Newtons Third Law

NEWTON'S THIRD LAWEducational Pathway

Markus ArtnerBG Neunkirchen



Introduction

Short Description: Students will find out about newtons third law and the principle

of action and reaction. A hand on experience with easy set up experiments will help

understand the principle Students will have the chance to explore newtons third law by

setting up an experiment by themselves in a science center (museum)

Students study mechanics by observing simulations and videos

Age range: 12-13 years old

Context: School, museum

Time required: approx. 3-5 lessons

Connection with the curriculum: mechanics, movement, forces



Eliciting Curiosity pre visit phase 1

Set up a stimulating experiment:

A student on a skateboard will be asked to move a desk

Students find out neither it will be impossible to move the desk nor not to move themselves.

Discuss why does this happen?



Because of the obvious movement of the student it turns out there MUST BE a force on the student.

This force is of equal magnitude and opposite direction

This can be shown by using 2 skateboards and 2 (same mass) students.

Questions Eliciting Activities pre visit phase 1

Define questions from current knowledge

Material



What examples for newtons third law occure in everyday life?

How do students intuitionally experience mechanics (e.g. walking, jumping, )

Questions Eliciting Activities pre visit phase 1

Define questions from current knowledge

Material



Pre Visit Phase 2: Active Investigation PROPOSE PRELIMINARY EXPLANATION OR HYPOTHESES

How can we set up an easy experiment to prove newtons third law?

Students should get some input and ideas by making research for experiments on the web or realize their own ideas.

Students will be guided to develop an experiment that causes action which will provoke reaction



Pre Visit Phase 2: Active Investigation

the rocket balloon - race

a possible setup could be: the balloon-race

Source:http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Rocket_Races.html

Material



Pre Visit Phase 2: misconceptions

Identification of possible misconceptions associated to forces. Some could be:

A common misconception is that the forward movement is due to the air inside the balloon is pushing on the outside air. However, this experiment would work even in the vacuum of space! This is why rockets work even outside the Earths atmosphere.

Another misconception is the idea that force and counteracting force will sum up to zero. This is explained in the material to general information on newtons third law.



Pre Visit Phase 2: Observation:

Simulation of force and counterforce: the lunar lander

Try to place the lander on the surface

analyze influence of force on movement and acceleration

measure forces and strength

Animation

Source:http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/lunar-lander

directions

activity



Pre Visit Phase 2: simulation forces

Explore force and counterforce on the example of aplied force and friction force

Learn about vector analysis

Understand relation between movement and friction force

Source:http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-1d

Animation

activity



Visit - Phase 3Creation GATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION

Visit a science center: "Haus der Natur"

http://vimeo.com/12168168

http://www.hausdernatur.at/aktuelles.html

movie

Observe experiments showing Newton's third law

Observe the bottle rocket rushing through the tube

Discuss Newton's laws and the experimental design with people from the science center



Visit - Teaching Phase 4Discussion consider and observe explanations

Build your own "water rocket" (assembly set)

Class-project: Building up a water rocket

Observe the bottle rocket taking off

Discuss Newton's third law and the experimental design

E.g.:http://www.lenkdrachen.com/wasserrakete.de/bottle-rocket/html_seiten/frameseite.htm



Visit - Teaching Phase 4Discussion Explanation based on evidence

Generalize the principle of rocket movement from a water rocket to a space rocket:

Class-project: Get information about rockets through web research

Explain and discuss the principle of thrust and propellant to be used in rockets

Discuss how controlling during flight works

materialSource:http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Applying_Newtons_Laws.html



Get more information about rockets

Research for rocket videos on the web

observe lift off in real time

Get an idea of the energy consumption of a launching rocket

How does Newton's Third Law affect everyday life? working out examples for action and reaction principle

walking, jumping from a base,

Collect ideas and in group work and work out presentations of findings

Analyzing post visit Teaching phase 5: communicate observations and explanations

movie



Collect ideas and in group work and work out presentations of findings

Analyzing post visit Teaching phase 5: communicate observations and explanations

Wings of an aircraft

He-core and mother core

weaponsTwo rollerskaters draging to each other

Documents

Newtons Third Law