Newton's Three Laws of Motion Project

Newton's Three Laws of Motion Project

Due: _________
(100 points) + (50 points/demo)

In this assignment you will need to explain Newton's Laws and give examples of each. This assignment is a cross between a writing assignment and a "demo." But you are doing the demonstration yourself.

Part I: Writing Assignment (Individual)

Please write a standard 5 page essay on Newton's Three Laws. This should actually be quite straight forward. If you recall from your writing classes, a 5 page essay has an introductory page, 3 "body" pages, and a conclusion page. The introductory page should have the "thesis" or the main idea of the entire essay as one sentence. Then it should have a sentence about each of the "body" pages. It may include other sentences that engage the reader or elaborate the points. Each of the "body" pages should have the main idea about that page as one paragraph. The additional paragraphs should give examples and supporting details about the main idea. The concluding page should sum-up everything you already said.

This essay should be really straight forward to write, because there are three laws already. So each "body" page can be about one of the three laws. You should use the following format:

· PageI: Introduction

o Introduce Newton's Three Laws of motion

o Say something interesting: Why are they important? How did they change the world? Why do you care about them? How do they affect your life?

· Page II: Newton's First Law
o Use your own words to state the First law (you can quote the actual law, but make sure you also

say it in your own words).

o Give examples of the First law. This can be the "demo" part. Explain what you did and how this demonstrates the First law.

· Page III: Newton's Second Law
o Use your own words to state the Second law (again, quoting the actual law is okay, but make sure

you also say it in your own words).

o Give examples of the Second law. Like you did with the First law, you need to explain what you did and how this demonstrates the Second law.

· Page IV: Newton's Third Law

o Use your own words to state the Second law (Same story about quotes as for the First and Second laws).

      

o Give an example of the Third law. You need to explain what you did and how this demonstrates the Third law in the same way you did with the other laws.

PageV: Conclusion

· Sum-up what you already told me in the previous 4 pages.

Then you need to do the demo part. (You can't tell me what you did until after you did it :)

Part II: Demonstration (Group Work: 3/group)
You actually are going to have to use your own ingenuity to create 3 demos of Newton's laws, but I will

get you started.

· Newton's First Law: An object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends to stay at rest.

o The object at rest is the easier of the 2 to demonstrate. A very simple demonstration of this can be done with an index card, a quarter, and a glass of water. Take a glass and fill it partially with water. On top of the glass, place an index card and on top of that place a quarter. Quickly flick the index card with your index finger. The quarter should fall into the glass. Why didn't the quarter stay on the index card?

o There are other variations of this simple trick. Catching a quarter with your right hand from your right elbow is a popular one. Pulling a tablecloth out from under a set table is a more difficult trick that demonstrates Newton's First law, but the concept is the same.

· Newton's Second Law: The acceleration of an object is inversely proportional to the mass and directly proportional to the net force applied.

o This is a bit harder, but here are a couple ideas: You already know that the amount a spring stretches is proportional to the force on the spring. Try attaching an object (it can be something that rolls or even something that just slides as long as the surface is fairly smooth) to your spring. Then pull the object along a flat table or floor. When you first start pulling, the spring should stretch a bit. (Make sure the object is easy enough to move that the spring doesn't totally stretch out.) Once you have it moving at a constant velocity (same speed, same direction) the spring should not stretch any further, it should even become less stretched. Since the object has a constant velocity, the acceleration is zero. Therefore, the net force should be zero.

o Now try accelerating the object, pull it up a slope, pull it faster, and change direction. The spring should stretch more. What would happen if you used a more massive object? What about a less massive object? Try it.

   

o Another cool thing you can try (if you have access to a fast elevator) would be to stand on a scale in the elevator. When the elevator starts and stops, your weight should change. Scales measure normal forces. If you are accelerating, your normal force will change. How much heavier did you appear? How much lighter? Did you get heavier when the elevator started, or when it stopped?

· Newton's Third Law: For every action force there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

o Go skating. With a friend. It can be any variation of you and your friend on a semi- frictionless surface. So, you can go ice skating, roller blading, skateboarding, even skiing or snowboarding.

o Stand in front of your friend and push against each other. What happened? Try this again on solid ground? What happened? Why were they different? Why did they both demonstrate Newton's Third law? (Yes, I am serious, there are other forces that we haven't talked about acting here, but it doesn't matter if you have read about a force or not. When you feel a force, you know it. What forces do you feel? Pay attention to your feet as well as your hands.)

o If you don't have time to go ice skating you can do this with rolling office chairs as well, but it is not as fun.

o There are other things you can do to demonstrate Newton's Third law. You can push your hands against one another and feel the normal force. Notice how it gets stronger as you push harder. You can pull on a rope and feel the tension. You can play tug of war with your friend. What happens to the tension of the rope when you or your friend starts sliding?

So, now that you have done the demos, you can write about them in your 5-paragraph essay.

Grading

You will be graded according to the following rubric.

Content

Thesis is clear 5

Thesis is adequate 432

Thesis is poor 1

All information is factually correct 5

Most information is factually correct 432

Many factual errors/inconsistencies 1

Excellent discussion of detail 5

Adequate discussion of detail 432

Vague discussion of detail 1

Impressive demonstration of understanding
5

Adequate demonstration of understanding
432

Unexceptional demonstration of understanding
1

Effective conclusion 5

Adequate conclusion 432

Weak conclusion 1

Format and Style

Clear organization 5

Adequate organization 432

Confusing organization 1

Smooth transitions 5

Adequate transitions 432

Awkward transitions 1

Correct grammar/ no spelling mistakes 5

Few grammar errors/ Few spelling mistakes 432

Incorrect grammar/ many spelling mistakes 1

Scoring Method: Project Grade Total Points Possible: 150

   •     Part I: 100 pts.

   •     Part II: 50 pts.
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