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LESSON PLAN FOR NEWTON’S THIRD LAW
Episode Six 206 – Newton Must Have Been A Sports Fan (Physical Science)
Once upon a time an apple fell from Sir Isaac Newton's tree, and ever since we've heard about Newton's
Laws. But did you know that if you just look, you can see Newton's Laws in action everywhere around
you? Science teacher and host Rick Crosslin goes to bat to show how the laws of motion are the
foundation of your favorite sports and what kind of cool stuff happens when you drop things from tall
buildings. You'll be amazed at the science in motion, right before your eyes.
Funded by:
Dr. Laura Hare Charitable Trust
Indiana Department of Education – Center for School Improvement and Performance
Veolia Water Indianapolis
Overview
Students will gain an understanding of Newton’s third law of motion: for every action there is an equal
and opposite re-action. Newton observed how objects moved. He studied how forces like gravity
changed the motion of an object. He found that forces change when the speed or mass of an object
changes. Today these same laws of motion are being used when we play sports. Newton’s laws are
demonstrated when a goal is scored in soccer, a baseball hit with a bat, or a three point basket is made on
the court.
Examples of Newton’s Laws are found in our machines, work, homes and sports.
Background information
Isaac Newton was one of the most famous scientists in the world. He studied many different types of
science. He wrote one of the most important science books in history Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia
Mathematica, which is Latin for Principals of Mathematics. Published in London, England in 1687 this book
contained Newton’s Laws of Motion. Newton observed how objects moved. He studied how forces like
gravity changed the motion of an object. He found that forces change when the speed or mass of an
object changes.
Connections to the Indiana Academic Standards for Science, Grades 4 - 7
4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.6, 4.2.2, 4.2.4
5.1.1, 5.1.3, 5.2.3, 5.2.7, 5.2.8, 5.3.11, 5.3.12
6.1.2, 6.2.4, 6.2.8, 6.3.17
7.1.1, 7.1.5, 7.3.17
Science Process Skills
• Calculating
• Communicating
• Hypothesizing and predicting
• Inferring
• Measuring
• Posing questions
Estimated Time Requirement
One 25- minute session
Materials for Newton experiments
Educational Innovations, www.teachersource.com is the source for the Newton’s Cradle and the
Magnetic Accelerator used in these investigations.
• Newton’s Cradle
• Magnetic Accelerator
o Ramp
o Steel Balls (3)
o Magnetic Ball
Objectives
Students will be able to:
identify Newton’s third law,
identify potential and kinetic energy
Procedure
Anticipatory set:
• Visit the website: www.IndianaExpeditions.org
• View the Newton Must Have Been A Sports Fan Indiana Expeditions segment
• View the video lesson from the this episode
Lesson sequence:
• Inform the students that today they are all going to learn about Newton’s third law – for every
action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• Demonstrate Newton’s cradle to the class. Explain the difference between potential and kinetic
energy.
• Demonstrate the ramp experiment with the three steel balls. Explain the difference between
potential ad kinetic energy.
• Demonstrate the ramp experiment with the magnetic ball. Observe the results. Explain the effect
the magnetized ball has on the other ball. Discuss potential and kinetic energy.
Closure:
Allow the students to take turns experimenting with Newton’s cradle and the ramp.
Suggested Student Assessment
Objectives:
Ask students to write and/or illustrate what they did during this activity and what
they learned from their participation in the activity.
Extending the Lesson
Ask students to discuss other ways in which
potential and kinetic energy are transferred.
Newton’s Cradle is also used to demonstrate
conservation of energy. Ask students to research
roller coasters and how they apply to Newton’s
laws of motion. Ask students for other examples
of Newton’s third law in their daily life.
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Law 1 - An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by a force. An object in
motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless
acted upon by a force. This law is often called, "the law of inertia".
Law 2 - Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass of the object being accelerated - the greater the amount of force needed to accelerate
the object. Force = Mass X Acceleration.
Law 3 - For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.
Source of Lesson
Rick Crosslin
Conversations and directions from Educational Innovations staff at HASTI state science conference,
www.HASTI.org
To learn more, visit the website at www.IndianaExpeditions.org