Newton 2nd Law Graphic Organizer/Mind Map Project 

Name: Date: Period:

Instructions: 
 Use Mindmeister to create graphic organizer/mind map. If you are ever not sure how to do something in
Mindmeister, click on the user circle in the upper right corner of your Mindmeister window and then click
on help where a videos and other help are available.
 Use the guided notes and lecture from Lesson 1, the iPad Lesson/Lab product and notes from Lesson 2, our
class textbook, Conceptual Physics by Hewitt, and the resources in the Unit Plan as the key resources for
this lesson. Feel free use other sources in information if you think it would add to this project.
o As you create your graphic organizer/mind map, be sure to use content vocabulary and examples where
appropriate.
o If you’re not sure of a content term, it is alright to temporarily use a non-content term, but mark the term
(such as with an asterisk) so you can revisit it after you have collaborated with the other students though
the class blog or other means.
 This graphic organizer will be titled “Newton’s 2nd law of motion”, this will also be will the main or root
topic (i.e. the first bubble from which all others will branch out). The following will be the sub or child 1st
level topics (sub topics of the main topic are considered 1st level topics, sub topics of the 1st level topics are
2nd level topics, sub topics of the 2nd level topics are 3rd level topics and so forth).
 Create and position the following 1st level topics (The main and 1st level topics will be the same for
everybody; your answers will be in terms of 2nd level topics and beyond):
o “How were our hypotheses created?” (1st level topic positioned below the main topic but above the other
1st level topics).
o “How were our hypotheses tested and analyzed?” (1st level topic positioned below the above topic, but
above the one below).
o “What conclusions were made about Newton’s Second Law of motion and what does it mean?” (1st level
topic position below the above topic).

For the sub topic of “How were our hypotheses created?” answer the following questions with as 
many sub topics as necessary to whatever level deep of the topic you feel is appropriate (i.e. 3rd, 4th, 
5th, etc): 
 What did you do and what didn’t you do in regards to the first 3 steps of the scientific method (“scientific
method” is probably a good 2nd level topic)?
 What prior knowledge/experience did you use in this step?
o Math.
 Dependent and independent variable equation with constants.
o Physics.
 Force
 Net force
 Mass
 Acceleration
o Experience
 Applied to a hockey puck
 Hypotheses -- How did the application of math and physics applied to your personal experience lead you to
your hypotheses (i.e. your different models).
For the sub topic of “How were our hypotheses tested and analyzed ?”, answer the following 
questions with as many sub topics as necessary to whatever level deep of the topic you feel is 
appropriate (i.e. 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc): 
 With the scientific method steps in mind, what test was constructed (again scientific method is probably a
good 2nd level topic)?
o What assumptions were made with regard to the motion of the object?
o How was the experiment set up?
 What tools/equipment were used and how were they used?
 With the scientific method steps in mind, how was the data analyzed.
o What data was used for the analysis and why?
o Were there any initial errors/mistakes?
o What was done with the data not used?
o What was done with the data used?
 How were the models used?
 What graph was produced and how was it analyzed and used?
 Were there any errors?

For the sub topic of “What conclusions were made about Newton’s 2nd of motion and what do they 
mean?”, answer the following questions with as many sub topics as necessary to whatever level deep 
of the topic you feel is appropriate (i.e. 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc): 
 With the scientific method steps in mind, what were the conclusions of this unit (again scientific method is
probably a good 2nd level topic)?
o Why must it be net force and not just force?
o Investigate inertial frame reference and how it might apply to our conclusion.
 What does Newton’s law of second motion mean?
o Consider each of the terms to be fixed and look at the proportional relationships.
 What would have happened if we had not considered a model where a  F / m .
o Why would it still be a good scientific process/methodology?
 What is the more common form of the equation?
 With the scientific method in mind what role does this mind map play?
Once you’ve completed your mind map, compare it with others in your lab group and discuss the differences
and note the similarities.
 Make changes where you think it is appropriate.
Using the mind map as structure, you can now write a paper describing how you developed and tested
plausible models for the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration and came up with Newton’s
Second Law of Motion and what it means.