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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 Newtons 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
  3. Complete Lab 1 (if not done in class)



 

Day 2 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Force and Motion - 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. Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces Think Sheet
  4. Lab 2: Galileo for a Day (as a demonstration lab)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 2, Part a-b
  2. Concept Builder: Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces (Master Level only)


 

Day 3 of Newtons 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
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission NL2 on Balanced Forces and the State of Motion
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission NL6 on Mass vs. Weight



 

Day 4 of Newtons 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
  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
  3. CalcPad: Newton's Laws 1 on Mass-Weight Calculations




 

Day 5 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. More free-body diagram practice: Drawing Free-Body Diagrams (selected Qs)
  2. Physics Interactives: Force
    Do simulation with Student Activity Sheet; post-lab
  3. Discuss Newton's Second Law as a pair of proportionality statements and an equation; explain Fnet concept
  4. 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 Newtons 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. When done, begin work on CalcPad - Newton's Laws 2 
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. If not done, complete Free-Body Diagrams
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 2 on Equations as a Guide to Thinking
  3. Concept Builder: Force and Motion




 

Day 7 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided Practice: Newton's Second Law Think Sheet
  2. Physics Interactives: Rocket Sled
  3. Concept Builder: Force and Motion
  4. When done, begin work on CalcPad - Newton's Laws 3
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 3 on Net Force
  2. Minds On Physics - Mission NL3 on Unbalanced Forces and Accelerations




 

Day 8 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Guided examples: Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving (selected problems)
  2. Concept Builder: Net Force (and Acceleration) Ranking Tasks
  3. Physics Interactives: Skydiving Simulation with Student Activity Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 3, Parts c and d
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 4 on Fnet = m•a




 

Day 9 of Newtons 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 Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 6 - Friction
  2. Discuss friction and the coefficient of friction
  3. Friction Think Sheet
  4. More guided examples: Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving (selected problems)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 6 on Net Force and Horizontal Acceleration
  2. Concept Builder: Normal Force Card Sort




 

Day 11 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Science Reasoning Activity: Cart, Bricks, and Bands
  2. More guided examples: Newton's Second Law and Problem Solving (selected problems)
  3. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 7 on Assorted a = Fnet/m Problems
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Newton's Laws: Lesson 4, Parts a and b
  2. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 7 on Assorted a = Fnet/m Problems




 

Day 12 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Newton's Third Law
  2. Pair Practice: Newton's Third Law
  3. Minds On Physics - Mission NL12
  4. If done, begin CalcPad assignment
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Newton's Laws 8 on Assorted a = Fnet/m Problems




 

Day 13 of Newtons Laws

Lesson Plan
Review day: this is a chance for students to process ideas, work independently or together, and prepare for 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. Concept Builder: Change of State
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission NL4 on Types of Forces
  5. Minds On Physics: Mission NL5 on Force Diagrams
  6. CalcPad: Newton's Laws 9 on Review of Newton's Laws Mathematics
  7. Physics Interactives: Free-Body Diagrams - A Sequel
  8. 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