Title: Force and Motion Definitions

Title: Force and Motion
Definitions:
Force is a push or a pull
Mass is the measurement of how much matter is in an object
Important Questions:
How do we determine how much force is needed to move an object?
How do we compare the speed of different forces?
How do we determine the mass of an unknown object based on it’s speed

when pushed or pulled?
Instructions:
In this activity, the above questions are investigated. Complete this document
by filling in data tables and writing complete responses. This investigation has
three phases: Exploration, Explanation and Application. Work between this
document and the simulation (sim).
1. Click this link: http://phet.colorado.edu/
This is a screen shot of the website:
2. Enter “Forces and Motion” in the search bar.
!1
3. Find “Forces and Motion: Basics” and click the large start button.
4. This screen appears:
Exploration Phase:
(5-7 minutes)
1. Briefly explore this sim by clicking around and manipulating the players.
2. Place various blue and red players on either side of the rope.
3. Click “Go” to play tug-o-war with the players.
4. Explore different combinations and placements of players.
5. Notice the reset button in the bottom right hand corner.
Questions
1. How do you make the blue team win?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. How do you make the red team win?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. How do you make neither team win?
!2
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Explanation Phase:
(25-30 minutes)
This Phase has an investigative goal.
Aim: Determine how mass effects the speed of an object when a constant
force is applied.
Click on the “Motion” tab. Check “Force” “Values” and “Speed” in the yellow box
located at the top right corner. This screen appears:
Use these concepts:
There is no friction being applied during this simulation.
An object in motion will stay in motion with a push or a pull.
1. Using the double-arrow button next to the box, set the force to 100
Newtons.
2. Let the simulation run until the “force”, or the player pushing the box,
releases.
3. Answer the following question:
a. What did you notice about the speed on the speedometer as the
player continued to push the box?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
!3
b. What happened when the player released the force on the box?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
4. Reset the simulation by clicking the orange “Reset” button, and check the
boxes for “Force,” “Values,” and “Speed” again. Remove the box from the board.
5. Make a prediction:
Which object will take the longest amount of time to increase the speed of
the board? Circle your answer below:
Refrigerator Small girl Trash can
6. You will complete the table below by placing different objects on the board
and exerting a force on it.
After all three trials, rate the time it takes to reach maximum speed.
Object on Box Force (N) Rating
(1=fastest, 3=slowest)
Small Girl 100
Trash can 100
Refrigerator 100
7. Click the “Masses” tab in the yellow box. Record the mass of the objects in
the table below.
Object on Box Force (N) Mass
Small Girl 100
Trash can 100
Refrigerator 100
8. Analyze:
a. What do you notice about the speed of the forced object and the mass?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
b. What rule can you determine about mass and force?
The greater the mass, the ___________ the force needed to move it.
!4
Application Phase:
(10 minutes)
Aim: You will be determining the mass of the “Mystery Box” in comparison to
the other masses you have used during the activity.
1. Reset the simulation, and check off all options in the yellow box. Remove
the box from the board.
2. Set the Applied Force to 100 Newtons.
3. Add the “Mystery Box” to the board.
4. Observe the time it takes for the speedometer to reach maximum speed.
5. In the table below, record whether the “Mystery Box” is greater or less
than the other masses.
Object on Box Force (N) Greater or Less Than

Mystery Box
Small Girl 100
Trash can 100
Refrigerator 100
Write a statement about below about the mystery box and it’s mass:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
!5

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Title: Force and Motion

Force is a push or a pull

Mass is the measurement of how much matter is in an object

How do we determine how much force is needed to move an object?

How do we compare the speed of different forces?

How do we determine the mass of an unknown object based on it’s speed

1. Click this link: http://phet.colorado.edu/

This is a screen shot of the website:

2. Enter “Forces and Motion” in the search bar.

4. This screen appears:

3. Click “Go” to play tug-o-war with the players.

4. Explore different combinations and placements of players.

5. Notice the reset button in the bottom right hand corner.

1. How do you make the blue team win?

2. How do you make the red team win?

3. How do you make neither team win?

This Phase has an investigative goal.

Use these concepts:

There is no friction being applied during this simulation.

An object in motion will stay in motion with a push or a pull.

3. Answer the following question:

Refrigerator Small girl Trash can

Object on Box Force (N) Rating

Trash can 100

Object on Box Force (N) Mass

Small Girl 100

Trash can 100

b. What rule can you determine about mass and force?

2. Set the Applied Force to 100 Newtons.

3. Add the “Mystery Box” to the board.

Object on Box Force (N) Greater or Less Than

Trash can 100

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