(STF) Science and Toys: Forces Module Overview

Science and Toys: Forces Module Overview

When we play with toys, we are using forces to entertain ourselves.  From the simplest paper airplane to a complex remote control vehicle, we take advantage of forces to make our toys behave the way we want them to. Without forces, most of our toys would be boring objects and would not warrant our attention. In this module, we will explore the forces that make our toys work and how these forces entertain us. From a spinning top to a bicycle, toys use forces in various ways.  Forces are everywhere.  We will learn the science associated with forces by looking at the things we play with every day.

Essential Questions

  • How is "going fast" and "speeding up" different when you're describing your toy car's movement?
  • Why are stopped cars difficult to move and moving cars difficult to stop?
  • Where do we find simple machines, and how do they make life easier?

Module Lessons Preview

  1. Air Resistance - Friction associated with the interaction of an object with the air
  2. Coefficient of Friction - The quantity that expresses the frictional forces between two objects
  3. Equilibrium - The point at which an object is at rest or moving with a constant velocity
  4. Force - A push or pull on an object as it interacts with its environment
  5. Inertia - The natural tendency for an object to remain at rest or to remain in motion
  6. Kinetic Friction - The retarding force that acts upon a moving object in the opposite direction
  7. Momentum- The product of mass and velocity
  8. Net Force - The sum of all forces acting upon an object
  9. Newton's First Law - An object at rest remains at rest, and an object remains in motion unless acted upon by an outside force
  10. Newton's Second Law - The force an object exerts is equal to the object's mass multiplied by the object's acceleration
  11. Newton's Third Law - For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
  12. Normal Force - A force acting in the opposite direction of another force
  13. Rolling Friction - Friction associated with one object rolling over another
  14. Sliding Friction - Friction associated with one object sliding over another
  15. Static Friction - The force opposing the movement of an object across a surface
  16. Weight - An objects mass multiplied by the gravitational force acting upon it

Formulas

F=m⋅a

F = Force;  m = mass;  a = acceleration

 

W=m⋅g

W = weight;  m = mass;  g= gravity = 9.8 m /s2

 

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