Newton's second law is explained as we examine the forces of gravity, tension, friction, spring, and the normal. We use an example problem to analyze the forces acting on an object resting on a surface.

Segment C: Newton’s Second Law Part 1

Segment C: Newton’s Second Law Part 1

Newton's second law is explained as we examine the forces of gravity, tension, friction, spring, and the normal. We use an example problem to analyze the forces acting on an object resting on a surface.

Science

SP2

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how forces affect the motion of objects.

SP2.a

Construct an explanation based on evidence using Newton's Laws of how forces affect the acceleration of a body.

  • Explain and predict the motion of a body in absence of a force and when forces are applied using Newton's 1st Law (principle of inertia).
  • Calculate the acceleration for an object using Newton's 2nd Law, including situations where multiple forces act together.
  • Identify the pair of equal and opposite forces between two interacting bodies and relate their magnitudes and directions using Newton's 3rd Law.
SP2.b

Develop and use a model of a Free Body Diagram to represent the forces acting on an object (both equilibrium and non-equilibrium).

SP2.c

Use mathematical representations to calculate magnitudes and vector components for typical forces including gravitational force, normal force, friction forces, tension forces, and spring forces.

SPS8

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain the relationships among force, mass, and motion.

SPS8.b

Construct an explanation based on experimental evidence to support the claims presented in Newton's three laws of motion.

S8P3

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about cause and effect relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects.

S8P3.b

Construct an explanation using Newton's Laws of Motion to describe the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.

S8P3.c

Construct an argument from evidence to support the claim that the amount of force needed to accelerate an object is proportional to its mass (inertia).

-Differentiate between field forces and contact forces and provide examples of each.

-Use Newton’s second law to calculate the net force acting on an object and discern whether that object is accelerating.

-Explore different types of forces that act on objects, just as gravity, the normal, applied force, tension, and friction.

-Draw a free body diagram for an object to aid in determining the forces acting on it.

contact force - a push or pull transmitted across objects touching one another; examples are the applied force, spring force, and the normal force.

field force - pushes or pulls that occur between two objects without the objects touching one another; examples are gravity and the electrostatic force.

friction - a force that resists motion.

gravity (FG) - one of the four fundamental forces of the universe; is exerted by anything that has mass on anything else that has mass.

inverse-square law - any law stating that a quantity decreases with the inverse square of a physical parameter such as distance.

net force - the sum of all of the forces acting on an object.

newton (N) - a derived unit of measurement for force; one newton is equal to one kilogram times meters divided by seconds squared (kgm/s2).

Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion - an object accelerates in the direction of the net force acting on it.

normal force (FN) - the support force exerted upon an object by a surface; is always perpendicular to the surface.

weight (w) - the force due to gravity acting on an object; equal to the mass of an object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity on Earth.

The Physics in Motion teacher toolkit provides instructions and answer keys for study questions, practice problems, labs for all seven units of study. GPB offers the teacher toolkit at no cost to Georgia educators.To order your teacher toolkit, complete and submit this form to request the teacher toolkit. You only need to submit this form one time to get materials for all seven units.

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