Jim'sCosmicScience

This is a Lab Stations activity investigating multiple independent variables that might or might not affect the force of kinetic friction as well as the maximum force of static friction. Editable Word Document. Each station investigates one such factor, including: Kinetic Friction:1] Normal Force 2] Sliding Speed 3] Contact Area 4] Type of Surface Static Friction:5] Normal Force 6] Contact Area 7] Type of Surface

These resources lets student learn and practice a fun, intuitive, and visual method for carrying out metric conversions. Includes a handout/tutorial explaining the method, and a worksheet (with solutions) for student practice.

This lab activity has student groups riding an elevator while a volunteer stands on a bathroom scale in order to get readings on the Normal Force. After conversion from pounds to Newtons, students create 8 Free Body Diagrams showing the forces on the person, the directions of the velocity and acceleration vectors, and calculations for the net force and acceleration experienced by the rider.

This editable PowerPoint presentation introduces Newton's 3rd Law and gives example of action and reaction force pairs. Agent-Object notation is introduced and used to explain the surprising reason why Normal force and Weight are equal and opposite, but NOT an Action-Reaction pair. When you dive off of a cliff, you and the entire earth fall towards each other with equal and opposite forces! (But very unequal accelerations)

In this presentation, a (secretly lazy) horse studies physics at night in the barn and uses Newton's 3rd Law to convince a farmer that it is futile to pull on a wagon since "if I pull on the wagon, the wagon exerts an equal and opposite force on me". Agent-Object notation is explained and used to analyze the three (horizontal) interactions: horse/ground, horse/wagon, & wagon/ground. Ends with an activity for small groups with whiteboards or paper to assess understanding.

This PowerPoint explains “Universal” Gravity means that every object attracts every other object! Even 2 pens, or 2 people, are attracted! Newton's law of Gravity is explained including units and cancellations. Student calculate their attraction to a classmate. Explains the Cavendish experiment (weighing the Earth!) the mass of the entire Earth and the value of "g" near the Earth's surface. A detailed explanation of how to solve proportional reasoning questions involving Universal Gravity

This Editable PowerPoint reviews the 1st and 2nd Laws, and then introduces a taxonomy of Names and Symbols for commonly encountered forces; contact and non-contact. Four real-life examples are used to show how to identify the forces present (and not present!) and create an accurate properly labelled Free Body Diagram. Finally, the Normal force is explained at a micro-physical level, and common confusions dispelled.

Introductory worksheet gives students practice drawing Free Body Diagrams for a simple situation (huskies pulling dog sled) involving 2 vertical forces and 3 horizontal forces. Students write an expression for net force along each axis using the correct symbols/abbreviations and apply the 2nd law to find the acceleration. Follow up questions use kinematic formulas to describe the resulting motion.

This fully editable PowerPoint gives a very clear formal statement of the 2nd Law, and then shows with example how to apply this law to simple situations, including a detailed explanation of how the units involve combine or cancel out.

This fully editable PowerPoint guides students through scenarios that show the relationship between acceleration and net force vectors and "speeding up", "slowing down" or "constant speed" scenarios. These scenarios include elevator example and how cable tension changes (Prep for the Elevator Lab) and also shows the procedure for measuring kinetic friction using a spring scale and a book sliding on a tabletop. (Prep for the Friction Lab)

This PowerPoint provides definitions for power and efficiency in terms of rates for both work and energy transformation. Three example problems guide students through solving problems that involve finding time, power, or energy. Units utilized include Watts, Horsepower, seconds, hours, and Joules.

This assignment/activity engages students in analyzing 12 realistic scenarios where the 3rd Law is at play. Focuses on situations that students find surprising and where common misconceptions occur. Student are given one representation of an interaction and complete the grid with the remaining representations: Pictorial Representation Identity of 2 objects interacting Verbal A/R Counterparts Vectors Labeled with Agent-Object Notation

This perennial favorite lab has students go outside to compete in teams pushing my car and collecting data. I honk my horn for a team to start pushing, and then honk again when the acceleration starts to wane (usually at 6-9 mph). Once data is collected we can return to the classroom and calculate the acceleration and net force for each team. Works best on a slight incline to cancel out rolling friction.

This tutorial explains clearly and intuitively what "pi" is, and how the radian angle measurement system works using the intrinsic properties of all circles. Students learn the natural advantages of this system in simplifying math formulas. The tutorial ends with two example problems computing arc length of angular displacements in both revolutions and degrees.

This fully editable PowerPoint defines Newton 1st Law in 3 ways. It gives rich historic context as to how Galileo demolished the physics of Aristotle, and shows with examples the concepts of Force, Net Force, as well as Static and Dynamic Equilibrium.

This fully editable Powerpoint explains freefall and its relationship to astronauts experiencing weightlessness while in orbit. Finally, Einstein's "happiest thought" and his revolutionary Principle of Equivalence is introduced, the crucial first step in Einstein's formulation of a radical new theory of gravity. Nine links to videos and simulations are embedded for educators who want to open up more depth and wonder!

A 1 page review of the concepts of Work and Power and their relationship energy transfer and transformation. Students fill in the blanks using a word bank. A good warm-up activity with a partner or a small group. Complete solution is included.

Students complete the grid in this worksheet involving rich real-life scenarios of interactions. Students identify the pair of interacting objects, determine if the force exchange is contact or non-contact, express the interaction "verbally", and express the Newton's 3rd Law using Agent-Object notation for the forces.

This well designed and fully editable PowerPoint presentation explains the formula that relates weight, mass, and the acceleration of gravity. Includes 3 fully worked example word problems that show the cancellation and combination of SI units.

This editable PowerPoint has a set of 12 multiple choice and true/false questions that help students to solidify their understanding of when velocity is changing, when objects are accelerating in real-world scenarios, and how the sign and direction of acceleration and velocity vectors determines motion.