Students observe the relationship between the angle of a catapult (a force measurement) and the flight of a cotton ball. They learn how Newton's second law of motion works by seeing directly that F = ma. When they pull the metal "arm" back further, thus applying a greater force to the cotton ball, it causes the cotton ball to travel faster and farther. Students also learn that objects of greater mass require more force to result in the same distance traveled by a lighter object.

Concepts

engineering, force, laws of motion, stem, newton's second law of motion

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Additional Tags

integrated teaching and learning program and laboratory, newton, newton's second law, teachengineering, catapult

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Classroom Considerations

• Knovation Readability Score: 3 (1 low difficulty, 5 high difficulty)