The Physics Classroom » Physics Interactives » Newtons Laws » Force » Force Notes

Notes:

The Force Interactive is an adjustable size file that displays nicely on just about any device - on smart phones, tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The compatibility with iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom. It can be used in full-screen mode (click the hot spot in the upper-left corner of the iFrame window) or its dimensions can be adjusted to just about any dimension by dragging the lower-right corner of the iFrame.
 
 

Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:

This Interactive can be used at just about any stage of the learning cycle on Newton's second law of motion.The Interactive provides an environment for investigating numerous concepts. Such concepts include
  • the effect of varying net force on the acceleration
  • the effect of varying mass on the acceleration
  • the effect of the coefficient of friction upon the acceleration
The variable-rich environment make the Interactive very suited to conducting a simulated study in which variables are controlled and manipulated in order to generate an equation and/or an open-ended study centered around a well-defined question. The Physics Classroom has provided a couple of PDFs illustrating how the Interactive might be used with a classroom of students.

The Interactive does not directly report the acceleration of the box. A velocity-time graph is drawn, Coordinates for points on the line can be determined by clicking/tapping on the open circles that are on the line. Coordinate values display in a small field. These coordinates can be used to determine the slope of the line and the acceleration of the object. 


Our Force simulation is now available with a Concept Checker. Do the simulation. Then follow it up with the Concept Checker.
 
 

Related Resources

There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Force Interactive. These include:
  • Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
    The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Assignments NL7 and NL8 of the Newton's Laws module provide great complements to this Interactive. They are best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.
     
 
  • Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating their understanding, most notably ...

    Newton's Second Law of Motion
    Net Force and Acceleration
    Newton's Second Law

    Visit the Curriculum Corner.

     
  • Labwork: 
    Simulations should always support (never supplant) hands-on learning. The Laboratory section of The Physics Classroom website includes several hands-on ideas that complement this Interactive. One notable lab idea is ...

    F-m-a Lab

    Visit The Laboratory.
 
  • Science Reasoning Activities:
    Science classrooms should be filled with reasoning activities. There is one related activity in the Newton's Laws section of the Science Reasoning Center that will challenge students to employ close reading, data analysis, and logical reasoning. The activity is named ...

    Carts, Bricks and Bands

    Visit the Science Reasoning Center.

Additional resources and ideas for incorporating the Force Interactive into an instructional unit on Newton's Laws of motion can be found at the Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website.  Visit Teacher Toolkits.