Newton's First Law Topic

A horizontally oscillating platform measures mass through inertia rather than gravity. Students observe that the oscillation period depends on the loaded mass, and that plotting vs. yields a straight line …

Demonstrates that acceleration is proportional to mass . Contrasting the effort to lift a heavy rock versus a realistic-looking styrofoam boulder gives students a visceral sense that mass measures resistance …

Demonstrates inertia by showing that a slow pull on a suspended mass breaks the upper thread, while a swift pull breaks the lower thread. Students see directly how the rate …

Demonstrates Newton's First Law: objects at rest remain at rest unless acted upon by a net external force. Rapidly pulling a tablecloth from beneath dishes shows that minimizing contact time …

Demonstrates Newton's First Law: when the cart hits a stopping block and stops abruptly, the toy car continues forward at the original velocity. Students see that a force acts on …