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Science lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 45 minutes

Newton's laws of motion

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-1CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-2CCSS NGSS.HS-PS2-1England: KS3 Physics: Motion and forcesEngland: KS4 Combined Science: Forces and motion

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Newton's laws of motion.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Balanced and unbalanced forces; Air resistance and water resistance

Leads to: Force, mass and acceleration (F = ma)

Materials: Force meters, Toy cars and ramps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Balanced and unbalanced forces; Air resistance and water resistance). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Cyclists crouch low over their handlebars in races. Why? (to see the road better / to reduce air resistance / to make the bike heavier / to increase friction with the road) → to reduce air resistancePrompt: Air pushes against the front of a moving body.
  2. Why are fish and boats streamlined (smooth and pointed)? (to float higher / to increase water resistance / to look nice / to reduce water resistance) → to reduce water resistancePrompt: A streamlined shape lets water flow past easily.
  3. Which falls slowest: a flat sheet of paper or the same paper screwed into a ball? (neither falls / they always land together / the flat sheet / the ball of paper) → the flat sheetPrompt: They have the same mass. What is different?

Hook · 5 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Newton's laws of motion. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: A passenger lurches forward when a bus brakes suddenly. Which law explains this?
  • Step 1: An object keeps moving at the same velocity unless a resultant force acts (inertia).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Newton's first law (inertia)
  • Answer: Newton's first law (inertia)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. The same force is applied to an empty trolley and a full one. Which accelerates more? (neither moves / the full trolley / both the same / the empty trolley) → the empty trolleyPrompt: a = F ÷ m
  2. Newton's laws: which statement is true? (A moving object needs a constant force to keep moving at steady speed in space. / The two forces in a Newton's third law pair act on the same object. / Heavier objects need less force to accelerate. / For every force there is an equal and opposite force on the other object.) → For every force there is an equal and opposite force on the other object.Prompt: Think about inertia, F = ma and action–reaction pairs.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. The same force is applied to an empty trolley and a full one. Which accelerates more? (neither moves / both the same / the full trolley / the empty trolley) → the empty trolleyPrompt: a = F ÷ m
  2. Newton's laws: which statement is true? (An object at rest stays at rest unless a resultant force acts on it. / The two forces in a Newton's third law pair act on the same object. / Heavier objects need less force to accelerate. / A moving object needs a constant force to keep moving at steady speed in space.) → An object at rest stays at rest unless a resultant force acts on it.Prompt: Think about inertia, F = ma and action–reaction pairs.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Balanced and unbalanced forces.
  • Use concrete materials: force meters.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Force, mass and acceleration (F = ma).
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-8.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Newton's laws of motion

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A rocket pushes exhaust gas downwards. Why does the rocket go up?

    • A. The gas pushes the rocket upwards with an equal and opposite force
    • B. The rocket becomes lighter than air
    • C. The air underneath lifts it like a balloon
    • D. Gravity switches off

  2. Question 2

    Newton's laws: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. The two forces in a Newton's third law pair act on the same object.
    • B. Seat belts help stop passengers continuing forward in a crash.
    • C. A resultant force makes an object accelerate.
    • D. An object at rest stays at rest unless a resultant force acts on it.

  3. Question 3

    Newton's laws: which statement is true?

    • A. A moving object needs a constant force to keep moving at steady speed in space.
    • B. The two forces in a Newton's third law pair act on the same object.
    • C. Heavier objects need less force to accelerate.
    • D. A resultant force makes an object accelerate.

  4. Question 4

    You push on a wall with 50 N. What force does the wall exert on you?

    • A. 100 N
    • B. 0 N
    • C. 25 N
    • D. 50 N, pushing back on you

  5. Question 5

    A passenger lurches forward when a bus brakes suddenly. Which law explains this?

    • A. Newton's first law (inertia)
    • B. Ohm's law
    • C. Newton's third law
    • D. Hooke's law

  6. Question 6

    The same force is applied to an empty trolley and a full one. Which accelerates more?

    • A. neither moves
    • B. the full trolley
    • C. the empty trolley
    • D. both the same

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Answer key: Newton's laws of motion

  1. 1. A. The gas pushes the rocket upwards with an equal and opposite force

  2. 2. A. The two forces in a Newton's third law pair act on the same object.

  3. 3. D. A resultant force makes an object accelerate.

  4. 4. D. 50 N, pushing back on you

  5. 5. A. Newton's first law (inertia)

  6. 6. C. the empty trolley