Sir Isaac Newton
Student note sheet
Directions: Please open up the website:
http://science.discovery.com/interactives/literacy/newton/newton.html and complete the following notes
on Sir Issac Newton.
“Hello, I’m Sir Isaac Newton: physicist,
mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher.”
“My observations have let me to put forth three laws to
explain the properties of motion. Make a selection above
to explore these laws of physics….”
Law of inertia: Every object in a state of _______________ or uniform __________________
remains in that state unless an external ________________ is applied to it.
This is often called the ‘law of __________________.’ Let’s test it
out on this apple, which is at rest. (click the hand to apply an
external force”
The apple didn’t move until you applied an external
______________. The apple and worm are now traveling at the
same _______________.
You abruptly stopped the apple, but not the worm. That’s
_______________ at work. The worm will remain in
_________________ until acted upon by an external force.
In this case, the external ______________ is a wall. Ouch! It can
be messy at times, but that’s my first law of motion.
2nd Law: The rate of change of _________________ of an object is directly proportional to the
resultant ___________ acting on it.
This law describes the relationship between an object’s
___________ and the amount of _____________ needed to
accelerate the object. Let’s take a closer look.
My second law is often stated as F = ma. The ____________ (F)
acting on an object is equal to the object’s ____________(m)
multiplied by its __________________(a). It’s a very handy
formula.
To see how force, mass and acceleration are linked, click on the
worm or the apple to change variables.
3rd Law: For every ________________, there is an equal and opposite ________________.
You have no doubt heard this saying before – it’s probably the
most famous of my three laws. To understand what it means,
let’s put this law to the test.
When the rocket ignites, exhaust if forced out of the bottom of
the ship. This creates an action - a downward _______________.
The downward ______________ creates an _____________ and
_______________ reaction, propelling the rocket upward. It’s a
simple law that applies to Earth, or in the vacuum of space. And
that’s my third law.
Test your knowledge!!! Take the quiz!!!
Question 1: The worm below is pulling an apple. If you want the apple’s acceleration to increase,
what variables could we change?
a. Force & Mass
b. Mass & Weight
c. Power &Mass
d. All of the above
Question 2: This apple is at rest. Which law states that the apple is going to remain that way until a
force is applied?
a. First law
b. Second Law
c. Third Law
d. None of the above
Question 3: Which law is often represented by the equation below (F=ma)?
a. First law
b. Second Law
c. Third Law
d. None of the above
Question 4: In what field of science was Isaac Newton not involved?
a. Physics
b. Biology
c. Astronomy
d. Mathematics
Question 5: The rocket below has a mass of 2 kilograms (it’s all that metal weighing it down.) How
many Newtons (units of force) would it take to make the apples accelerate to 10 m/s/s?
a. 5 Newtons
b. 10 Newtons
c. 20 Newtons
d. 40 Newtons
Question 6: The worm is tired of pulling the apple and now wants to push it. If he pushes it, what is
he exerting on the apple?
a. Mass
b. Acceleration
c. force
d. all of the above
Question7: Newton’s inspiration for his three laws of motion came when he was hit on the head by
an apple. True or False?
a. True
b. False
Question 8: The apple below is floating in a pond. The hitchhiking worm jumps from the apple as
shown. According to Newton’s third law, what is likely going to happen to the apple?
a. It stays still
b. It sinks
c. it moves away from the worm
d. it moves toward the worm
Question 9: What is the Newton a unit of?
a. Mass
b. Heat
c. Acceleration
d. Force
Question 10: What color was the worm’s scarf in the example for Newton’s first law?
a. Blue
b. yellow
c. green
What is your score? _____________________
d. chartreuse