A vector lesson for high school physics forces unit. Students will find the resultant force using the pythagorean theorem and find the x & y-components of force using trigonometry (just sine and cosine).

This lesson is designed for students that need support in math. All aspects of vectors are not covered, but just what students need to be successful in at-level physics.

Includes: fill-in-the-blank guided student notes, warm-up, exit ticket, and homework.

Vocabulary: vector, scalar, resultant, x-component of force, y-component of force.

✩ BIG IDEAS OF LESSON ✩

• We can break apart a vector at an angle into an x-component and a y-component using sin & cos.
• We add components of vectors at 90 degrees using the Pythagorean Theorem.

✩ SPECIAL NOTES✩

• I teach these lessons using a document camera because I find it to be most engaging for students. I do intend to go back and add PowerPoints to all of these lessons for those who teach with Powerpoint.

✩ Forces Unit Suggested Pacing Guide ✩

Part 1: Conceptual Understanding 

Day 1: Forces & Newton’s Laws Intro Stations

Day 2: Newton's First Law Notes 

Day 3: Free-Body Diagrams & Net Force Notes & Will it accelerate? Activity

Day 4: Newton's 2nd Law Notes & Free Body Diagrams Scavenger Hunt

Day 5: Mass and Weight Notes & Mass vs Weight Activity Color By Number

Day 6: Newton's 3rd Law Notes & Action-Reaction Force Pair Dominoes

Day 7: Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion Comic Strip Mini Project

Day 8: Quiz: Newton's 3 Laws

Part 2: A Deeper Dive into Forces

Day 9: Static and Kinetic Friction Notes & Friction Task Cards

Day 10: Static and Kinetic Friction Lab (using your schools lab equipment)

Day 11: Elevator Problem FBD Notes & Elevator Problems Color By Number

Day 12: Two-Body Free Body Diagrams with Friction Notes 

Day 13: Forces Quiz 2: Friction, Elevator Problems, & 2-Body Problem

Part 3: Free Body Diagrams at Angles - Optional 2D with Basic Trigonometry 

Day 14: Vector Components & Resolution Notes & Force Vector Task Cards

Day 15: Inclined Plane FBD Notes

Day 16: Inclined Plane Task Cards

Day 17: Forces Unit Review 

Day 18: Forces Test

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