“Objects in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon.”

Newton’s First Law of Motion. Students are taking their first steps into an examination of forces and the impact they have on objects. The students are looking at the three statements made by Newton regarding motion through three events: pendulums (golf ball suspended from the ceiling), ramp collisions (various balls of different masses colliding into each other), and steel bearing slides (collisions of ball bearings on an aluminum track).

Each of Newton’s Laws helps us to think about bigger objects like cars, buildings, and bridges. These first steps into Newton’s concept of force, gravity, and momentum will lead us to making our own bridges next two weeks for the Pittsburgh Unit. 

Today was the quiz on the basics of motion including speed, velocity, and acceleration (F4 Quiz: Motion). I hope to know by the end of the afternoon how the students did on the quiz.

Update:

Homework:

Due today: F5 Reading Activity: Newton's Laws

No homework this weekend! Happy Friday!