This activity helps demonstrate Newton’s Second Law of Motion, Force equals mass X acceleration. After making some predictions, students will go outside and roll balls of different masses (slowly and quickly) and calculate the net force used to do so.

Materials needed: various athletic balls (basketball, softball, golf ball, etc.), stop watch

Main topics: force, mass, acceleration, Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Quick, easy, and effective in demonstrating force = mass x acceleration. Great for middle school or introductory high school courses.

If you like this activity, you can follow these links to other lessons and activities in my motion and forces units.

Motion PowerPoint Presentation

Acceleration PowerPoint Presentation

The Nature of Force PowerPoint Presentation

Friction, Gravity, and Elastic Forces PowerPoint Presentation

Newton’s Laws PowerPoint Presentation

Calculating and Graphing Speed: Marble Racing Experiment!

Changing Speed: Coffee Filter Racing Experiment!

Inertia Lab: Testing Newtons First Law of Motion

Balloon Powered Race Cars: Testing Newtons Laws of Motion

Paper Airplane Lab: Gravity and Air Resistance

Motion Review Worksheet: Distance Time Graphs

Speed and Velocity Review Worksheet

Motion Review Worksheet: Speed Time Graphs

Motion Review Worksheet: Speed Problems

Forces Review Worksheet: Describing Forces

Forces Review Worksheet: Identifying Forces

Forces Review Worksheet: Forces at Work

Ian Williamson