Newton's Third Law of Motion
Overview
This resource is designed to align with the UT SEED standard 7.1, Forces and interactions between matter. it specifically introduces the definition of Newtons third law of motion. Students will be looking at three different systems; rocket launch, swimming, and walking. They will observe and identify the direction and motion of forces within these systems. by looking at patterns of the direction of force and the direction of motion, they will come to the conclusion that every action in these systems has an opposite reaction.
Newtons Third Law of Motion
Newton’s Third Law
Investigate the forces and motion of three different systems, diagram or model the forces in those systems, and describe the pattern that you see.
System 1: Space Shuttle Launch
WATCH the video of the space shuttle launch (watch from 1:20). In this system, there is a collision between the hot gases in the engine. When you answer the questions below, focus on the forces and motion involved in that collision only.
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System 2: Swimming
WATCH the video clip of Michael Phelps swimming. In this system, there is a collision between Michael Phelps’ hand and the water. When you answer the questions below, focus on the forces and motion involved in that collision only.
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System 3: Walking
Stand up and take a few steps. As you walk, think about what is colliding in this system, the direction of the force, and the direction you move.
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Findings
Look back at your system models. Identify a pattern, or patterns, between the direction of the force and the direction of the motion of the object in each system. Construct an explanation using evidence from Systems 1-3.