Score!!!
What are Forces and Motion?
Isaac Newton was a key person in the scientific revolution. He is most remembered by Newton’s law of forces and motion. He gave three.
Number 1: A ball with no outside force will not move. It stays put. If the ball begins to roll, it will continue to roll until it is stopped by an outside force, like your foot.
Number 2: If a ball is kicked (force) the faster (accelerates) the ball will go in the direction it is kicked.
Number 3: If two balls are accelerating toward one another and hit, the force of the hit will cause both balls to go in opposite directions at the same speed. (Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.)
The Experiment
Using Newton’s law 2, how far can you flick the ball?
Materials
Sheet of printer paper
Sheet of notebook paper
Sheet of construction paper
Measuring tape
Directions
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
STEP 7
STEP 8
STEP 9
STEP 10
STEP 11
STEP 12
STEP 13
STEP 14
STEP 15
STEP 16
STEP 17
STEP 18
Play Ball!
STEP 1: Printer paper ball
- Lightly flick the printer paper ball (on the bottom, long side of the triangle). Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
- Apply a little more pressure in the flick. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
- Forcefully flick the ball. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
STEP 2: Notebook paper ball
- Lightly flick the notebook paper ball. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
- Apply a little more pressure in the flick. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
- Forcefully flick the ball. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
STEP 3: Construction paper ball
- Lightly flick the construction paper ball. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
- Apply a little more pressure in the flick. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
- Forcefully flick the ball. Measure the distance from the start point to the end.
Dinner Talk
- What were the differences between the 3 balls? How did they feel?
- How did the amount of force you used to flick the ball change the distance of the ball?
- Which football did you like best? Why?
- Was one football more difficult to fold? Why?
Visit
Go to your local library and check these books out:
- Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
- Force & Motion (Eyewitness Science) by Peter Lafferty
This Grab and Go is brought to you by
