Download Newton Stations Instructions

Station 1
Newton’s first law describes the motion and acceleration of objects. There are two parts to the law. The first
part says that an object at rest will stay at rest. The second part says that an object in motion will stay in
motion. Both parts of the law have an addition that say “unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.” Another
way of looking at this law is to say that objects will not accelerate unless they are acted on by unbalanced
forces.
On your student page answer the Pre-Lab Question
Materials
Books (to build ramp)
Book (This is the "wall")
Wooden Board (or substitute)
Toy car
Snow man made out of clay
Why does the snowman fly off the car?
Procedures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Before you begin, answer the pre-lab questions
Set up a ramp and a "wall" as shown.
Make a snow man out of clay and stick him on top of your car. Press gently so that he will slick.
Release car from top of the ramp.
Observe what happens when the car hits the “wall”
Answer the questions on the student page.
Note: If the snowman hits the “wall” adjust your set-up so that it can fly freely.
Station 2
Materials:
Glass or plastic bottle
Playing card
Penny
Ball
Book
Explain why the penny falls into the bottle. Try to use scientific
terminology. You are a scientist!
Procedures
1. Set up the situation shown in the top diagram.
2. The penny is at rest on the top of the card. The goal is to flick the card, and keep cause the penny to
fall into the bottle. Can you do it? Keep trying until you are able to do it!
3. Answer the questions on your student page.
Also:
Place a ball on a book that you hold out in front of you, flat like a tray.
4. Conduct the following experiments and record what happens to the ball:
• From standing still, suddenly walk quickly forward.
• From standing still, suddenly walk quickly backwards.
• Walk steadily forward, gently keeping the ball on the book with your other hand, then
let go of the ball while walking steadily with the ball staying on the book. Then stop
suddenly.
Station 3
Newton’s Second Law of Motion says an object acted on by an unbalanced force will
accelerate in the direction of the force, according to the formula:
Force = mass x acceleration.
Another way to say that is, if you push or pull something, it will move. The bigger and heavier
an object is, the harder you have to push or pull to move it.
Materials
Meter stick for measuring
Meter stick ramp
4 different balls
Books
Paper box with a hole cut in one side
How do the washers affect the movement of the box?
Procedures:
1. Put the box at the end of the meter stick ramp. Face the hole in the box so that the ball
can roll down the ramp and into the box.
2. Place the meter stick at the end of the box.
3. Put the marble at the top of the meter stick ramp and let it roll down the ramp and into
the box.
4. Use the second meter stick to measure how far the box moved. Record your data.
5. Repeat for a total of 5 trials.
6. Try experiment with a different ball. Repeat steps 5 – 7 exactly as before until you have
filled the data table.
7. Answer the questions on your student page.
Station 4
Material
Large toy car
Balloon
Tape
How can you explain the motion of the car?
Procedures
1. Blow up a balloon.
2. Carefully tape the balloon to the top of a large toy car.
3. Place the car onto a flat surface free of obstacles.
4. Record your hypothesis: what will happen when you release your finger from the balloon?
5. Release and record your observations.
6. Answer the questions on your student page.
Station 5
Newton’s 3rd law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. While this is easy to
repeat and memorize, it isn’t so easy to understand and believe. For example, this means that when you
push against a table, the table pushes back on you with the same amount of force. (Think about that…it is
easy to recite, but harder to understand). In this lab, you will begin to investigate Newton’s 3rd Law by
creating single-car accidents by running a car/cart into a wall.
Material
Toy car
Ramp
Books
Wall
Washers (optional)
Wall
How can you explain what happens to the car as it crashes?
Procedures
1. Place the ramp 50 cm from a wall.
2. Record your hypothesis: what will happen when the car hits the wall?
3. Roll a car/cart down the ramp allowing it to crash into the wall.
4. Record your observations.
5. Answer the questions on your student page.
6. If time allows, try adding washers to the top of the car.
7. How does adding more mass affect your results?
Station 6: Interactive and Three Laws Foldable
Materials:
Computers
Station Packets
Procedure
1.
Using the provided computers navigate to the following interactive:
http://science.discovery.com/games-and-interactives/newtons-laws-of-motion-interactive.htm
2. Go through the entire interactive following the directions provided on the site, also read Newton’s
Bio and take the physics quiz if you have time.
3. Record information about Newton’s Three Laws on your Newton Foldable Worksheet in your
worksheet packet. Follow the rubric provided to create an informative foldable about Newton’s
Laws.
4. Leave the website up and running for the next group.
Station 7: Speed, Distance and Time Practice
Materials:
Handout in your packet
Calculator
Procedure:
1. Using the handout provided solve the various problems using the correct units.
Station 8: PowerPoint
Materials:
Computers
Procedure:
1. Answer the questions in the PowerPoint in your Journal.
2. Leave the PowerPoint up and running on the computer, so that the next student group will be able to
use it.