NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG 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

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

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?

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Questions Eliciting Activities pre visit phase 1 Define questions from current knowledge
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.

Material

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Questions Eliciting Activities pre visit phase 1 Define questions from current knowledge
What examples for newtons third law occure in everyday life?

How do students intuitionally experience

mechanics (e.g. walking, jumping, )

Material

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

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

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Pre Visit Phase 2: Active Investigation

the rocket balloon - race

a possible setup could be: the balloon-race

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

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

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.

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

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

activity

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

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

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

activity

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Visit - Phase 3

Creation GATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION

Visit a science center: "Haus der Natur"

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

movie
http://vimeo.com/12168168 http://www.hausdernatur.at/ aktuelles.html

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Visit - Teaching Phase 4

Discussion 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

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Visit - Teaching Phase 4

Discussion 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
Source: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listb ytype/Applying_Newtons_Laws.html

material

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Analyzing post visit Teaching phase 5: communicate observations and explanations

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

movie
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

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

Educational Pathway

Markus Artner BG Neunkirchen

Analyzing post visit Teaching phase 5: communicate observations and explanations

Collect ideas and in group work and work out presentations of findings
Wings of an aircraft He-core and mother core

Two rollerskaters draging to each other

weapons