Science 3: Forces & Motion

This video will explain what force and motion are, what their relationship is to each other, and what relationship there is between force, mass, and acceleration.

Explore the forces at work when pulling against a cart,and pushing a refrigerator, crate, or person. Create an applied force and see how it makes objects move. Change friction and see how it affects the motion of objects.

Fast cars, fast animals or marathon runners sprinting to the finish line. Speed is fascinating! Let's find out together more about speed and motion in this video.

If you want motion, you have to add force. But once you get something moving, what makes it stop? That is force, too!

Do you know how to explain gravity and how it works? Check out this video and then test yourself with the quiz.

Isaac Newton figured out a lot of important rules about motion, and inertia is the first one.

You have heard of a car accelerating, right? Well, the same word can be used for any object. Here is how it works!

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Newton’s third law of action and reaction explains how objects affect reach other when they collide. See how it works!

The hardest part about friction...is getting started! Friction is a force that opposes motion. Learn about it here!

In this video, we'll review materials that are bendy or rigid and show how we can change the shape of some materials.

Let's learn how to change the shape of objects by doing things to them! Watch this video to see how it's done!

Try out these activities to learn about the basic workings of three simple machines. Audio is provided; students can listen to the explanations.

An overview of six types of simple machines. Text description with audio files.

Levers are a type of simple machine that allows you to multiply your work. In this video, you'll see 1st class, 2nd class, and third-class levers. You'll also learn a simple mnemonic device to help you remember which is which.

Jared describes how pulleys can make our work easier.

Jared explores another simple machine, the inclined plane, and demonstrates what it allows us to do and how.

Watch as Jared explains how humans created the wheel, how the wheel and axle work together, and finally how much the wheel can help to move heavy objects!

We build a small pool table and use it to study the forces at play. The pool table is built out of a box. Worksheet

Lessons and resources to guide your class through an exploration of building structures and the forces that act upon them.

Resources to use in the class as students explore wheels and levers. If you click the links, there is a sign-in prompt -- but you can bypass it by clicking the image instead.