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LESSON PLAN FOR NEWTON’S FIRST LAW

Episode Six 206 – Newton Must Have Been A Sports Fan (Physical Science)

Once upon a time an apple fell from Sir Isaac Newton's tree, and ever since we've heard about Newton's
Laws. But did you know that if you just look, you can see Newton's Laws in action everywhere around
you? Science teacher and host Rick Crosslin goes to bat to show how the laws of motion are the
foundation of your favorite sports and what kind of cool stuff happens when you drop things from tall
buildings. You'll be amazed at the science in motion, right before your eyes.

Funded by:
Dr. Laura Hare Charitable Trust
Indiana Department of Education – Center for School Improvement and Performance
Veolia Water Indianapolis

Overview
Students will gain an understanding of Newton’s first law of motion: an object at rest will remain at rest
unless acted on by a force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same
direction unless acted upon by a force. This law is often called, "the law of inertia". Newton observed
how objects moved. He studied how forces like gravity changed the motion of an object. He found that
forces change when the speed or mass of an object changes. Today these same laws of motion are being
used when we play sports. Newton’s laws are demonstrated when a goal is scored in soccer, a baseball
hit with a bat, or a three point basket is made on the court.
Examples of Newton’s Laws are found in our machines, work, homes and sports.

Background information
Isaac Newton was one of the most famous scientists in the world. He studied many different types of
science. He wrote one of the most important science books in history Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia
Mathematica, which is Latin for Principals of Mathematics. Published in London, England in 1687 this book
contained Newton’s Laws of Motion. Newton observed how objects moved. He studied how forces like
gravity changed the motion of an object. He found that forces change when the speed or mass of an
object changes.
Connections to the Indiana Academic Standards for Science, Grades 4 – 7
4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.6, 4.2.2
5.1.1, 5.1.3, 5.2.3, 5.2.7, 5.2.8, 5.3.11, 5.3.12
6.1.2, 6.2.4, 6.2.8, 6.3.17
7.1.1, 7.1.5, 7.3.17

Science Process Skills

• Calculating
• Communicating
• Hypothesizing and predicting
• Inferring
• Measuring
• Posing questions

Estimated Time Requirement

One 30- minute session

Materials for the Card and Penny Flick investigation

• Small glass
• Index card 3” x 3”
• Penny

Materials for the Table Cloth Investigation

• Table cloth or fabric
• Plate – heavier is best
• Silverware
• Lit candle - optional
• Adult supervision

Materials for the Egg in the Water Investigation

• Three glasses of water
• An aluminum pie pan
• Three toilet paper tubes
• Three raw eggs
• Straw broom
• Adult supervision

Objectives
Students will be able to:
identify Newton’s 1st Law of Motion,
identify and explain the forces that effect how objects move,
understand that forces are either a push or a pull
Procedure

Anticipatory set:
• Visit the website: www.IndianaExpeditions.org
• View the Newton Must Have Been A Sports Fan Indiana Expeditions segment
• View the video lesson from the this episode

Lesson sequence:
• Inform the students that today they are all going to learn about Newton’s first law of motion: an
object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force.

Penny Card Flick Investigation

• Place the index card on top of the small glass.
• Place the penny on top of the index card.
• From the side flick the index card off of the glass. Make sure that the card is flicked parallel to the
desk.
• Observe the results: the card moves in the direction of the “push” and the penny falls into the
glass.

Table Cloth Investigation

• Place the cloth on a table. Make sure it is dry. Prepare the surface of the table by cleaning it and if
possible add furniture polish to make it slippery.
• Place the plate, silverware and lit candle (lit candle – optional) on the cloth.
• With adult supervision, quickly pull the table cloth out from under the items. Be sure to pull the
cloth quickly towards yourself in one swift move. Do not hesitate on the “pull” of the force.

Egg in the Water Investigation

• Cluster the three glasses of water together
at the edge of a table.
• Center the aluminum pie pan over the
glasses. Make sure that the edge of the pan
extends past the table.
• Stand up the three toilet paper tubes on the
pie pan directly over the glasses of water.
• Place the raw eggs on the tops of the toilet
paper tubes.
• Place your foot on the base of the broom at
the edge of the table.
• Arrange the broom handle so it will strike the edge of the table and the edge of the aluminum pan.
• Pull the broom towards you to create potential energy.
• Let the broom go so it hits the edge of the pie plate, observe the results.

Closure:
Ask the students to apply other examples of Newton’s first law to the concept of inertia.
Suggested Student Assessment
Objectives:
Ask students to write and/or illustrate what they did during this activity and what
they learned from their participation in the activity.

Extending the Lesson

Have students determine how inertia relates to Newton’s first law. Ask students for other examples of
Newton’s first law in their daily life.

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Law 1 - An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by a force. An object in
motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless
acted upon by a force. This law is often called, "the law of inertia".
Law 2 - Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass -
of the object being accelerated - the greater the amount of force needed to accelerate
the object. Force = Mass X Acceleration.
Law 3 - For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.

Source of Lesson
Rick Crosslin
Adapted from various experiences and teacher demonstrations at the Hoosier Association of Science
Teachers, Inc. annual science conference. www.HASTI.org

To learn more, visit the website at www.IndianaExpeditions.org