Newton's Laws of Motion and Gravity Applied to Meteorites
The Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites
Educator's Guide: Activity
Newton's Laws of Motion and Gravity Applied to Meteorites - For Physical Science Students
Overview: Newton's laws of motion and law of gravity changed our understanding of the universe. These laws are demonstrable in what students have learned while studying meteorites.
Resource Use
The activity Newton's Laws of Motion and Gravity Applied to Meteorites was designed to help students identify examples of Newton's laws in the processes that exist in our dynamic solar system.
Have students work in pairs or in small groups. Present Newton's laws of motion and his law of gravity (below) to students. Ask them to recall what they've learned about the creation of the solar system; and what happens when a meteorite enters the Earth's atmosphere.
Newton's Laws of Motion:
- An object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends to stay at rest, unless the object is acted upon by an outside force.
- A change in velocity 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. This law can be expressed by the equation: F (force) = ma (mass x accleration).
- Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Newton's Law of Gravity:
Each body in the universe attracts each other body.
Drawing upon what students have learned studying meteorites, have them cite examples of each of the laws. For example, the accretion of small particles in the early solar nebula is an example of Newton's Law of Gravity - each body in the universe attracts each other body. When groups are done, have them present their findings to the class.
As an extension to this activity, have students contemplate how the first and third laws of motion relate to space ships traveling through space.
- Space is a vacuum, so jet engines cannot suck in air and a jet propeller cannot turn and move a space ship. How do space ships propel themselves?
- Once space ships are moving they will stay in motion. Why is this so?
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More About This Resource...
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Newton’s laws changed our understanding of the universe. A supplement to the Hall of Meteorites Educator's Guide, this activity draws on what students learned while studying meteorites to investigate some of the ways the laws are expressed in our dynamic solar system.
- Students are divided into pairs or small groups and presented with Newton’s Laws of Motion and Gravity.
- Drawing upon what they’ve learned about the creation of the solar system and what happens when a meteorite enters the Earth’s atmosphere, students come up with examples of each of the laws.
- Finally, students present their findings to the class.
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Completion Time
Approximately 1 period
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Teacher Tip
As an extension activity, asks students to contemplate how Newton’s First and Third Laws of Gravity relate to spaceships in motion.
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Origin
Hall of Meteorites -
Topic
Astronomy -
Subtopic
Concepts -
Subtopic
National Science Education Standards
Grades K-4:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• properties of objects and materials• position and motion of objects
Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D:
• properties of earth materials• objects in the sky• changes in earth and sky
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor
Grades 5-8:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• properties and changes of properties in matter• motions and forces• transfer of energy
Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D:
• earth in the solar system
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor• nature of science• history of science
Grades 9-12:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• structure and properties of matter• motions and forces• conservation of energy and increase in disorder• interactions of energy and matter
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor• nature of scientific knowledge• historical perspectives
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Learning Standard
National Science Education Standards
Grades K-4:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• properties of objects and materials• position and motion of objects
Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D:
• properties of earth materials• objects in the sky• changes in earth and sky
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor
Grades 5-8:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• properties and changes of properties in matter• motions and forces• transfer of energy
Earth and Space Science CONTENT STANDARD D:
• earth in the solar system
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor• nature of science• history of science
Grades 9-12:
Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A:• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry• understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B:
• structure and properties of matter• motions and forces• conservation of energy and increase in disorder• interactions of energy and matter
History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G:
• science as a human endeavor• nature of scientific knowledge• historical perspectives
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