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Newton's Laws of Motion

Newton's second law of motion is F = ma, or force is equal to mass times acceleration. Learn how to use the formula to calculate acceleration.

Learn about Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Look at multiple examples that illustrate this law, including pushing a block on ice, pushing against a desk, walking on sand, how rockets work, and how an astronaut could save themselves from drifting in space.

• Use positive and negative numbers to represent quantities in multiple contexts.
• Explain the meaning of positive values, negative values, and zero, in multiple contexts.
• Describe the location of a point on a number line with respect to another number.
• Describe the location of a point on a number line with respect to its opposite
• Define the absolute value of a number as its distance from zero.
• Interpret inequality statements as statements about the relative position of two integers on a number line diagram.

• Predict how current will change when resistance of the circuit is fixed and voltage is varied.
• Predict how current will change when voltage of the circuit is fixed and resistance is varied.

You want a projectile to fly as far as possible, at which angle should you launch it? We'll start with formulas for the initial velocity.

Plotting projectile displacement, acceleration, and velocity as a function of time.

This lesson will be the first of six lessons guiding students in constructing the abstract concepts necessary to understand adding positive and negative integers. It is designed for adult learners (or middle school or older) who are not fluent with using numbers. A real life lesson will be included in this series of lessons-Budgeting.

Figuring out the horizontal displacement for a projectile launched at an angle.

• Determine how each parameter (initial height, initial angle, initial speed, mass, diameter, and altitude) affects the trajectory of an object, with and without air resistance.
• Predict how varying the initial conditions will affect a projectile’s path, and provide an explanation for the prediction.
• Estimate where an object will land, given its initial conditions.
• Determine that the x and y motion of a projectile are independent.
• Investigate the variables that affect the drag force.
• Describe the the effect that the drag force has on the velocity and acceleration.
• Discuss projectile motion using common vocabulary (such as: launch angle, initial speed, initial height, range, time).