How to Teach an Elementary Science Unit on Force and Motion
- 1). Level the laminated board. Place a billiard ball in the center of the board, and have the students describe the motion - or lack thereof - of the ball. Ask them why they think it's not moving. This is a demonstration of Newton's first law: a body at rest tends to remain at rest.
- 2
You can add cameras or strobe lights to make more accurate measurements.Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
Slightly lift one edge of the board. Have the students observe the motion of the ball, and ask them why it is moving. It is likely someone will say "because the board is tilted," but this is not an explanation. The board is moving because a portion of the force of gravity is now along the direction of the board, and is not opposed by the strength of the board - as it was when the board was level. This is the other part of Newton's first law: a body remains at rest unless a force acts on it. - 3). Level the board with the grooved side up. Place a wooden wedge at one end so the ball will slide down into the groove. Put the ball just 1 or 2 inches up the wooden wedge.
- 4). Place the timer where the students can read the elapsed time. Release the ball and have the students count the seconds out loud. With each second, mark the location of the ball on the paper. Have the students observe the distance between each of the marks. The distance between each pair of points will be the same. Ask the students why. The answer is that there is no force acting on the ball on a level board, and there is nothing to change its speed.
- 5). Set up a wedge on each end of the board and have two students place the ball at the same mark on the wedge. Line up the two wedges so the balls will enter the groove from each end. Have the students release the balls simultaneously and observe the motion. The balls will meet in the middle and stop. This demonstrates the conservation of linear momentum.
