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Newton's Laws - Lesson Plans

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.


Day 1 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 1: Pass the Water
    Set up, do, post-lab
  2. Discuss inertia, connection to mass, Newton's first law, demonstrations
  3. Inertia Think Sheet

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 1, Parts a-d
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission NL1 on Inertia and Mass


 

Day 2 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Force and Mass - What Do You Believe?
  2. Discuss force and motion:
    Force as a push or pull; balanced vs. unbalanced forces and their effects; use of a force diagram to depict forces
  3. Pair Practice: Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces Think Sheet
  4. Lab 2: Galileo for a Day
    Do and post-lab

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 2, Part a-b
  2. Concept Builder: Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces (Wizard Level only)


 

Day 3 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Mass and Weight - What Do You Believe?
  2. Lab 3: Wait. Hmmm. Gee.
    Set up, do, post-lab
  3. Discuss mass vs. weight; concept, units, mathematical connection
  4. Pair Practice: Mass vs. Weight Think Sheet
  5. Minds On Physics: Mission NL6 on Mass vs. Weight

Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad: Newton's Laws 1 on Mass-Weight Calculations
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission NL2 on Balanced Forces and the State of Motion


 

Day 4 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss force types; how to recognize them; introduce the concept of a free-body diagram. Help Sheet
  2. Pair Practice: Recognizing Forces Think Sheet
  3. Guided practice: Free-Body Diagrams (selected Qs)
  4. Lab 4: F-m-a 

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 2, Parts c-d
  2. Concept Builder: Recognizing Forces


 

Day 5 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided practice: Free-Body Diagrams (remaining Qs)
  2. More free-body diagram practice: Drawing Free-Body Diagrams (selected Qs)
  3. Physics Interactives: Force
    Do simulation with Student Activity Sheet; post-lab
  4. Discuss Newton's Second Law as a pair of proportionality statements and an equation; explain Fnet concept
  5. Pair Practice: Newton's Second Law of Motion Think Sheet

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 3, Parts a and b
  2. Concept Builder: Newton's Second Law - Equations as a Guide to Thinking


 

Day 6 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Newton's second law AND the connection between balanced/unbalanced forces and motion
  2. Pair Practice: Net Force and Acceleration Think Sheet
  3. Physics Interactives: Free-Body Diagrams
  4. Concept Builder: Change of State (Master Level only)

Homework/Announcements
  1. If not done, complete Change of State
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 2 on Equations as a Guide to Thinking
  3. Concept Builder: Force and Motion (first and second activity)


 

Day 7 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided Practice: Calculating Individual Forces Think Sheet
  2. Physics Interactives: Rocket Sled
    Use Student Activity Sheet and follow it up with the Concept Checker

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 3, Parts c and d
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 3 on Net Force and Acceleration


 

Day 8 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided examples: Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving (selected problems)
  2. Pair Practice: Friction Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Net Force (and Acceleration) Ranking Tasks

Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 4 on Fnet = m•a Problems


 

Day 9 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 5 - Coffee Filter Skydiver Lab
  2. Discuss air resistance, terminal velocity, etc. 
  3. Think Sheet - Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 3, Part e
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 5 on Net Force and Vertical Acceleration


 

Day 10 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 6 - Friction
  2. Discuss friction and the coefficient of friction
  3. More guided examples: Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving

Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 6 on Net Force and Horizontal Acceleration
  2. Concept Builder: Normal Force Card Sort


 

Day 11 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Practice: 1-2 problems from Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving
  2. Introduce two-body situations; Guided Practice: Two-Body Analysis Think Sheet (selected problems)
  3. Lab 7: Two-Body Lab

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 3, Part f
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 7 on Two-Body Problems


 

Day 12 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Additional Practice from Two-Body Analysis Think Sheet and Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving
  2. Discuss Newton's Third Law
  3. Pair Practice: Newton's Third Law
  4. Minds On Physics - Mission NL12 on Newton's Third Law

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 4, Parts a and b
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 8 on Assorted a = Fnet/m Problems


 

Day 13 of Newton's Laws

Lesson Plan
Review day: this is a chance for students to process ideas, to work independently or together, and to prepare for an exam. Suggested online review activities include:
  1. Concept Builder: Match That Free-Body Diagram
  2. Concept Builder: Which One Doesn't Belong? Force and Motion
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission NL3 on Unbalanced Forces and Accelerations
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission NL4 on Types of Forces
  5. Minds On Physics: Mission NL5 on Force Diagrams
  6. Physics Interactives: Free-Body Diagrams - A Sequel
  7. The Review Session: Newton's Laws of Motion

NOTE: The above assignments are intended as optional review assignments and not required assignments.

 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work