Lesson Plan
Push, Pull, Power! Lesson Plan
Students will be able to define force, identify different types of forces, state Newton's three Laws of Motion, and apply these concepts to analyze real-world scenarios.
Understanding forces is crucial for comprehending how and why objects move (or don't move!). This lesson will help students make sense of everything from kicking a soccer ball to launching a rocket, giving them a foundation for future physics studies and a better grasp of the world around them.
Audience
10th Grade Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Through direct instruction, interactive discussions, and hands-on examples, students will explore forces.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Push, Pull, Power! Slide Deck, Forces: Fact or Fiction? Warm-Up, Force Fundamentals Worksheet, and Force Fundamentals Answer Key
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Push, Pull, Power! Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Push, Pull, Power! Slide Deck, Forces: Fact or Fiction? Warm-Up, Force Fundamentals Worksheet, and Force Fundamentals Answer Key.
* Ensure projector/Smartboard is set up and functional.
* Gather any optional demonstration materials (e.g., a toy car, a book, a spring scale).
Step 1
Warm-Up: Forces: Fact or Fiction?
10 minutes
- Distribute the Forces: Fact or Fiction? Warm-Up.
* Instruct students to answer the questions individually.
* After 5 minutes, lead a brief class discussion on their responses, clarifying any misconceptions. Use this to gauge prior knowledge.
Step 2
Introduction to Forces
15 minutes
- Begin with the Push, Pull, Power! Slide Deck (Slides 1-4).
* Define what a force is and discuss its characteristics (magnitude and direction).
* Introduce different types of forces (gravity, friction, normal force, applied force) with real-world examples. Refer to the Push, Pull, Power! Slide Deck for visuals and explanations.
Step 3
Newton's Laws of Motion
20 minutes
- Continue with the Push, Pull, Power! Slide Deck (Slides 5-10).
* Explain Newton's Three Laws of Motion with clear examples for each.
* Encourage student questions and provide opportunities for them to share their own examples of each law.
* Consider a quick demonstration for each law (e.g., pushing a book for the first law, applying different forces to a toy car for the second law, two students pushing on each other for the third law).
Step 4
Worksheet: Force Fundamentals
10 minutes
- Distribute the Force Fundamentals Worksheet.
* Instruct students to work independently or in pairs to complete the worksheet, applying the concepts learned.
* Circulate around the room to provide support and answer questions. Briefly review answers using the Force Fundamentals Answer Key at the end if time permits, or assign for homework review.
Step 5
Wrap-Up and Q&A
5 minutes
- Conclude the lesson by briefly summarizing the key takeaways about forces and Newton's Laws.
* Address any remaining student questions.
* Assign the completion of the Force Fundamentals Worksheet as homework if not finished in class.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Push, Pull, Power!
Understanding Forces in Our World
What makes things move, stop, or change direction?
It's all about forces!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of forces. Ask them to think about what a force is in their own words.
What is a Force?
- A push or a pull on an object.
- Forces cause objects to accelerate (change speed or direction).
- Forces are vectors: they have both magnitude (how strong) and direction.
- Measured in Newtons (N).
Define force clearly. Emphasize that forces always involve interaction and have both magnitude and direction.
Types of Forces
- Gravity: The force that pulls objects towards each other (e.g., an apple falling).
- Friction: A force that opposes motion when two surfaces rub against each other (e.g., tires on a road).
- Normal Force: The support force exerted by a surface on an object resting on it (e.g., a book on a table).
- Applied Force: A force directly applied to an object (e.g., kicking a ball).
- Tension: A pulling force transmitted axially by means of a string, cable, chain, or similar one-dimensional continuous object.
Discuss various types of forces. Give simple, relatable examples for each. You can ask students for their own examples too.
Net Force: The Big Picture
- Net Force: The overall force acting on an object.
- If the net force is zero (balanced forces), the object stays at rest or continues moving at a constant velocity.
- If the net force is not zero (unbalanced forces), the object accelerates (changes its motion).
Introduce the concept of net force and how it determines motion. Explain balanced vs. unbalanced forces.
Newton's 1st Law: Inertia
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
- Also known as the Law of Inertia.
- Inertia: An object's resistance to changes in its state of motion.
Example: Why does a soccer ball eventually stop rolling?
Introduce Newton's First Law. Provide a clear example and explain inertia. You could demonstrate by pushing a book across a table and then letting go.
Newton's 2nd Law: F=ma
The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
- Formula: Force = mass × acceleration (F = ma)
- Key Idea: A larger force causes a larger acceleration. A larger mass requires a larger force to achieve the same acceleration.
Example: Pushing an empty shopping cart versus a full one.
Introduce Newton's Second Law. Explain the formula and the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. Discuss how greater force leads to greater acceleration, and greater mass leads to less acceleration for the same force.
Newton's 3rd Law: Action-Reaction
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- Forces always come in pairs.
- These forces act on different objects.
Example: A rocket pushing gas downwards, and the gas pushing the rocket upwards.
Introduce Newton's Third Law. Emphasize that these are action-reaction pairs acting on different objects. You can have two students gently push on each other to demonstrate.
Newton's Laws: A Quick Review
- 1st Law: Objects resist changes in motion (Inertia).
- 2nd Law: Force, mass, and acceleration are related (F=ma).
- 3rd Law: Forces come in action-reaction pairs.
Provide a summary slide for review. Briefly reiterate the core idea of each law.
Forces in Your World
How do you experience forces every day?
- Walking or running
- Riding a bike
- Sitting in a chair
- Throwing or catching a ball
- Gravity keeping you on Earth!
Forces are everywhere!
Encourage students to think about how forces are at play in their daily lives. This helps connect the abstract concepts to their experiences.
Practice Time: Force Fundamentals
Now, let's put our knowledge of forces and Newton's Laws to the test with a worksheet!
Remember what we discussed, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
Preview the upcoming worksheet to set expectations and reiterate what they just learned.
Warm Up
Forces: Fact or Fiction? Warm-Up
Instructions: Read each statement below and decide if it is a FACT or FICTION. Explain your reasoning for each.
-
If you kick a ball in space, it will eventually stop because there's no air to slow it down.
-
A heavier object always falls faster than a lighter object.
-
When you jump, the Earth pulls you down, but you also pull the Earth up.
-
Friction is always a bad thing because it slows things down.
-
If an object is moving, there must be a force continuously pushing it forward.
Worksheet
Force Fundamentals Worksheet
Instructions: Answer the following questions based on your understanding of forces and Newton's Laws of Motion.
Part 1: Defining Forces
-
What is a force? Describe two key characteristics of a force.
-
Name three different types of forces and provide a real-world example for each.
a. Type of Force:
Example:
b. Type of Force:
Example:
c. Type of Force:
Example: -
Explain the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces. What happens to an object when acted upon by each?
Part 2: Newton's Laws of Motion
-
State Newton's First Law of Motion in your own words. What is another name for this law?
-
Give an example of Newton's First Law in action, and explain why it demonstrates this law.
-
Write out the formula for Newton's Second Law of Motion. Explain what each variable represents and how they are related.
-
Imagine you are pushing two different boxes with the same amount of force. Box A has a mass of 10 kg, and Box B has a mass of 20 kg. Which box will accelerate more, and why?
-
State Newton's Third Law of Motion. What are the key characteristics of the forces described in this law?
-
Describe an action-reaction pair you observe when jumping. Identify the action force and the reaction force.
Part 3: Application
- A car is traveling at a constant speed on a straight highway. According to Newton's First Law, what can you say about the forces acting on the car?
Answer Key
Force Fundamentals Answer Key
Part 1: Defining Forces
-
What is a force? Describe two key characteristics of a force.
- Thought Process: A force is a push or pull. It has both magnitude (how strong) and direction, making it a vector quantity.
- Answer: A force is a push or a pull exerted on an object. Two key characteristics are that it has magnitude (strength) and direction.
-
Name three different types of forces and provide a real-world example for each.
- Thought Process: Recall the common types of forces discussed and think of everyday scenarios where each is evident.
- Answer:
a. Type of Force: Gravity
Example: An apple falling from a tree to the ground.
b. Type of Force: Friction
Example: The force that slows down a sliding hockey puck on ice.
c. Type of Force: Normal Force
Example: A book resting on a table, where the table pushes up on the book.
d. Type of Force: Applied Force
Example: Kicking a soccer ball.
e. Type of Force: Tension
Example: A rope holding a swing set.
-
Explain the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces. What happens to an object when acted upon by each?
- Thought Process: Consider the net force. If it's zero, forces are balanced; if not, they are unbalanced. Then, recall the effect on motion in each case.
- Answer: Balanced forces are when the net force on an object is zero. In this case, the object will either remain at rest or continue moving at a constant velocity (constant speed and direction). Unbalanced forces are when the net force on an object is not zero. An object subjected to unbalanced forces will accelerate, meaning its speed, direction, or both will change.
Part 2: Newton's Laws of Motion
-
State Newton's First Law of Motion in your own words. What is another name for this law?
- Thought Process: Recall the definition of the first law, focusing on inertia.
- Answer: Newton's First Law states that an object will maintain its state of motion (either at rest or moving at a constant velocity) unless an external, unbalanced force acts upon it. It is also known as the Law of Inertia.
-
Give an example of Newton's First Law in action, and explain why it demonstrates this law.
- Thought Process: Think of a situation where an object's motion (or lack thereof) changes due to a sudden force, or where it resists change.
- Answer: When a car suddenly brakes, a passenger without a seatbelt continues to move forward due to their inertia. The passenger's body resists the change in motion (the car slowing down) until an unbalanced force (like hitting the dashboard or the seatbelt) acts on them.
-
Write out the formula for Newton's Second Law of Motion. Explain what each variable represents and how they are related.
- Thought Process: Recall the formula F=ma and define each letter.
- Answer: The formula for Newton's Second Law is F = ma.
- F represents the net force acting on the object (measured in Newtons, N).
- m represents the mass of the object (measured in kilograms, kg).
- a represents the acceleration of the object (measured in meters per second squared, m/s²).
- Relationship: The net force is directly proportional to the acceleration (more force means more acceleration), and inversely proportional to the mass (more mass means less acceleration for the same force).
-
Imagine you are pushing two different boxes with the same amount of force. Box A has a mass of 10 kg, and Box B has a mass of 20 kg. Which box will accelerate more, and why?
- Thought Process: Apply Newton's Second Law (F=ma) and the concept of inverse proportionality between mass and acceleration when force is constant.
- Answer: Box A (10 kg) will accelerate more. According to Newton's Second Law (F=ma), for a constant force, acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. This means the object with less mass will experience greater acceleration.
-
State Newton's Third Law of Motion. What are the key characteristics of the forces described in this law?
- Thought Process: Recall the action-reaction principle and the key points about these force pairs.
- Answer: Newton's Third Law of Motion states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The key characteristics are that these forces always come in pairs, and they act on different objects.
-
Describe an action-reaction pair you observe when jumping. Identify the action force and the reaction force.
- Thought Process: When jumping, consider what you push against and what pushes back.
- Answer: When you jump, the action force is your feet pushing downwards on the Earth. The reaction force is the Earth pushing upwards on your feet, propelling you into the air.
Part 3: Application
- A car is traveling at a constant speed on a straight highway. According to Newton's First Law, what can you say about the forces acting on the car?
- Thought Process: Constant speed and straight highway means no acceleration. Apply Newton's First Law (or the concept of balanced forces).
- Answer: If the car is traveling at a constant speed on a straight highway, it means its velocity is constant, and therefore its acceleration is zero. According to Newton's First Law, this implies that the net force acting on the car is zero. The forces are balanced (e.g., the engine's forward thrust is equal to the opposing forces of air resistance and friction).