinetic energy and...
NASA
Water Rocket Launcher
How can you launch an object that isn't propelled by air? The resource provides directions to build a launcher to launch rockets made of two-liter bottles. The launcher, built mainly from materials found at the local hardware store, uses...
Teach Engineering
May the Force Be With You: Drag
Do not let friction drag you down! The 11th segment in a series of 22 focuses on the fourth force acting upon an airplane—drag. Pupils learn about the effects and causes of drag.
CK-12 Foundation
Airplane
How does an airplane control its take off and descent? Scholars explore the forces acting on an airplane and control the angle of attack, wing profile, thrust, and airplane size. They learn about lift, drag, thrust, gravity, and the...
CK-12 Foundation
Horse and Cart
Can a horse pull more than its weight? A simple simulation answers this question and more. Pupils adjust the mass in a cart, the mass of the horse, the acceleration of the horse, and the angle of the tension rope between the horse and...
CK-12 Foundation
Bowling Alley
Sometimes it appears that a bowling ball slides down the alley rather than rolling, while other times it appears to switch rolling directions at some point. Scholars control the bowling ball size, initial rotation, initial speed, and...
Curated OER
Force and Motion
In this force and motion worksheet, students read six paragraphs with numbered sentences about force and the laws of motion and answer one question.
Curated OER
Pop Rockets
Young scholars work together to design and build a paper rocket. They place a propellant in the contraption to make it fly. They discover Newton's third law of motion.
Curated OER
Newton's First Law
For this friction worksheet, students will read about fluid friction and examples of fluid friction. Students will also explore the role fluid lubricants have in reducing friction between two surfaces. Then students will answer two short...
Curated OER
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
In this mathematical modeling activity, students answer two essay questions. They describe Newton's Law of Cooling by describing and constructing a model and answering seven essay questions about the process.
Curated OER
How Do Airplanes Get Off the Ground
Students construct various types of paper airplanes, exploring action and reaction forces by conducting a paper airplane rodeo. Students then discuss how Newton's Third Law of Motion affected their planes.
Curated OER
Newton's 3rd Law
High schoolers examine how the formal definition of Newton's 3rd law: forces always originate in pairs, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. They also examine how the informal, qualitative version: Each action has an equal and...
Curated OER
Motion, Force, and Gravity
Students write a research paper about human space travel. In this space travel lesson, students watch a video and research issues related to space travel. They use their research to write a paper about whether human space travel should...
Curated OER
Space Ship Pilot
Students visualize the relation between acceleration and velocity in 2 dimensions. They are introduced to Newton's first law,and Newton's second law. Students work on an exploration activity where they condsider an example of a...
Curated OER
A Mysterious Roll-Back Can
Middle schoolers explore Newton and his Second Law by observing a demonstration involving a can that rolls away, then rolls back to where it started. They construct their own Come Back Can and describe how the cans work.
Curated OER
Blast Off
Students investigate how rocket thrust is generated with propellant. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, discuss Newton's third law of motion, answer discussion questions, and view photos of rockets and rocket designs.