Objective:

  • Explore forces and how they are measured.
  • Explore how forces are transformed into motion.
  • Explore Gravity and Friction as forces
  • Explore how simple machines transform forces into work.

Key Terms: In the space provided, define the following words:

Force--

Work--

Friction--

Procedure and Data Collection Part 1: Forces: GCSE Website

Open a web browser. From Mrs. Leibacher’s webpage, click the Physics Lab 2: Forces and Simple Machines Tab. Click the Link # 1, or type in

Answer the following questions using COMPLETE SENTENCES:

1)What are forces?

2)What is the unit of measure for Forces?

3)Forces are considered to be vectors. What does that mean?

4)What three things can change a force?

5)Explain the force of gravity. Which direction does it act on objects?

6)What is weight?

7)What is the Earth’s gravitational strength at ground level?

8)What is a balanced force?

9)What is an unbalanced force?

10)Resultant force and net force are the same thing. What do they mean? (Hint: watch and read about the parachute simulation)

Procedure and Data Collection Part 2: Forces: BBC: Forces and Movement

Open a web browser. From Mrs. Leibacher’s page, Click the Link # 2, or type in

Answer the following questions using COMPLETE SENTENCES:

1)There are three things that affected the distance that the truck traveled. List them here:

2)How did the “push” force affect the distance the truck traveled?

3)How did the gradient force affect the distance the truck traveled?

4)How did the mass of the truck affect the distance the truck traveled?

5)What combination of variables would you use to make a truck travel the farthest down the track?

Procedure and Data Collection Part 3: Forces: BBC: Forces In Action

Open a web browser. From Mrs. Leibacher’s page, Click the Link # 3, or type in

Make a hypotheses: You can manipulate the gradient (slope) of the track, the size of a parachute, and the mass of a weight placed in your truck.

Predict the combination that allows the truck to go the longest distance:

______

Predict the combination that makes the truck go the shortest distance:

______

Now, manipulate the variables and fill in the chart:

Variable / Result / Result
Gradient / 1: / 2:
Parachute / Small: / Large:
Mass / Small: / Large:

What is the actual combination of variables that will allow the truck to go the longest distance?

______

Procedure and Data Collection Part 4: GCSE Friction

Open a web browser. From Mrs. Leibacher’s page, Click the Link # 4, or type in

Answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES:

1)What is friction?

2)What are the two main types of friction?

3)What does friction depend upon?

4)What is fluid friction?

5)What is drag?

6)What is terminal velocity?

7)List two ways to reduce friction:

8)List two ways to use friction to your advantage:

Procedure and Data Collection Part 5: Friction Simulation:

Open a web browser. From Mrs. Leibacher’s page, click the Link #5, or type in . Then click the bright green RUNNOW button.

Answer the following in COMPLETE SENTENCES:

1)How do you create friction between the textbooks?

2)What happens when the friction is great?

Procedure and Data Collection Part 5: Forces in one dimension Simulation:

Open a web browser. From Mrs. Leibacher’s page, click the Link #6, or type in . Then click the bright green RUNNOW button.

Experiment with forces and mass. What happens if you change the mass of the object being pushed? What happens if you change the coefficient of friction? What happens if you change the gravity of the system? Use the Applied Force Graph to make specific observations. Then, write your conclusion. In it, answer the following questions in an organized paragraph:

What three forces are acting on the mass to be moved? Which force causes motion? Which force causes friction? What can you say about the force you need to apply to larger masses vs. smaller masses? What happens if the force of gravity is higher or lower? What happens if the coefficient of friction is higher or lower? Why is it a good idea to reduce friction in machines that we use to do work? Why would we want to do that?

Write your paragraph on looseleaf or type and print it. Staple it to this packet and turn your lab in.