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Rollin' On
Third graders investigate the effects of gravity on the motion of a marble on an inclined plane and a declined plane. They work in small cooperative groups to predict and explain outcomes.
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Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
Students explore the nature and magnitude of gravitational forces. In this gravitation lesson students study gravity and answer questions.
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Perching Parrot
Students explore the concepts of center of mass and static equilibrium by seeing how non-symmetrical objects balance. They also analyze why all forces on an object must cancel out exactly for an object to be stationary.
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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.
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Falling
Learners explore the role of gravity as a force in falling. They use the Internet to research gravity.
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Toys in Space
Pupilsexplore how gravity affects the operation of toys and simple machines. They watch a video and experiment with simple machines.
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Pumps
Students examine the basic types of pumps. They build a gravity-driven water pump and solve a mystery using their knowledge of pressures and pumps.
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Jungle Gym Drop
Learners drop a variety of objects from a jungle gym to explore how different shapes, sizes, and masses relate to forces and motion.
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In What Direction Do Seeds Grow?
Students predict and examine the direction seeds grow and thereby explore the effects gravity has on seeds and plants. They perform this inquiry in-class by keeping track of how beans grow.
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That Mu You Do
Students discussion frictional force, kinetic friction, and static friction and the role each plays in acceleration and velocity in relationship to a car and the road on which it is traveling. Students complete instructional activity...
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MEASURING THE GRAVITATIONAL CONSTANT, G
Students study gravitational force an. In this gravitational force lesson students observe a demonstration.
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THE FLIGHT PLATFORM
Students examine forces that effect flight. In this flight lesson students answer questions that are asked of them and the ones that they ask themselves.
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Newton's Third Law of Motion
Seventh graders are introduced to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this physics instructional activity students examine the concept of thrust as one of the forces acting on aircraft.
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The Elastic Racquet
High schoolers use this introductory lab using a tennis racquet, however it is very difficult to study because of the strings and the racquet stretch so little and so quickly during a match that students were unable to make simple...
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Exploring Pendulums
Students observe the movement of pendulums, they begin to understand the relationship between gravitational forces and the mass of objects, the changes in speed and direction of objects, and the distance between objects. They understand...
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Movement of Objects
Ninth graders investigate motion. In this science lesson, 9th graders conduct experiments on objects to analyze motion and speed. They define motion in everyday life.
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Solar System
Eighth graders identify the basic concepts of celestial bodies. They discover the difference between perihelion and aphelion and demonstrate how the universe is expanding. They also discover how gravity and centrifugal force are...
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Black Holes
Students explore what black holes are and how gravity is associated with them. In this space lesson plan students are given enough information to imagine a journey to a black hole.
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Simple Machines III - Pulleys
Fourth graders are introduced to a spring scale to show that the forces on both sides of the pulley are the same. They break into groups to lift objects with fixed pulleys and with multiple looped pulleys and then measure the force...
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That Mu You Do
Students are told that the weight of a car is equal to its mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity. When a car is at react on a horizontal road, there must be a normal force with which the road pushes up on the car to keep it...
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How Things Fly
Students explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly lesson, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Students perform three experiments that...
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Toying Around with Newton's Laws
Eighth graders identify balanced and unbalanced forces that affect the movement of objects and Newton's three Laws of Motion. Students also design a contraption utilizing Newton's Laws of Motion that will launch a marshmallow five meters.
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Simple Machines IV - Wheels and Axles
Fourth graders study everyday examples of simple machines. They examine how the combination of a wheel and axle works more efficiently than either in isolation. In a demonstration lesson, they see how a spring scale shows a force pulling...