Learning Outcomes for Forces in Two Dimensions

 




The list below displays sample learning objectives for the unit on Forces in Two Dimensions. The various activities from the Lesson Plans have been organized by objective. This format of organizing The Physics Classroom's activities may be more useful to some teachers than the Lesson Plan format. It is worth noting that the activities identified below only include those activities included on the Lesson Plans and in the Pre-Built Task Tracker courses. Additional activities are referenced on the Teacher Notes page.

 

1. Addition and Resolution of Forces

Add force vectors at angles to the axes in order to determine a resultant force and resolve a force vector that makes an angle to the axes in order to determine its components as directed along the axes.
 

Reading:



Video:

Think Sheets:

Minds On Physics:
Mission F2D1 on Vector Components


 
 

2. Equilibrium

Identify the requirements of equilibrium and analyze situations involving forces at angles acting upon stationary objects.
 

Reading:



Video:

Labs:
Lab 1: Getting Hung Up by Tension

Lab 2: Sign Hanging Lab


Think Sheets:

Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:


Minds On Physics:
Mission F2D3 on Equilibrium Concepts




CalcPad Problem Sets:
Forces in 2-Dimensions 1 on Equilibrium Analysis



 

3. Angled Forces and Horizontal Accelerations

Use a free-body diagram, SOH CAH TOA, and Newton's second law to determine the acceleration of objects across horizontal surfaces when acted upon by a non-horizontal, angled force.
 

Reading:



Video:

Think Sheets:

Concept Builders:

CalcPad Problem Sets:
Forces in 2-Dimensions 2 on Fnet = m•a with Angled Forces




 

4. Inclined Planes

Construct a free-body diagram for an object at rest or moving along an inclined plane and use given information to determine the object's acceleration.
 

Reading:



Video:
Labs:
Lab 3: Inclined Planes

Lab 4: On a Roll Challenge


Think Sheets:

Concept Builders:


Minds On Physics:
Mission F2D5 on Inclined Plane Concepts



CalcPad Problem Sets:
Forces in 2-Dimensions 3 on Inclined Planes

Forces in 2-Dimensions 4 on Inclined Planes




 

5. Two-Body Problems with Pulleys

Conduct an analysis of physical situations involving two objects connected by a string stretched over a pulley in order to determine the objects' acceleration and the tension in the string.
 

Reading:



Video:
Labs:
Lab 5: Modified Atwoods Machine


Think Sheets:

CalcPad Problem Sets:
Forces in 2-Dimensions 5 on Inclined Planes




 

Review Activities

The Review Session: Forces in Two Dimensions
 



 

Also Available ...

Physics teachers may find the following for-sale tools to be useful supplements to our Lesson Plan and Pacing Guide section:

 

  1. Task Tracker Subscription (annual purchase)
    A subscription allows teachers to set up classes, add students, customize online assignments, view student progress/scores, and export student scores. Task Tracker accounts allow your students to begin assignments in class or at school and to finish them at home. View our Seat and Cost Calculator for pricing details.
     
  2. The Solutions Guide
    We publish a free curriculum with >200 ready-to-use Think Sheets for developing physics concepts. The Solutions Guide is a download containing the source documents, PDFs of source documents, and answers/solutions in MS Word and PDF format. An expanded license agreement is included with the purchase. (Cost: $25 download)
     
  3. Teacher Presentation Pack
    This is a large collection of downloadable content packed with nearly 190 Microsoft PowerPoint slide decks, the corresponding Lesson Notes (as PDF and fully-modifiable MS Word format), about 170 animations (in .gif, .png, and .mp4 file formats), a countless number of ready-to-use images (including the original source documents that would allow for easy modification of those images), and a license that allows teachers to modify and use all the content with their classes on password-protected sites (such as course management systems).  (Cost: $40 download)
     
  4. Question Bank
    We distribute a Question Bank that includes more than 9300 questions neatly organized according to topic. The Question Bank is the perfect tool for busy teachers or new teachers. Even if you don't use the website with your classes, the Question Bank will assist you in quickly putting together quizzes, tests and other documents with high-quality questions that target student's conceptions of physics principles. And if you do use The Physics Classroom website, the Question Bank is the perfect complement to the materials found at the website. (Cost: $25 download)