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Session 15: Physics & Motion ⚡

Overview

Grades: 5-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Session: 15 of 17

Students explore Newton's Laws of Motion through hands-on experiments and engineering applications.

Session 15: Physics & Motion

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand Newton's three laws of motion

  • Conduct motion experiments

  • Apply physics to engineering design

  • See order and consistency in God's creation

Session 15: Physics & Motion

Materials Needed

  • 🚗 Motion experiment materials (cars, balls, ramps)

  • 📏 Measurement tools

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 📸 Newton's Laws visuals

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

Natural Law — The consistent laws of physics reflect God's orderly creation. Newton himself saw his discoveries as revealing God's design!

Scripture

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." — Psalm 19:1

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you created a universe of order and consistency. Help us discover the laws you built into creation. May our understanding deepen our awe of your wisdom. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (8 minutes)

  1. Physics = God's Order:
  2. Universe follows consistent laws
  3. We can discover and use them!
  4. Isaac Newton: "This most beautiful system could only proceed from the dominion of an intelligent Being."
  5. Newton's Three Laws:
  6. 1st Law (Inertia): Objects stay at rest or in motion unless acted upon by a force
  7. 2nd Law (F=ma): Force = Mass × Acceleration
  8. 3rd Law (Action-Reaction): Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
  9. Why It Matters:
  10. Every machine, vehicle, building uses these laws!
  11. Engineers apply physics constantly

Main Activity: Motion Experiments (28 minutes)

Part 1: First Law - Inertia (8 minutes)

Experiment: Tablecloth Pull

  • Objects want to stay where they are!

  • Demo: Pull cloth from under objects

  • Or: Coin/card on cup (flick card, coin drops)

Application:

  • Seatbelts (body wants to keep moving in crash)

  • Why you lean when car turns

Engineering Connection:

  • Safety systems must account for inertia

Part 2: Second Law - F=ma (8 minutes)

Experiment: Ramp Races

  • Same ball, different ramps (angles)

  • More force (gravity) = more acceleration

  • Different masses, same ramp

Observations:

  • Steeper = faster acceleration

  • Heavier objects need more force to accelerate same

Engineering Connection:

  • Car engines, rockets, sports equipment

Part 3: Third Law - Action-Reaction (8 minutes)

Experiment: Balloon Rocket

  • Inflate balloon on string track

  • Release: Air goes back, balloon goes forward!

  • Equal and opposite!

Other Examples:

  • Walking (push ground back, move forward)

  • Swimming (push water back, move forward)

  • Rockets (push exhaust down, rocket goes up)

Engineering Connection:

  • Jet engines, rockets, propellers

Part 4: Design Application (4 minutes)

  • Quick sketch: Design something that uses all 3 laws

  • Examples: Car, rocket, sports equipment

  • Label which law applies where

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Write each law in your own words
  2. Draw one experiment and explain results
  3. Your design sketch with laws labeled
  4. Write: "Physics shows God's order because..."

Closing Circle (4 minutes)

  1. Laws Appreciation — "Which law surprised you most?"
  2. Order in Creation — "How does physics reveal God's design?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "God, thank you for the consistent laws that govern your creation. Help us use this knowledge to engineer solutions that serve others. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Explained all three laws

  • Participated in experiments

  • Connected physics to engineering

  • Saw order in creation

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on demonstrations

  • Simple law explanations

  • Partner work

For Advanced Students

  • Calculate force/acceleration

  • Design complex application

  • Research advanced physics

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Find Newton's laws at home! Watch videos of rockets, sports, car crashes (safety videos). Discuss: How do these laws affect everyday life? Research Newton's faith!

Teacher Notes

  • Simple materials work best

  • Safety with balloon rockets

  • Connect to playground physics

  • Great for outdoor experiments

Previous: Session 14 — Sphero Challenge
Next: Session 16 — Advanced Invention