Kuwait American School
Forces and Motion Lab
Name___________________________________________ Date_______________________
Class________
Academic Standard:
Identify and calculate the direction and magnitude of forces that act on an
object and explain the results in the objects change of motion.
NGSS Practices:
Asking Questions and Defining Problems (MS-PS2-3)
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions (MS-PS2-1)
Engaging in Argument from Evidence(MS-PS2-4)
Concepts:
Forces, balanced forces, unbalanced forces, net force
Objectives:
Students will investigate the relationship between forces acting on an object
and that object’s motion
Students will be able to predict the motion of an object.
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Kuwait American School
FORCES AND MOTION
You and some friends are at the park. You find some rope and decide you’d like to
play a game of tug-of-war. Unfortunately, there are 5 people so you can’t have an
equal amount of people on each side. One of your friends suggests that the two
biggest people should be on one side, while the three smaller people should be on
the other side. Do you think this is a fair way to split up teams? Why or why not?
Question: What causes objects to move or stay still?
Open up PhET simulation “Forces and Motion” using the following link:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-
motion-basics_en.html
TASK 1
a. Place 2 people that are the same size the same distance away from the cart.
b. Make a prediction about the movement of the cart.
c. AFTER you have observed the actual movement, click on the sum of the forces
box at the top right hand corner of the simulation. Record the number in the
data chart.
Predicted Actual Sum of Forces
Movement Movement (0, x-left, x-
(none, left, right)
right)
Same size, same
placement on rope.
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Kuwait American School
TASK 2
a. Place 2 people that are the same size different distances away from the cart.
b. Make a prediction about the movement of the cart.
c. AFTER you have observed the actual movement, click on the sum of the forces
box at the top right hand corner of the simulation. Record the number in the
data chart.
Predicted Actual Sum of
Movement Movement Forces
(none, left, (0, x-left,
right) x-right)
Same size, different placement on
rope.
TASK 3
a. Place 2 people that are different sizes the same distance away from the cart.
b. Make a prediction about the movement of the cart.
c. AFTER you have observed the actual movement, click on the sum of the forces
box at the top right hand corner. Record the number in the data chart.
Predicted Actual Sum of
Movement Movement Forces
(none, left, (0, x-left,
right) x-right)
Different size, same placement
on rope.
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Kuwait American School
TASK 4
a. Place 2 people that are the different sizes different distances away from the cart.
b. Make a prediction about the movement of the cart.
c. AFTER you have observed the actual movement, click on the sum of the forces
box at the top right hand corner of the simulation. Record the number in the
data chart.
Predicted Actual Sum of
Movement Movement Forces
(none, left, (0, x-left,
right) x-right)
Different size, different
placement on rope.
What causes objects to move or stay still?
Claim:
Evidence:
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Kuwait American School
Analysis Questions/Reasoning:
Give an example of a balanced force.
Give an example of an unbalanced force.
True or false? Balanced forces cause a change in motion. True/False
How do you know this?
True or False? Unbalanced forces cause a change in motion True/False
How do you know this?
Now that you have had a chance to experiment with the simulation, go back to
the question at the beginning of the investigation. What do you think would
be the best way to divide up your friends for the game of tug-of-war? Be sure
to explain your reasoning.
This project will be graded on the basic of “how rigorous and aligned
your project to the standards, below criteria, and the objectives”.
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Kuwait American School
Criteria Maximum Learners’
Marks (20) Marks
1. Evidence of background 4
research done
Background information and
knowledge
2. Analysis, interpretation
and discussion
6
Scientific approach to the
reaction
3. Presentation of the 4
project.
Neat and clear
4. Conclusion(s) reached 2
Valid conclusions, linked to
the objective
5. Limitations
Disadvantages and 2
restrictions
6. References
2
Good Luck
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