Science Unit: Forces of Motion

By: Chelsea Duff

DAY 1: P.FM.E.4 Speed- An object is in motion when its position is changing. The speed of an object is defined by how far it travels in a standard amount of time. * P.FM.03.41 Describe the motion of objects in terms of direction. * P.FM.03.42 Identify changes in motion (change direction, speeding up, slowing down). P.FM.03.43 Relate the speed of an object to the distance it travels in a standard amount of time. Materials Needed: Graphing worksheet, gym, meter sticks, stopwatches, calculator Noon: Start by introducing the topic with short video clip of cheetah running (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGhTCPzMHvY). Then read the textbook chapter about speed together. In the Afternoon: Explore activityHow Fast Do You Move? Explain the activity to class. Then, bring 8 meter sticks to the gym. Split class into eight groups of three. Have students graph how long it takes each person in their group to walk and run the length of the meter stick. Talk through the scientific process. What is the question, hypothesis, and conclusion of the experiment? After the activity, have students write the speed of each student using their distance divided by the time. Discuss: What does speed mean? What were your hypotheses? What was the actual conclusion? What are some things that go slow and fast in real life? *Provide homework/warm-ups on speed to assess student understanding. DAY 2: P.FM.E.2 Gravity- Earth pulls down on all objects with a force called gravity. With very few exceptions, objects fall to the ground no matter where the object is on the Earth. P.FM.03.22 Identify the force that pulls objects towards the Earth. P.FM.E.3 Force- A force is either a push or a pull. The motion of objects can be changed by forces. The size of the change is related to the size of the force. The change is also related to the weight (mass) of the object on which the force is being exerted. When an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is being applied by the environment. P.FM.03.35 Describe how a push or a pull is a force. P.FM.03.36 Relate a change in motion of an object to the force that caused the change of motion. P.FM.03.37 Demonstrate how the change in motion of an object is related to the strength of the force acting upon the object and to the mass of the object. P.FM.03.38 Demonstrate when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is acting on it.

Read Lesson 2 in Textbook: Forces. Discuss.

DAY 3: P.FM.E.3 Force- A force is either a push or a pull. The motion of objects can be changed by forces. The size of the change is related to the size of the force. The change is also related to the weight (mass) of the object on which the force is being exerted. When an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is being applied by the environment. P.FM.03.35 Describe how a push or a pull is a force. P.FM.03.36 Relate a change in motion of an object to the force that caused the change of motion. P.FM.03.37 Demonstrate how the change in motion of an object is related to the strength of the force acting upon the object and to the mass of the object. P.FM.03.38 Demonstrate when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is acting on it. Engage students in a variety of activities that require them to move objects, such as moving desks, rearranging books, and cleaning their desks and moving unwanted items to waste basket. Students describe how they were able to move the objects (pushing, pulling, lifting, throwing). After students have had the opportunity to discuss the ways in which the objects moved, discuss the cause of the motion. Discuss forces as pushes and pulls put on one object by another object. Reinforce gravity as the force that pulls objects to Earth. DAY 4: P.FM.E.2 Gravity- Earth pulls down on all objects with a force called gravity. With very few exceptions, objects fall to the ground no matter where the object is on the Earth. P.FM.03.22 Identify the force that pulls objects towards the Earth. Materials Needed: Orange, grape, ping pong ball, softball, miscellaneous items throughout classroom Acceleration Due to Gravity Using items found in the home, aspiring young scientists can reproduce Galileo's classic experiment to show the universal acceleration of all objects due to gravity. Placing newspaper or paper towels on the floor to catch any potential mess, one person can then hold two objects of different sizes at the same height and release them. Any two objects can be used, but relatively smooth objects are preferred. For the best results, use an orange and a grape and release them at the same time. A second person lies on the floor and observes the simultaneous impact of both fruits, proving that all objects accelerate at the same rate due to gravity, regardless of their weight. This experiment was reproduced by astronauts on the moon using a hammer and a feather and the results were the same. Read more: Cool Gravity Experiments | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6307563_cool-gravity-experiments.html#ixzz2MOsvtrNh

Extension: Galileo experiment on moon-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C5_dOEyAfk&list=PLE5B069B747E16B20&index=13 DAY 5: P.FM.E.3 Force- A force is either a push or a pull. The motion of objects can be changed by forces. The size of the change is related to the size of the force. The change is also related to the weight (mass) of the object on which the force is being exerted. When an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is being applied by the environment. P.FM.03.35 Describe how a push or a pull is a force. P.FM.03.36 Relate a change in motion of an object to the force that caused the change of motion. P.FM.03.37 Demonstrate how the change in motion of an object is related to the strength of the force acting upon the object and to the mass of the object. P.FM.03.38 Demonstrate when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is acting on it. Materials Needed: Spring scales, Various things to pull Review weight as the pull of gravity with this quick video clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToMs7RaL11U&list=PL5E012E8CEB186C9E Discuss. Then do the Explore Activity with the class. Explain that we will be measuring the weight, or the pull of gravity on us, in newtons using the spring scales. Separate students into groups to use the spring scales. Ask students to measure and record what the spring scale reads. What is our question? What is our hypothesis? What is our conclusion? What forces acted on the objects? DAY 6: P.FM.03.36 Relate a change in motion of an object to the force that caused the change of motion. P.FM.03.37 Demonstrate how the change in motion of an object is related to the strength of the force acting upon the object and to the mass of the object. P.FM.03.38 Demonstrate when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is acting on it. Materials Needed: Toy truck, Rubber band, Ruler, Toy blocks, Cardboard tube, A few thick books, Small ball Noon: Read and discuss Lesson 3Changes in Motion. Afternoon: Toy Truck Experiment PULL To show force starts objects moving, demonstrate or have examples available at a central

location during this activity: -Attach a rubber band to the front bumper of a toy truck. Put a ruler on the floor beside and in front of the truck. -Pull the rubber band until the truck starts to move. Note on the ruler how far the rubber band has stretched. -Repeat the activity this time adding blocks (weight) to the truck. Compare the length of the rubber band stretches and help the students conclude that heavier objects need more force to start them moving. PUSH To show force starts objects moving, demonstrate or have available at a center this activity: - Place one end of a cardboard tube on a stack of thick books. Place the back of the toy truck at the lower end of the tube. -Put a ruler on the floor beside and in front of the truck. Roll a small ball down the tube so it hits the truck. Measure how far the truck moves. -Repeat the activity, this time adding blocks (weight) to the truck. Compare the distances and help the students conclude that if the pushing force is the same, the weight of the truck changes the distance it will travel. DAY 7: P.FM.03.36 Relate a change in motion of an object to the force that caused the change of motion. P.FM.03.37 Demonstrate how the change in motion of an object is related to the strength of the force acting upon the object and to the mass of the object. P.FM.03.38 Demonstrate when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is acting on it. Materials Needed: String, Paper clips, Tape, Washers Explore Activity: Place string across the desk. Bend paper clips into hooks. Tape string down. Hang washers on hooks. Place one washer on one end and two washers on other end. What is the question? What is the hypothesis? What is the conclusion? Why? What causes the change in motion? More weight, or more force, causes the change in motion. DAY 8: P.FM.03.36 Relate a change in motion of an object to the force that caused the change of motion. P.FM.03.37 Demonstrate how the change in motion of an object is related to the strength of the force acting upon the object and to the mass of the object. P.FM.03.38 Demonstrate when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is acting on it. Materals Needed: Wooden block, Marbles, Jar lid

Quick LabMarbles in Motion: Using thinking journal, describe how it feels to push a block across your desk and why. Then push a jar lid with marbles underneath across the desk. What does that feel like and why? What was your hypothesis? Discuss the meaning of the word friction. Which experiment produces the least amount of friction? DAY 9: Online Review: Friction: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/physical_processes/friction/play/popup.shtml Changes in Motion: Pushes and Pulls http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/pushes_pulls_fs.shtml DAY 10: Review speed, friction, pushes and pulls, and gravity with children. Then give a quick quiz to assess understanding. Re-teach if necessary.