Sir Isaac Newton's Three Laws of Motion
Date:
Grade:
Overall Expectations:
Students understand that:
- there are three laws of motion.
- the laws of motion help explain the behaviour of all objects.
Specific Expectations:
Students understand and can explain each of the three laws. Students can correctly apply the laws to explain the
behaviour of objects in demonstrations or simulations, in word problems and in experiments.
Accommodations:
- We will make available pictorial and voice recorded directions for the experiment. This will assist visual
learners and anyone that needs verbal reminders of instructions or has difficulty reading.
- We will have available thicker straws and string for anyone with fine-motor difficulties.
- We will use simplified language to help scaffold students understanding and gradually introduce the more
difficult scientific terminology used by Newton.
- We will assign group roles such as, recorder, materials manager, etc., to help groups remain on-task and
working together.
Time
2 minutes
Introduction
Distribute both handouts prior to starting the lesson.
Newton's three laws of motion, which were built on the discoveries made
by Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe and Kepler, demonstrated that the motions
of objects on earth and the motions of planets were determined by the
same set of laws.
Balloons, straws, ball of
string, scissors, tape, air
pump, soda cans (or other
suitable object).
We know that the first of the two laws can be traced back to scientists
such as Ali Sina Balkhi in the 10th century and Galileo. Newton restated
these laws more completely.
You may also use a plastic
bottle filled with sand or
water to vary the rocket’s
weight which will affect
the distance it travels.
Newton’s three laws form the basis of modern engineering.
Time
7-10
minutes
Materials/Resources
Constructing a balloon
rocket handout
Middle
Law 1: Inertia
An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain
in motion in the same direction and speed unless an unbalanced force is
applied to it.
Pose question to group - “You're about to see the first law of motion –
but before we proceed, think about what forces are acting on Tamara?”
(force of the push, gravity, air resistance, friction with the ground).
[Show clip]
Newton timeline handout
Sir Isaac Newton's Three Laws of Motion
Date:
Grade:
Discussion.
Law 2: F = ma
The acceleration of an object is in proportion to the force applied and is
inversely proportion to the mass of the object.
Pose question to group – “What could we change to decrease or increase
the distance that Tamara moves?”
[Show clip]
Discussion.
Law 3:
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
[Show clip]
Follow clip with discussion – “In your groups, think of other examples of
action/reaction events.”
Discuss these examples as group.
Time:
3 minutes
Conclusion
Demonstrate “Balloon Rocket” experiment (Please refer to “Balloon
Rocket Lesson posting in class conference)
Pose question for group discussion – “In regards to the experiment we’ve
just demonstrated, please explain the motion of the “rocket” using
Newton’s three laws of motion?”
Discuss adaptations to experiment (ie/ adding with to the container to
vary mass, using different balloons, etc.)
If there is time, groups carry out balloon rocket experiment.
Experiments
http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/Newton/experiment.htm#forces
Tutorial on force and motion
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/newtlaws/u2l2a.html
http://www.openschool.bc.ca/courses/science/sci8/mod3.html
Good for timeline
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/newton_isaac.shtml
Official site
http://www.newton.ac.uk/newtlife.html
Notes/Reminders: