Tell students that Newton's principles contain lots of math and calculations. When the volunteer engaged in the action of stopping the ball, the ball responded with a reaction of rolling in the other direction. Discuss this until they reach the conclusion that it switched directions because the volunteer pushed it back.Įxplain to students that Isaac Newton's third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Ask students why the ball started moving in the opposite direction when it reached the end of the table. Once it gets to the volunteer, have him push it back to you. Place the ball on the table and give it a gentle shove.

Position yourself and the student volunteer at far ends of a table or desk. Explain that applying force to an object impacts its speed.Īsk a volunteer to help present the third law. Tell students that Isaac Newton's second law involved force. Explain that you applied force when you threw the ball. Discuss why the ball moved more quickly until they decide that the second ball was moving faster because you threw it. They will likely come up with a set of speeds higher than their first estimation. Pick up the ball, throw it towards the ground and ask them how fast it was going. Ask students how fast they think the ball was going. Hold the foam ball and then let it drop to the ground. Discuss this until the students decide that the ball started moving because you pushed it.Įxplain to students that Newton's first law of motion says that objects at rest stay at rest and objects in motion stay in motion unless an outside source affects it. Ask students why the ball started moving. Once students decide that it is because of the flat surface, give the ball a shove. Ask the students why the ball is not moving.

Set the foam ball on a stationary surface. Use a soft foam ball to demonstrate the first law. Tell students that Isaac Newton had three laws of motion. Ensure that the students fully understand what motion means, because that understanding is pivotal to their comprehension of the laws of motion. Write a definition on the board that the class agrees upon and then compare it to the dictionary definition.

Work with the class to develop a definition of the word motion. Tell students that these laws explain why things move the way they do. Wonderful resources for teachers include the books “Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion” by Andrea Gianopoulos and “Discovering Nature's Laws: A Story about Isaac Newton.”Įxplain that one of Isaac Newton's most significant scientific works is his laws of motion. Use a biographical text as an aid or one of a variety of available educational videos ranging in age appropriateness.

Notion definition synonym