Simulate Net Forces to Predict an Object’s Motion

Educate

Blog

Subjects

Series

Science Club

Dec. 10, 2014

Simulate Net Forces to Predict an Object’s Motion

by PhET Interactive Simulations

Click

to enlarge images

{"input":{"width":"170","photo":"tugging","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}

Tugging a small toy with your dog can be a lot of fun—but it’s also a great way to experiment with forces acting on an object. Forces are what scientists call the pushing and pulling on objects. In the photo at left, the boy and the dog are both applying force by pulling in opposite directions. No matter how hard we look, we can’t see how strongly the dog and the boy are pulling. In this activity, you will use a simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations to stage competitions between different size people to pull a cart full of candy. Unlike in real life, you will be able to see the strength and direction of the forces being applied to each object, which will help you make predictions about motion.

Subject areas: Physical Science
Target grades: 3^rd, 6^th – 8^th
Key Concepts: motion, force, balanced forces, unbalanced forces, net force, total force, sum of forces, cause and effect, interactions, push, pull, mass

NGSS: Performance Expectations 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, MS-PS2-2

Materials:

Computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device with an up-to-date web browser
The free simulation Forces and Motion: Basics open in web browser
Colored pencils or markers
Paper for writing
Optional: Forces and Motion Graphic Organizer (pdf version)

Procedure:

Look at the pictures below of two people pulling on a cart of candy. Which way do you think the cart will move in each of the pictures below? Explain your predictions using drawings and words in the Forces and Motion Graphic Organizer

{"input":{"width":490,"photo":"tablepullers","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}

Go to PhET Force and Motion Basics and click “Net Force” or use the simulation window below to test your predictions in a series of trials. Try new combinations!

Compare the predictions that you made above to what happens to the cart of candy in each trial. If some of your predictions are not right, use a different color pencil to correct them.
Try more trials using different combinations of people from the red and blue teams. Draw or talk about what you discover. You can use the Forces and Motion Graphic Organizer table to keep track of your observations. Add more rows if you want.

{"input":{"width":490,"photo":"diytable","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}

Look at your tables. What are some “rules” that you can use to make predictions about which way the cart will move? You might ask yourself questions like:

a) Does it matter that the people are red or blue? Explain your answer.
b) Does a large person always win each competition? Provide evidence to support your answer.
c) If two people are pulling on opposite sides, does the cart always stay still? Explain your ideas.
d) Does it matter what part of the rope a person holds? Provide evidence to support your answer.
e) How does the “Sum of Forces” help you?

Further Exploration: More on Forces
Try using the PhET Force and Motion Basics -- "Motion" screen to explore the impact of mass on the speed of a pushed object, such as a refrigerator, crate, or person:

{"input":{"width":"170","photo":"push1","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}	1. What happens to the crate when you use the person to push it?
{"input":{"width":"170","photo":"push2","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}	2. What is different if the person pushes more?
{"input":{"width":"170","photo":"push3","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}	3. What do you notice if the person pushes against the crate, opposite to the direction that the crate is moving?
{"input":{"width":"170","photo":"push4","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}	4. Compare pushing one crate to pushing two crates. What differences and similarities do you notice? 5. Try some of the other objects like the girl or the man. Describe a few things you discovered and new things you learned.

{"input":{"width":"490","photo":"PHETlogo","row":"5035","table":"DOCUMENT"}}

Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder provides over 130 free interactive math and science simulations that are based on extensive education research and support more effective and engaging education. Going beyond traditional educational resources, PhET sims offer an intuitive, game-like environment where students can learn through scientist-like exploration, where dynamic visual representations make the invisible visible, and where science ideas are connected to real-world phenomena. PhET sims are used in more than 200 countries and territories (over 5000 translated simulations across 78 languages). Access PhET sims for free at http://phet.colorado.edu

Related Links:
Ready for more? Explore applied, friction, and total forces in this extension from PhET Simulations here

Check out these miniature masters of force and motion in this SciFri video:
"Mini Speed Demons" produced by Flora Lichtman

Next Generation Science Standards:

Performance Expectations: 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, MS-PS2-2
Disciplinary Core Ideas - PS2.A: Forces and Motion; PS2.B: Types of Interactions
Crosscutting Ideas: Cause and effect, Patterns; Stability and Change
Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions, Engaging in Argument from Evidence, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Educator Toolbox

About PhET Interactive Simulations

PhET Interactive Simulations at the University of Colorado provides over 130 free interactive math and science simulations that are based on extensive education research and support more effective and engaging education.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Science Friday.

Discussion

EVAL ERROR: Entity: line 1: parser error : Space required after the Public Identifier

                                                 ^
Entity: line 1: parser error : SystemLiteral " or ' expected

                                                 ^
Entity: line 1: parser error : SYSTEM or PUBLIC, the URI is missing

                                                 ^

Code:
line 1: package tmpevalpackage;
line 2: sub doEval { 
line 3: 	my($parent);
line 4: 	
line 5: 	if($LayoutManager::url_resolved_values{'SEGMENT.nickname'}) {
line 6: 		$parent = $LayoutManager::url_resolved_values{'SEGMENT.nickname'};
line 7: 	}
line 8: 	elsif($LayoutManager::url_resolved_values{'VIDEO.nickname'}) {
line 9: 		$parent = $LayoutManager::url_resolved_values{'VIDEO.nickname'};
line 10: 	}
line 11: 	elsif($LayoutManager::url_resolved_values{'DOCUMENT.nickname'}) {
line 12: 		$parent = $LayoutManager::url_resolved_values{'DOCUMENT.nickname'}
line 13: 	}
line 14: 	
line 15: 	if($parent) {
line 16: 		my(@books) = &Database::SelectClause('BOOK',"parent = $parent");
line 17: 		if(!@books) {
line 18: 			$parent = '';
line 19: 		}
line 20: 	}
line 21: 	
line 22: 	if(!$parent) {
line 23: 		my(@sel) = &Database::SelectClause('GLOBAL','record all ""');
line 24: 		if(@sel) {
line 25: 			$parent = 'GLOBAL.' . $sel[0];
line 26: 		}
line 27: 			$main::ENV{'reading_header'} = "FEATURED READING";
line 28: 	}
line 29: 	
line 30: 	 = '';
line 31: 	
line 32: 	if($parent) {
line 33: 		my(@books) = &Database::SelectClause('BOOK',"parent = $parent");
line 34: 		0 = 0;
line 35: 		my $dots;
line 36: 		foreach(@books) {
line 37: 			my(%data);
line 38: 			&Database::GetRow($_,'BOOK',\%data);
line 39: 			my($status,$title,$author,$url,$image,$width,$height) = &SciFri::Schema::getAmazonItem($data{'isbn'});
line 40: 			if($data{'title'}) {
line 41: 				$title = $data{'title'};
line 42: 			}
line 43: 			if($data{'author'}) {
line 44: 				$author = $data{'author'};
line 45: 			}
line 46: 			if($status eq 'ok') {
line 47: 				 .= "<div class=\"box-2x1-item box-slide\" data-href=\"$url\">";
line 48: 				 .= "	<div class=\"box-2x1-item-photo\">";
line 49: 				 .= "		<div class=\"image-wrapper\" data-jsclass=\"imageWrapper\" data-align=\"right\">";
line 50: 				 .= "			<img src=\"$image\" data-width=\"$width\" data-height=\"$height\">";
line 51: 				 .= "		</div>";
line 52: 				 .= "	</div>";
line 53: 				 .= "	<h4>$title</h4>";
line 54: 				if($author) {
line 55: 					 .= "	<p>by $author</p>";
line 56: 				}
line 57: 				 .= "	<div class=\"box-2x1-more-button\"><a href=\"$url\"><img src=\"/images/v1/icon_text_more_white.png\" width=47 height=15 border=0></a></div>";
line 58: 				 .= "</div>";
line 59: 				++0;
line 60: 			}
line 61: 		}
line 62: 	}
line 63: 	if($parent eq "GLOBAL.1") { $main::ENV{'reading_header'} = "FEATURED READING"; }
line 64: 	else { $main::ENV{'reading_header'} = "RELATED READING"; }
line 65:  };
line 66: &doEval();
line 67: 1;

Dec. 10, 2014

Simulate Net Forces to Predict an Object’s Motion

by PhET Interactive Simulations

About PhET Interactive Simulations

Discussion

MOST POPULAR

Science Diction--The Origin Of The Word ‘Radio’

This Valentine's Day, Say 'I Love You' With Science

The Physics of Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy

The Chemistry of Waterproof Mascara

Blood Typing

About the Science Club

Science Diction: The Origin Of 'Physician'

Write Your Name in Binary Code

Australia: Where Even the Seashells Can Kill You

The True Story Behind ‘Spare Parts’

Contact

Supporters

Newsletter

Policies

Available from iTunes

Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Contact

Supporters

Newsletter

Policies

Available from iTunes

Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Dec. 10, 2014

by PhET Interactive Simulations

About PhET Interactive Simulations

Discussion

FEATURED READING

ADVERTISEMENT

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

MOST POPULAR

Science Diction--The Origin Of The Word ‘Radio’

This Valentine's Day, Say 'I Love You' With Science

The Physics of Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy

The Chemistry of Waterproof Mascara

Blood Typing

About the Science Club

Science Diction: The Origin Of 'Physician'

Write Your Name in Binary Code

Australia: Where Even the Seashells Can Kill You

The True Story Behind ‘Spare Parts’

NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISEMENT

Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.