Newton’s First LawMethod – draw the procedure Observations – what happened? Results & conclusions - explanation

Predict what you think will happen:

Predict what you think will happen:

Predict what you think will happen:

Summary: Explain how Newton’s First Law of Motion allows us to predict motion

Materials requiredInertia labs Forces labsWacky washers

6 washers

Pass the water Shallow baking pan Pitcher of water

Tablecloth trick Flask Note cards Stack of pennies

Air hockey Dry ice

Seat belts save lives Matchbox car Clay Ramp Tape Pencil

Circular motion Modified aluminum pie pan Marble

Dancing circles Al foil Paper punch Styrofoam cup

Center of gravity Hammer Rubber band Ruler

Round the world Rubber stopper String

Driving uphill Pull-back car Meter stick Ramp

Projectile motion Computer Forces and gravity CD

The pressure’s on Water Plastic cup Note cards

Wacky washersTo do You will need

6 washers or pennies Smooth surface

Stack 5 washers one on top of the other so that you form a tower of washers. Place the stack of washers on a smooth surface.Aim the last washer at the bottom of the stack of and give it a good hard flick with your finger or hand.

To observe

Observe carefully. Try some other things: does it work with more or fewer washers?

Record your observations.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Pass the waterTo do You will need

Shallow baking pan Pitcher of water

This is an outdoor activity. Fill in the first column; get your materials; and go outside so you don’t make a mess inside.

Fill the pan with water to the brim.Hold the pan of water level, and walk around. As you walk, make careful observations of the water and of your tendency to be more or less careful of spilling it at various locations. If you spill a significant amount of water at any time, refill the water to the rim. Your walking should include the various types of motion:

Starting with the water at rest on top of a bench, abruptly accelerate the water to a high speed in a short amount of time.

Walk with a constant speed in a straight line for at least 20 feet. After walking for a given distance in a straight line, make an abrupt

right-hand turn; repeat this procedure for a abrupt left-hand turn. After walking some given distance in a straight line at a moderate

speed, abruptly stop.

To observe

Record your observations; including what happened under a variety of conditions.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Tablecloth trickTo do You will need

Erlenmeyer flask Note card Stack of pennies

Set up the apparatus as shown. Flick the card with your finger.

To observe

Experiment – how many pennies can you drop into the flask?Record your observations. How many pennies could you drop into the flask? What was the best technique?

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Air hockeyTo do You will need

Dry ice A smooth surface

Caution – don’t do anything stupid with the dry ice. There are many ways to be stupid (or unsafe); avoid them all.

Flick the dry ice across the table.

To observe

Try to figure out why this is so much fun. Does the dry ice move the same way as other objects moving

across a smooth surface? Can you discover why? How far can you make it move? Does it to the same thing on a rough surface?

Record your observations.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Seat belts save livesTo do You will need:

Matchbox car Clay Ramp Tape Marker Textbook

1. Make a ramp by elevating one end on a book.2. Tape the marker perpendicular to the ramp about 2 car lengths from

the end of the ruler.3. Use the clay to make a snowman type figure.4. Flatten the bottom and gently sit it on the hood of the car.5. Position the car at the top of the ramp and allow it to roll down to

collide with the pencil.

To observe

You can experiment with different heights. You can fasten the clay tightly to the car to simulate wearing a seat belt.

Describe what happened.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Circular motionTo do You will need:

¾ aluminum pie plate Marble

Which way will the Moon go if the earth's gravity were suddenly switched off?

The Pie Plate demo gives a good analogy. Spin a ball around the inside rim of the plate. The inward force of the rim keeps the ball in circular motion. But what happens when the rim ends?

To observe

What did you have to do to get the marble to follow around the rim of the pie plate? Describe the motion of the marble when it leaves the rim of the pie plate.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Dancing circlesTo do You will need

Aluminum foil circles Paper circles Styrofoam cup

Lay the paper and foil pieces on the table in separate piles.Place a static charge on the Styrofoam cup by rubbing it on your clothes.

Bring the Styrofoam cup close to – but not touching – each pile. Describe what happens.

Prediction – will there be any reaction? Will they behave the same?

To observe

Describe what happened to each pile of materials.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Hint: the aluminum and paper pieces were originally at rest.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity, friction or other forces

Center of massTo do You will need

Hammer Ruler Rubber band

Attach the hammer to the ruler with a rubber band and suspend it from the edge of the table as shown. You may have to try this several times.

To observe

Describe what happened. Did you have to make any modifications?

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Hint: if you balance it correctly, the hammer will not be moving.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Round the worldTo do You will need

Stopper on a string

This is an outdoor activity. Fill in the first column; get your materials; and go outside. Before continuing, make sure no one is in the way.

Spin the stopper fast enough so that it makes a nice circle. Release the string and watch carefully where the stopper goes. Repeat as necessary until you are sure of the rubber stopper’s path.

To observe

Describe what happens to the stopper when it is released (you want to know its path).

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Driving up hillTo do You will need

A pull-back toy car A meter stick A ramp Textbooks to elevate ramp

Measure the distance that the toy car can go on a flat surface and going up a ramp. Remember to pull the car back the same amount each time so the forward force is the same in each instance.

To observe

Construct and fill out a data table:

Distance traveled, mFlat surface Going uphill with one book

Investigate if steeper angles change your results.

Record your data: how far does the car travel on a level surface and uphill ramp?

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Hint: why were the results different on the flat surface and up the ramp?

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

Projectile motionTo do This is a virtual lab (computer simulation).

You will need: A computer with CD

Open the file Forces and Gravity 2.0Choose SimulationsChoose projectile motion

Select one variable to change – location, ball’s mass, speed or angle. Test at least three different values and are report on your observations.

(There is nothing to predict before you open the software.)

To observe

Record your data and discuss how changing one variable affected the other variable.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

The pressure’s onTo do You will need:

Water Plastic cup Note card Plastic pan

This is an outdoor activity. Fill in the first column; get your materials; and go outside so you don’t make a mess inside.

Fill the cup to the brim with water. This will only work if the cup is totally full.

Place the note card on top to make a tight connection.

With your hand supporting the note card, quickly invert the card and cup (put it over the plastic pan).

Remove your hand.

To observe

Describe what happened.

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Use labeled diagrams if appropriate. Your explanation should make it clear that you understand Newton’s First Law.

Hint: if gravity pulls down, why didn’t the water fall out?

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity and/or friction

I’m attracted to youTo do You will need:

Magnet Paper clips String Masking tape

Tie one end of a string to a paper clip. Tape the other end of the string securely to the table.

Place the magnet about ½ inch away from the paper clip. Slowly lift the magnet, so that it remains consistently ½ inch away from the paper clip at all times.

To observe

Describe what happened.

Questions to consider: What limits the paper clips motion? How many paper clips can you lift? Can you make the paper clip drop by putting a piece of paper in

between the magnet and the paper clip?

To explain

Explain your observations in terms of Newton’s First Law. Hint: the paper clip was initially at rest. Once in the air, gravity pulls on it.

Newton’s First Law says: an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an outside force.

You will want to use some of the following words: Force Balanced, unbalanced and net forces Inertia Gravity, friction or other forces

Labs adapted from …

Wacky washershttp://www.sciencespot.net/Media/newtonlab.pdf

Washers 2 (card trick)http://www.physics.ucla.edu/demoweb/demomanual/mechanics/first_law_inertia/flick_the_card.html

Pass the waterhttp://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/makeups/forces/u2l1.html

Dry ice

Why you should wear seat beltshttp://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/IGLA/pdf/ScienceInertia.pdf

Circular motion - Partial pie platehttp://www.physics.ucla.edu/demoweb/demomanual/mechanics/first_law_inertia/partial_pie_plate.htmlGroup 2: forces Pendulum

Car going up hill

MagnetismDancing circles – TOPS Electricity #7

Centrifugal force Rubber stopper on a string, Steppans page 100

Center of mass Steppans book, page 72