May 16

Force and Motion

Second grade scientists began this lab with a lesson about air pressure. We tried to pick up the can, but it was almost impossible, but the air pressure paddles made it very easy to pick up the desk. The power of air pressure (almost 15 pounds per inch) is amazing!

Then we investigated Isaac Newton’s first and third laws of motion.

  • An object at rest remains at rest, or if in motion, remains in motion unless acted upon by an external force.
  • For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

What will happen to the ball if I knock the side of the pie plate? Why?

How is it possible to pull the tablecloth off the table without the dishes falling on the floor?


We moved to the lab tables and applied our knowledge of the laws of motion to knock the pennies in the cup and the hex nut inside the bottle without touching either.




Finally, we reviewed potential and kinetic energy with boinks and dropper poppers. I introduced the idea that there are different kinds of potential energy: elastic, gravitational, and chemical.


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