newton's law science experiment

Exploring the Science of Motion: 5 Simple and Fun Experiments for Kids

Activities » Science » Exploring the Science of Motion: 5 Simple and Fun Experiments for Kids

SHARE THIS POST:

Motion is all around us, from the gentle swaying of a tree branch to the roaring power of a race car. It’s a fascinating subject that has captured the imagination of scientists and curious minds alike.

Whether you’re a parent looking for fun and educational activities to do with your kids or an adult who wants to explore the science of motion in a hands-on way, these five simple experiments are sure to delight and inspire.

From creating your own mini rollercoaster to investigating the physics of pendulums, each experiment is designed to be both fun and informative. So grab some materials, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to discover the science of motion in a whole new way!

Newton’s Laws fascinate kids! You’re in for a treat! Science seems almost too good to be true. Even for us adults. Science across the board is not only amazing but can be performed or observed easily and inexpensively.

Remember when we learned about electricity ? How about our friction experiment ? Engaging kids in science seems straightforward, but what if you don’t ignite the sense of awe and wonder of the world?

5 Simple and Fun Experiments for Newton’s Laws of Motion

Experiment 1: balloon rocket.

For this experiment, you will need a long piece of string, a drinking straw, a balloon, and some tape. Cut a piece of string about 5 feet long and tie one end to a chair or doorknob.

Thread the straw onto the other end of the string and tape it in place. Blow up the balloon and pinch the end to keep the air inside. Tape the balloon to the straw and let it go.

The air rushing out of the balloon will propel the straw and create a “rocket” effect.

This experiment demonstrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the air rushes out of the balloon, it creates a force that propels the straw in the opposite direction.

You can make the experiment more challenging by adding obstacles for the balloon rocket to navigate around or by using different sizes and shapes of balloons.

Experiment 2: Egg Drop Challenge

For this experiment, you will need an egg, some materials for padding, and a place to drop the egg from. The challenge is to create a protective casing for the egg that will prevent it from breaking when it hits the ground.

You can use materials like cotton balls, bubble wrap, or foam to cushion the egg. Once you’ve created your casing, drop it from different heights and see if the egg survives.

This experiment demonstrates the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion. When the egg is dropped, it has a certain amount of kinetic energy that is converted into potential energy as it reaches its highest point.

As the egg falls, the potential energy is converted back into kinetic energy, which causes it to accelerate. The padding around the egg helps to absorb some of the force of the impact and protect it from breaking.

I love this example of the project from Kiwi Co !

Experiment 3: Paper Airplane Race

For this experiment, you will need some paper and some creativity. Fold a piece of paper into an airplane and see how far it can fly. Experiment with different designs and techniques to see which one flies the farthest. You can also have a race with friends to see whose airplane can fly the fastest.

This experiment demonstrates the principles of aerodynamics, which is the study of how objects move through the air. The shape and design of the paper airplane can affect how it flies, with factors like lift, drag, and thrust all playing a role in its performance. By experimenting with different designs, you can learn more about the science of flight.

Experiment 4: DIY Wind Turbine

For this experiment, you will need some basic materials like a plastic bottle, a small motor, and some blades. Cut the top off the bottle and attach the blades to the motor. Place the motor inside the bottle and secure it in place. When the blades are turned by the wind, they will generate electricity that can power small devices like a lightbulb or a fan.

This experiment demonstrates the concept of energy conversion, which is the process of changing one form of energy into another. The kinetic energy of the wind is converted into electrical energy through the rotation of the blades. By experimenting with different blade designs and wind speeds, you can learn more about the science of renewable energy.

Experiment 5: Pendulum Painting

For this experiment, you will need a pendulum (which can be made by tying a weight to a string), some paper, and some paint. Hang the pendulum from a fixed point and place a piece of paper underneath it. Dip the weight into the paint and let it swing back and forth, creating a unique pattern on the paper.

This experiment demonstrates the principles of motion and gravity, with the pendulum swinging back and forth in a predictable pattern. The paint adds an artistic element to the experiment, creating a visual representation of the motion of the pendulum. You can experiment with different colors and weights to create different patterns and designs.

Generation Genius has a wonderful tutorial on pendulum painting with kids .

Newton’s Laws for Kids Must Try Activity

In the meantime, onto our Newton’s Laws of Motion (the 3rd law to be specific) experiment! Every month we receive Steve Spangler’s Science Club Kit . Steve’s Kit is superior and full of amazing experiments, science learning for kids, and a Top Secret guide for parents and teachers. The experiments build (scaffolding) upon each other so kids really get the science. Extremely well done.

The Helicopter Balloon is one super fun way to introduce kids to more complex scientific ideas.

The kit we received includes three blades, a blade connector, a hub, and two balloons. A bit tricky for a younger child to put together but my 6.5-year-old was able to make it happen. The key is after the balloon is blown up, to pinch the balloon as you attach it to the hub, and wait for the amazing science.

Explanation of the Science Behind Each Experiment

Each of these experiments demonstrates different principles of motion and physics.

The balloon rocket experiment shows Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The gas coming from the balloon forces the blades to rotate, the blades drive the air down to cause the helicopter to lift. Kids love this activity.

The egg drop challenge demonstrates the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.

The paper airplane race demonstrates the principles of aerodynamics, which is the study of how objects move through the air.

The DIY wind turbine experiment demonstrates the concept of energy conversion, which is the process of changing one form of energy into another.

The pendulum painting experiment demonstrates the principles of motion and gravity.

You can buy the Toysmith Balloon Helicopter kit on your own from Amazon or you can subscribe to Steve Spangler’s Science Club , which I highly recommend.

What if your child has no desire to learn more? I thought about that a while back. If this obstacle sounds familiar check out a post I wrote on Ways to Help a Child with Science Thinking . Let me know what you think.

Related Reads

• Easy Motion Science Experiment that Will Wow Your Kids
• 10 Creative & Unique Easter Basket Ideas for Boys
• Brighten Up Your Kid’s Day with these Fun and Educational Light Activities
• Super Easy, Fun, & Unforgettable Water Balloon Activities for Kids
• Why Should Parents Care about Emotional Intelligence?
• Easy Physics Experiment for Kids

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• FREE Experiments
• Kitchen Science
• Climate Change
• Egg Experiments
• Fairy Tale Science
• Edible Science
• Human Health
• Inspirational Women
• Forces and Motion
• Science Fair Projects
• STEM Challenges
• Science Sparks Books
• Contact Science Sparks
• Science Resources for Home and School

What are Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion?

May 3, 2021 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Isaac Newton’s laws of motion explain the relationship between an object and the forces acting on it. The laws might seem very obvious today, but when Isaac Newton was alive, they were revolutionary and formed the basis of modern physics. Isaac Newton built on ideas from Galileo Galilei, Jean Richer and Rene Descartes. It is also said that Edmund Halley convinced Isaac Newton to write Principia .

Newton recorded his ideas about the laws of motion and gravity in a book called Principia .

A force is anything that can change the motion of an object. When you throw a ball, you exert a force on it in a specific direction which is the direction in which it moves. The harder you throw, the further the ball travels as a bigger force is acting on it.

What are Newton’s Laws of Motion?

What is newton’s first law.

An object at rest will remain at rest.

An object in motion will keep moving with the same speed and in the same direction unless another force acts on it.

Basically, that means a motionless object will stay motionless unless a force acts on it. Imagine a toy car on the floor; it will only move if someone pushes it.

If the forces acting on a body are balanced, it will move at a constant velocity.

Experiments to Demonstrate Newton’s First Law

A rocket mouse is a fantastic demonstration of Newton’s First Law . The cone on the milk bottle is at rest until the force of air being pushed out of the milk bottle ( when you squeeze it ) sends the cone flying into the air.

Newton’s First Law is sometimes referred to as the Law of Inertia . This means that if an object is moving in a straight line, it will continue moving in a straight line unless a force acts on it.

An excellent way to demonstrate this is with a simple inertia experiment .

If you pull the yellow card fast enough, the black column will fall to the side, and the lemon will fall in a straight line into the glass! The video below shows this in action.

What about friction?

We know that, generally, objects don’t continue moving forever because they are slowed down by friction. For example, a ball rolling on a carpet slows down much faster than a ball rolling on a smooth floor, as there is more friction between a ball on a rough surface than on a smooth surface. You can demonstrate this by making a friction ramp .

In space where there is no friction from air, objects keep moving for much longer.

Newton’s Second Law

Newton’s Second Law is all about the relationship between the force applied to a body and the change in its momentum or acceleration.

Force is equal to mass times acceleration

F – force applied ( N )

a – Acceleration (m/s 2 )

m – Mass ( kg )

What does that mean? Newton’s Second Law states that force is equal to mass times acceleration. A change in momentum is proportional to the change in the force applied.

Imagine kicking a light plastic football and a heavy football. Moving the heavier ball the same distance as the lighter ball takes a lot more force.

Newton’s Third Law

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction. When one body acts on another, it experiences an equal and opposite reaction from the other body.

If you were to push an object, the object pushes back against you, and if you stop pushing, the force back against you stops as well.

Imagine a rocket launching. The downward thrust created by the engine is the action, and the reaction is an opposite upward thrust forcing the rocket into the air.

A rocket will continue moving upwards as long as there is a resultant upwards force. If the upwards thrust force ceased, the resultant force would be downward.

Experiments to demonstrate all three of Newton’s Laws of Motion

A film canister rocket or mini bottle rocket is great for demonstrating all three of Newton’s Laws.

Newton’s First Law

The film canister remains motionless unless something is added to create a force ( usually an effervescent vitamin tablet and water ).

Acceleration is affected by the mass of an object. If you increase the mass of the film canister, you’ll find it moves more slowly and doesn’t fly as high.

The downward force on the film canister lid creates an opposite upwards force on the body of the canister, which flies up into the air.

More experiments to demonstrate forces

Think about some of the difficulties astronauts experience in space with this hands on activity about docking with the ISS .

Find out more about Isaac Newton , Galileo and other famous scientists.

Learn about gravity with straw rockets, magnets and water bottles in this selection of easy gravity experiments .

Finally, try one of these easy investigations for learning about forces and motion .

Last Updated on January 12, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

9 Engaging Newton's Laws of Motion Project Ideas

As a dedicated physics educator, you have the exciting task of introducing students to the laws of motion established by Sir Isaac Newton. Whether you're a seasoned teacher looking to refresh your curriculum or a newcomer eager for innovative teaching strategies, exploring Newton's Laws of Motion through a mix of hands-on and virtual labs offers a dynamic approach to learning.

We've identified six in-person labs and three virtual labs you can do with your students.

Newton's First Law Project Ideas

Sir Isaac Newton came up with some observations about motion. His First Law of Motion is: “An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.”

Hands-on lab: Moving Cart

Simulate a car accident's impact using a moving cart to demonstrate the effects of inertia without a seatbelt. Set up a simple cart with two wheel axes and a mass, and crash it into a cardboard box. Tape the cardboard box to the floor and mark a starting point about 5 feet away. Vary the speed of the collision and observe how the mass moves forward on the cart at different distances and speeds. The mass remains in motion due to inertia, even though it abruptly stops upon hitting the cardboard. Record and discuss the observations, and optionally, tape the mass to the cart to simulate a seatbelt.

Virtual lab: Newton's First Law of Motion: Balanced and unbalanced forces

In Labster's Newton’s First Law of Motion simulation , students visually observe how different forces act on an object and how motion takes place when forces are unbalanced.  Students will travel back in time to where Newton is surprised to see them in his room. He is quite upset since while he was working under a tree, an apple fell on his head and made him forget his First Law of Motion. Luckily they'll be able to join him in 1687 and help him rediscover everything about his law.

Hands-on lab: Penny on a Card Experiment

The Penny on a Card science project explores Newton's First Law of Motion, or the law of inertia. By flicking or pulling an overhanging card, the card slides off the table while the penny stays in place. This hands-on experiment helps students understand the concept of inertia and encourages critical thinking and observation skills. 

Newton's Second Law Project Ideas

Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. In mathematical terms, this can be expressed as F = ma, where F represents the net force, m denotes the mass of the object, and a represents the acceleration. 

Hands-on lab: Egg Crush Experiment

This engaging project allows students to explore Newton's Second Law of Motion. Using only flat wooden toothpicks and wood glue, students are challenged to build a device capable of protecting an egg from being crushed by the force of a falling 5-gallon bucket. This hands-on activity also enhances their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By considering concepts such as inertia, force, and reaction, students can design and construct an effective contraption and gain a practical understanding of the fundamental principles of motion.

Virtual lab: Newton's Second Law of Motion: Speed and Acceleration

In Labster's virtual lab , students travel through time and space to help Newton rediscover his Second Law of Motion. Students can use this physically realistic simulation to experiment with forces and masses and observe their effects on acceleration and velocity. Students will apply forces on a body with adjustable mass to control its acceleration and produce different kinds of motion. Includes experimentation tasks and directed challenges that require the student to take the effects of added forces into account or produce a specific motion. 

Hands-on lab: Toy Car Speed Project

For a Newton's Second Law of Motion project, you can conduct a toy car speed experiment. Create a ramp using books and meter sticks, and place different masses on the toy cars. Roll the cars down the ramp and record the time it takes for each one to reach the bottom. Manipulate the ramp height while keeping the mass constant to observe the impact on speed. Use the collected data to create a graph and write a paper explaining how the experiment aligns with Newton's Second Law. Explore how acceleration depends on net force, mass, and gravity's applied force. This project allows for a practical demonstration of Newton's Second Law and helps in understanding the relationship between height and speed.

Newton's Third Law Project Ideas

Newton's Third Law simply states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Hands-on lab: Newton's Cradle

The Newton's Cradle lab is a hands-on experiment that allows high school students to explore Newton's Third Law of Motion. Using a Newton's Cradle apparatus, students observe the conservation of momentum and energy in collisions. They pull back one ball, release it, and observe the transfer of energy to the other balls. By varying parameters like the number of balls or angle of release, students deepen their understanding of these principles. 

Virtual lab: Newton's Laws of Motion: Understand active and passive safety in motorsports

In this simulation , Labster uses Newton’s laws of motion to break down the passive and active safety features of a race car to enable our drivers to move faster in the safest way possible. In most interactions, there is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects. This is what Newton’s Third Law of Motion describes. Check out examples of this law in motorsports and identify the action and reaction forces while driving.

Hands-on lab: Balloon Rocket Experiment

Stretch a piece of string across the classroom and thread a straw onto it. Inflate a balloon without tying it off, tape it to the straw, and then release it. The air rushing out of the balloon propels it in the opposite direction, demonstrating Newton's Third Law.

Newton's Laws of Motion provide a fascinating framework for understanding the fundamental principles that govern how objects move in the physical world. By engaging in hands-on projects and virtual experiments related to these laws, students can deepen their understanding of concepts such as force, acceleration, and inertia. 

Applying Newton's Laws of Motion to real-life situations empowers students to develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper appreciation for the laws that shape our world. Incorporating these project ideas can enhance the students learning journey and inspire a lifelong passion for science and discovery.

Labster helps universities and high schools enhance student success in STEM.

Explore More

Introducing Labster’s Back-to-School Physics Collection, Here to Make Teaching Easier

Introducing Labster’s Back-to-School Biology Collection, Here to Make Teaching Easier

Introducing Labster’s Back-to-School Chemistry Collection, Here to Make Teaching Easier

Discover The Most Immersive Digital Learning Platform.

Request a demo to discover how Labster helps high schools and universities enhance student success.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

• Classroom Ideas
• Teacher’s Life
• Deals & Shopping
• Privacy Policy

Newtons Laws Of Motion Activities For Middle School: Ideas For First Law, Second Law, Third Law, Inertia, Motion, And Momentum

February 14, 2024 //  by  Cassie Caroll

There is no better way to teach your middle schooler about the laws of motion than by putting their knowledge into action. While Newton’s laws may seem a bit foreign to your learner at first, we found some of the best hands-on activities to help your student better understand these concepts. An object in motion stays in motion, and we hope these experiments will keep your learner learning! With some common objects and an inquisitive mind, we’ve found these exercises both engaging and enlightening!

Newton’s First Law Activities

1. ball bounce experiment.

One way to demonstrate Newton’s first law is by observing a ball in motion. Head to your garage and grab any type of ball you can find — a basketball, tennis ball, bouncy ball — the more varied the better. Then, have your student execute this activity to observe the different ways an object in motion reacts to outside forces. Consider keeping track of hypotheses and observations in a notebook!

Learn More: Metro Family Magazine

2. Inertia Demonstration

While inertia is a simple concept on the surface, putting the idea into action makes it much more accessible as the laws get more complex. This inertia demonstration allows your student to become the force that disrupts an inert object, plus it can quickly become a favorite “magic trick.”

Learn More: Science Sparks

3. Marble Maze

An object in motion stays in motion, and one way to manipulate the way in which an object moves is by constructing a marble maze. We like how easy this activity is to differentiate depending on your student’s level of understanding.

Learn More: Instructables

4. Inertia Hat

Do you know those pesky wire hangers that never seem to stay intact? Put them to good use with this inertia hat activity! Follow along with this video to experiment with the intricacies of inertia  and to give you and your student permission to get a little silly.

Learn More: Youtube

5. Quarter Catch

This activity will only cost 25 cents! The quarter catch is another experiment that may become a favorite party trick. Your student will place a quarter on their elbow and practice moving quickly enough to catch it before it falls, demonstrating inertia.

Learn More: Science Fun

6. Bernoulli’s Activity

Although this activity is based on Bernoulli’s principle, it has a direct correlation to Newton’s first law. Ask your student to figure out what happens when the force of their breath is applied to the ping pong ball and then when it is taken away. This is a great closure activity that quickly demonstrates the concept while making it fun!

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

7. Whack-a-Stack

Like a quick game of Jenga, the whack-a-stack activity gives your student yet another example of Newton’s first law. All you need is a small stack of blocks or similar objects and a pipe-like instrument to conduct this experiment.

Learn More: Exploratorium

Newton’s Second Law Activities

8. marshmallow puff tube.

To explore acceleration and unbalanced forces, grab a marshmallow, some flour, a file folder, and a bit of tape. We love that this can be a very simple demonstration of Newton’s second law or be pushed even further to explore acceleration and friction.

9. Egg Bungee

To conceptualize different types of energy at play, have your student try this egg bungee experiment. You can use a range of materials to look at the roles of potential and kinetic energy, but don’t forget the paper towels for a swift clean up!

Learn More: Museum of Science+Industry Chicago

10. Crater Experiment

This crater experiment creates an excellent visual for Newton’s second law. The craters created by various items will help you demonstrate how mass and acceleration factor into an object’s force. This is another activity that will require some minor cleanup, but placing a towel underneath your experiment area can help.

11. Build a Projectile

Have your student learn about stored energy while creating a new toy  and recycling! This projectile activity is fun and informative and can be done using common household objects. Be sure to check out more instructions in the link.

Learn more: Arvin D. Gupta Toys

Newton’s Third Law Activities

12. popping canisters.

We love this Alka-Seltzer activity! With a little prep, this experiment can be a mess-free, interactive experience with Newton’s third law. This may take a couple of practice rounds, but the demonstration of equal and opposite reactions is well worth the rehearsal.

Learn More: Science Matters

13. Rocket Pinwheel

Bring the action-reaction principle to life with this DIY rocket pinwheel ! Using common household items and a dash of creativity, this rocket pinwheel can quickly become a favorite activity demonstrating Newton’s third law.

Learn More: NASA Teacher’s Resource Center

14. Hero’s Engine

To demonstrate Newton’s third law  and introduce your student to rocketry basics, try this Hero’s Engine activity. This activity can be done using different materials depending on what you have at your disposal. Try this pop can adaptation if you don’t have a plastic cup handy.

Learn More: Wabi 5

15. Marble Momentum 

You can demonstrate Newton’s third law in many different ways using just marbles! This particular marble experiment allows you to differentiate according to your students’ understanding and interest. Keep pushing your experimentation using a different number of marbles or even different sizes, then push it even further by using skateboards described later in these directions.

Learn More: Metro Family

16. Balloon Rocket

With just a string, straw, and latex balloon, your student can experiment with air flow and motion. Take a look at the balloon rocket activity shown at the start of this video. Then, discuss what your student is seeing. Why is it the balloon follows the trajectory they observed? How does air flow affect the balloon’s momentum?

17. DIY Newton’s Cradle

What’s a study of Newton’s law without Newton’s cradle? This super easy DIY Newton’s Cradle allows your student to take ownership over their learning and create a living example of Newton’s third law. There are tons of different ways of building a cradle, but we found this one to be the most user and budget friendly.

Learn More: Babble Dabble Do

More Inertia, Motion, and Momentum Activities

18. tablecloth pull.

Another fun way of experimenting with inertia is by practicing this “magic trick” with your learner. Our advice is to invest in some plasticware for this activity to avoid any broken glass. You may also want to opt for the wax paper alternative described in the post for optimal results.

Learn More: Science World

19. Collision Course

For a quick demonstration of equal and opposite reactions, create this miniature bumper car scenario! Grab two of anything that rolls of equal size. This collision course activity can be done as a brief demo or can be extended to be a more in-depth investigation of Newton’s third law.

Learn More: Science Buddies

20. Baking Soda Powered Boat

Create a baking soda-powered boat in your bathtub or nearby body of water! This experiment allows your learner to look at the different forces at work when their boat takes off.

21. Newton Car

Bring your student’s learning full circle by demonstrating all three of Newton’s laws using Newton’s car lab! This activity takes more time to setup, but the payoff is well worth it.

Learn More: NASA

22. Spinning Marbles

This spinning marbles activity is a great way to first introduce the idea of inertia and then experiment with different types of motion. Of course, be sure to supervise your learner when they use the hot glue!

Learn More: Kids Activities

23. Momentum Machine

Instead of creating a machine, why not become the machine yourself? Have your learner grab a spinning chair and a couple of liter bottles to experiment with momentum. This also creates a great boomerang moment for Instagram!

24. Spaghetti Accelerometer

If your learner is ready to consider acceleration when it comes to the laws of motion, this activity can be an excellent introduction. Although this spaghetti accelerometer requires some power tool work, once the setup is complete, it is a great opportunity to push your learner.

Newton’s Laws Experiment

This post may contain affiliate links.

I have a little lesson on Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion today.  Plus a cool experiment to go along with it called Gravity Beads.

We get the Steve Spangler Science kits in the mail each month. Its a happy mail day when they come. They are a great addition to our science lessons and my kids just have so much fun with them.  (Not a sponsored post, just something we really love.) This month’s box was all about inertia and Newton’s laws of motion. Cool stuff.  The ultimate favorite of this month’s kit were the gravity beads. But first, a little refresher on motion & gravity for you!

What are Newton’s Laws of Motion & Gravity?

Newton’s First Law states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion (unless acted upon by force). Another important term is Inertia.   Inertia is the tendency of a body to resist a change in motion or rest.

Newton’s Second Law states that force is equal to the mass of the object times its acceleration or F= MA.  A force is a push or a pull, and mass is a measurement of the amount of matter the object has. Acceleration measures how fast the velocity (speed with direction) changes.  Sobasically it means that you need a force to move an object. The bigger the mass, the greater the force you will need.

Newton’s Third Law says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Simple? kinda.

Newton’s Law of Gravity says that every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with a force which is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. Hu?

Simpler terms: Gravity is a force that tries to pull two objects toward each other. Anything which has mass also has a gravitational pull equal to its mass. The more mass an object has, the stronger its gravitational pull is. Gravity is what keeps you on the ground and what makes things to fall to the ground.

How to Do the Gravity Bead Experiment

Watch to see what it is first. 🙂

So, now that you have a basic grasp of Newton’s laws, (you probably already learned all of this in your physics class in high school right?) you will better be bale to understand how this gravity bead experiment works. It’s crazy cool and really just looks like magic, but it’s physics! This is all based on Inertia and the laws of motion!

All you need is a long strand of beads and a large cup. Really, that’s it!  These beads are like the cheap plastic Mardi Gras ones. You can get them anywhere. BUT, the difference here is the length of the strand. This strand is about 50 feet long. If you are going for cost effective, you could try to make our own with the regular beads- just glue many strands together. I am not sure whether it would really be cheaper or not, though.  If you are going for ease, pick up this long strand already done for you.

Since posting this, I have seen a lot of people say they see this happen with their Christmas bead garlands!  So here is a bead garland that is 26 ft. long . Or maybe you have some at home already?!

It’s best to use a large clear cup or glass so you can watch the process. Put the beads into the cup in circular rows so they do not get tangled up while coming back out. This is really important!

Leave the end of the strand hanging hanging out of the top of the cup.  If you make your own beads you will want to do something to distinguish the ends from the other parts of the strands- add a piece of tape to make it easy to find the ends.

When you are ready, give the strand of beads a little tug. Hold the cup high off the ground, so there is more of a pull downward. They will literally start moving and continue moving until the beads run out.

The coolest thing to do is to take a video of it in slow motion so you can really see what the movements look like.  You’ll see in our video that the beads move upward in an arc before going down. This is because of the initial pull you give it. It continues in that upward motion until the force of gravity brings it downward.  Awesome, right?!

Here’s a tip : Let the beads collect into another cup, then you can keep it going again and again!

Let us know if you try it out!

Want another cool gravity experiment?

Try this Gravity Spinner !

Or try one of my many other STEM projects for kids!

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

Similar Posts

Rainbow Icosahedron Ball

Coding apps for kids.

Learning the Periodic Table

Cereal Box Drawbridge STEM

Magnet Boats and More Science Fun!

CVC Short I Words Activities

We inadvertently do this experiment every Christmas, when our bead garland leaps out of its cylindrical container ! Love it!

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s laws of motion are three laws of classical mechanics that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting upon it.

• A body in motion remains in motion or a body at rest remains at rest, unless acted upon by a force.
• Force equals mass times acceleration: F = m*a. Or, the rate of change of a body’s momentum equals the force acting upon it: F = Δp/Δt.
• For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Sir Isaac Newton describes the three laws of motion in his 1687 book Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica . The Principia also outlines the theory of gravity . While the Theory of Relativity applies to objects moving near the speed of light , Newton’s laws work well under ordinary conditions.

Newton’s First Law – Inertia

An object at rest remains at rest or an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed and in a straight line, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Basically, the first law describes inertia, which is a body’s resistance to a change in its state of motion. If no net force acts on a body (all external forces cancel out), then the object maintains constant velocity. A motionless object has a velocity of zero, while a moving body has a non-zero velocity. An external force acting upon an object changes its velocity.

Here are some examples of Newton’s first law:

• A dropped ball continues falling
• If you let go of a moving cart, it continues rolling (ultimately stopped by friction)
• An apple resting on a table does not spontaneously move

Newton’s Second Law – Force

The rate of change of an object’s momentum equals the force acting upon it or the applied force equal’s an object’s mass times its acceleration.

The two equations for Newton’s second law are:

Here, F is the applied force, m is mass, a is acceleration, p is momentum, and t is time. Note that the second law tells us that an external force accelerates an object. The amount of acceleration is inversely proportional to its mass, so it’s harder to accelerate a heavier object than a lighter one. The second law assumes an object has constant mass (which is not always the case in relativistic physics).

Here are examples of Newton’s second law:

• It takes more effort moving a heavy box than a light one.
• A truck takes longer to stop than a car.
• It hurts more getting hit with a fast-moving baseball than a slow one. Each ball has the same mass, but the force depends on the acceleration.

Newton’s Third Law – Action and Reaction

When one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts and equal and opposite force on the first object.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, if set an apple on a table, the table pushes up on the apple with a force equal to the mass of the apple times the acceleration due to gravity. This can be difficult to visualize, but there are more obvious examples of Newton’s third law:

• If you are wearing roller skates and you push another person wearing skates, you both move.
• A jet engine produces thrust. As the hot gases exit the engine, an equal force pushes the jet forward.
• Halliday, David; Krane, Kenneth S.; Resnick, Robert (2001). Physics Volume 1 (5th ed.). Wiley. ISBN 978-0471320579.
• Knight, Randall D. (2008). Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach (2nd ed.). Addison-Wesley. ISBN 978-0805327366.
• Plastino, Angel R.; Muzzio, Juan C. (1992). “On the use and abuse of Newton’s second law for variable mass problems”. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy . 53 (3): 227–232. doi: 10.1007/BF00052611
• Thornton, Stephen T.; Marion, Jerry B. (2004). Classical Dynamics of P articles and Systems (5th ed.). Brooke Cole. ISBN 0-534-40896-6.

Related Posts

• Earth Science
• Physics & Engineering
• Science Kits
• Microscopes
• Science Curriculum and Kits
• About Home Science Tools

Science Projects > Physics & Engineering Projects > Newton’s Laws of Motion & Projects  

Newton’s Laws of Motion & Projects

Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion form the basic principles of modern physics . When published in 1687, the three laws were unique in that they used mathematical formulas to explain the natural world.

Newton’s Laws Defined

Inertia: newton’s first law of motion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object’s velocity will not change unless it is acted on by an outside force.

This means that an object at rest will stay at rest until a force causes it to move.

Likewise, an object in motion will stay in motion until a force acts on it and causes its velocity to change.

For further thought : Why do wheels and tops eventually stop spinning, without appearing to be touched by a force?

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Newton’s Second Law of Motion states that ‘when an object is acted on by an outside force, the strength of the force equals the mass of the object times the resulting acceleration’.

In other words, the formula to use in calculating force is force = mass x acceleration . Opposing forces such as friction can be added or subtracted from the total to find the amount of force that was really used in a situation.

You can demonstrate this principle by dropping a rock or marble and a wadded-up piece of paper at the same time. They fall at an equal rate—their acceleration is constant due to the force of gravity acting on them.

However, the rock has a much greater force of impact when it hits the ground, because of its greater mass. If you drop the two objects into a dish of sand or flour, you can see how different the force of impact for each object was, based on the crater made in the sand by each one.

Another way to show this is two push off two toy cars or roller skates of equal mass at the same time, giving one of them a harder push than the other. The mass is equal in both, but the acceleration is greater in the one that you exerted greater force on.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion

Stated simply, Newton’s Third Law of Motion says that ‘for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.’

Use a pair of roller skates and a ball to show how this works. What happens when you’re standing still in skates and then throw a ball hard? The force of throwing the ball pushes your skates (and you) in the other direction.

You can also demonstrate this using Newton’s Cradle .

This apparatus consists of steel balls suspended on a frame. When the ball on one end is pulled back and then let go, it swings into the other balls. The ball on the opposite end then swings up with an equal force to the first ball, as shown in the illustration on the right.

The force of the first ball causes and equal and opposite reaction in the ball at the other end.

For further thought : Thrust is an important result of Newton’s Third Law. How does this work in a rocket? Read more about rockets and rocketry .

Newton’s Laws Projects

• Check out our inertia apparatus to understand Newton’s First Law better.
• Check out our dynamic carts to gain a better understanding of Newton’s Second Law.
• Check out our Newton’s Cradle for a classic demonstration of Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

Physics & Engineering

Welcome! Read other Physics & Engineering related articles or explore our Resource Center, which consists of hundreds of free science articles!

Shop for Physics Supplies!

Home Science Tools offers a wide variety of Physics products and kits. Find physics & engineering tools, equipment, STEM kits & more for kids and adults.

Related Articles

Homopolar Motor – Make a Spinning Wire Sculpture

In this experiment, we will make a homopolar motor! To make a simple motor (homopolar motor) that doubles as a work of art you will need three things – a battery, magnet, and wire. Use one of our neodymium magnets to power the spinning wire motor. What You Will Need:...

Solar Energy Matching Game

Print out this page on a sheet of heavy paper or cardstock. Kids can color the pictures and cut out the squares to make a matching game. Half of the squares show a way to use solar energy as an alternative to the picture shown on the other squares. Place all the...

Simple Spring Break Science Projects

Spring break is here! What will you do with your time off? Perhaps you're looking forward to a family vacation, or a few days of down time at home. Either way, find a quick and easy project that's sure to put a sparkle in the eye of any science lover, or win over a...

Sink or Float Worksheet

Use the Sink or Float Worksheet with the "Sink or Float?" science project to encourage kids to make predictions, perform tests, and record their results. This project is perfect for indoor discovery - especially in colder months! Put a towel under a large container of...

Physics Science Fair Projects

Find physics science fair project ideas about magnetism, electricity, energy and solar power, and more.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get project ideas and special offers delivered to your inbox.

Remember Me

Shop Experiment Newton’s Second Law Experiments​

Newton’s second law.

Experiment #39 from Physical Science with Vernier

Introduction

Newton’s second law of motion explains the relationship among force, mass, and acceleration. In this activity, you will study the relationship between acceleration and mass, while keeping force constant. A car carrying different masses will be pulled across a table by a hanging weight—the constant force. Acceleration will be measured using a computer-interfaced Motion Detector. You will plot a graph of acceleration versus mass, and then use the graph as you make conclusions about the relationship between mass and acceleration.

In this experiment, you will

• Use a Motion Detector to determine acceleration.
• Record data.
• Graph data.
• Make conclusions about the relationship between mass and acceleration.

Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.

Ready to Experiment?

Ask an expert.

Get answers to your questions about how to teach this experiment with our support team.

• Call toll-free: 888-837-6437
• Chat with Us
• Email [email protected]

Purchase the Lab Book

This experiment is #39 of Physical Science with Vernier . The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.

Introduction to Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Chapter outline.

Motion draws our attention. Motion itself can be beautiful, causing us to marvel at the forces needed to achieve spectacular motion, such as that of a dolphin jumping out of the water, or a pole vaulter, or the flight of a bird, or the orbit of a satellite. The study of motion is kinematics, but kinematics only describes the way objects move—their velocity and their acceleration. Dynamics considers the forces that affect the motion of moving objects and systems. Newton’s laws of motion are the foundation of dynamics. These laws provide an example of the breadth and simplicity of principles under which nature functions. They are also universal laws in that they apply to similar situations on Earth as well as in space.

Isaac Newton’s (1642–1727) laws of motion were just one part of the monumental work that has made him legendary. The development of Newton’s laws marks the transition from the Renaissance into the modern era. This transition was characterized by a revolutionary change in the way people thought about the physical universe. For many centuries natural philosophers had debated the nature of the universe based largely on certain rules of logic with great weight given to the thoughts of earlier classical philosophers such as Aristotle (384–322 BC). Among the many great thinkers who contributed to this change were Newton and Galileo.

Galileo was instrumental in establishing observation as the absolute determinant of truth, rather than “logical” argument. Galileo’s use of the telescope was his most notable achievement in demonstrating the importance of observation. He discovered moons orbiting Jupiter and made other observations that were inconsistent with certain ancient ideas and religious dogma. For this reason, and because of the manner in which he dealt with those in authority, Galileo was tried by the Inquisition and punished. He spent the final years of his life under a form of house arrest. Because others before Galileo had also made discoveries by observing the nature of the universe, and because repeated observations verified those of Galileo, his work could not be suppressed or denied. After his death, his work was verified by others, and his ideas were eventually accepted by the church and scientific communities.

Galileo also contributed to the formation of what is now called Newton’s first law of motion. Newton made use of the work of his predecessors, which enabled him to develop laws of motion, discover the law of gravity, invent calculus, and make great contributions to the theories of light and color. It is amazing that many of these developments were made with Newton working alone, without the benefit of the usual interactions that take place among scientists today.

It was not until the advent of modern physics early in the 20th century that it was discovered that Newton’s laws of motion produce a good approximation to motion only when the objects are moving at speeds much, much less than the speed of light and when those objects are larger than the size of most molecules (about 10 − 9 m 10 − 9 m in diameter). These constraints define the realm of classical mechanics, as discussed in Introduction to the Nature of Science and Physics . At the beginning of the 20 th century, Albert Einstein (1879–1955) developed the theory of relativity and, along with many other scientists, developed quantum theory. This theory does not have the constraints present in classical physics. All of the situations we consider in this chapter, and all those preceding the introduction of relativity in Special Relativity , are in the realm of classical physics.

Making Connections: Past and Present Philosophy

The importance of observation and the concept of cause and effect were not always so entrenched in human thinking. This realization was a part of the evolution of modern physics from natural philosophy. The achievements of Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and others were key milestones in the history of scientific thought. Most of the scientific theories that are described in this book descended from the work of these scientists.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-introduction-to-science-and-the-realm-of-physics-physical-quantities-and-units

• Authors: Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: College Physics 2e
• Publication date: Jul 13, 2022
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-introduction-to-science-and-the-realm-of-physics-physical-quantities-and-units
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/4-introduction-to-dynamics-newtons-laws-of-motion

© Jul 9, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

Sciencing_Icons_Science SCIENCE

Sciencing_icons_biology biology, sciencing_icons_cells cells, sciencing_icons_molecular molecular, sciencing_icons_microorganisms microorganisms, sciencing_icons_genetics genetics, sciencing_icons_human body human body, sciencing_icons_ecology ecology, sciencing_icons_chemistry chemistry, sciencing_icons_atomic & molecular structure atomic & molecular structure, sciencing_icons_bonds bonds, sciencing_icons_reactions reactions, sciencing_icons_stoichiometry stoichiometry, sciencing_icons_solutions solutions, sciencing_icons_acids & bases acids & bases, sciencing_icons_thermodynamics thermodynamics, sciencing_icons_organic chemistry organic chemistry, sciencing_icons_physics physics, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-physics fundamentals, sciencing_icons_electronics electronics, sciencing_icons_waves waves, sciencing_icons_energy energy, sciencing_icons_fluid fluid, sciencing_icons_astronomy astronomy, sciencing_icons_geology geology, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geology fundamentals, sciencing_icons_minerals & rocks minerals & rocks, sciencing_icons_earth scructure earth structure, sciencing_icons_fossils fossils, sciencing_icons_natural disasters natural disasters, sciencing_icons_nature nature, sciencing_icons_ecosystems ecosystems, sciencing_icons_environment environment, sciencing_icons_insects insects, sciencing_icons_plants & mushrooms plants & mushrooms, sciencing_icons_animals animals, sciencing_icons_math math, sciencing_icons_arithmetic arithmetic, sciencing_icons_addition & subtraction addition & subtraction, sciencing_icons_multiplication & division multiplication & division, sciencing_icons_decimals decimals, sciencing_icons_fractions fractions, sciencing_icons_conversions conversions, sciencing_icons_algebra algebra, sciencing_icons_working with units working with units, sciencing_icons_equations & expressions equations & expressions, sciencing_icons_ratios & proportions ratios & proportions, sciencing_icons_inequalities inequalities, sciencing_icons_exponents & logarithms exponents & logarithms, sciencing_icons_factorization factorization, sciencing_icons_functions functions, sciencing_icons_linear equations linear equations, sciencing_icons_graphs graphs, sciencing_icons_quadratics quadratics, sciencing_icons_polynomials polynomials, sciencing_icons_geometry geometry, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geometry fundamentals, sciencing_icons_cartesian cartesian, sciencing_icons_circles circles, sciencing_icons_solids solids, sciencing_icons_trigonometry trigonometry, sciencing_icons_probability-statistics probability & statistics, sciencing_icons_mean-median-mode mean/median/mode, sciencing_icons_independent-dependent variables independent/dependent variables, sciencing_icons_deviation deviation, sciencing_icons_correlation correlation, sciencing_icons_sampling sampling, sciencing_icons_distributions distributions, sciencing_icons_probability probability, sciencing_icons_calculus calculus, sciencing_icons_differentiation-integration differentiation/integration, sciencing_icons_application application, sciencing_icons_projects projects, sciencing_icons_news news.

• Share Tweet Email Print
• Home ⋅
• Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

Science Projects on Newton's Second Law of Motion

Paintball Science Fair Project Ideas

Physics projects can be interesting and interactive when recreating Newton's second law of motion. These simple projects will help a child to learn hands-on about the physics that affects our daily lives. Newton's second law of motion states that when an object is acted on by an outside force, the strength of the force equals the mass of the object multiplied by the resulting acceleration. The formula for calculating the strength of this force is force = mass x acceleration. Newton's second law is sometimes referred to as the Law of Acceleration.

Spring-Loaded Toy Truck and Ramp Project

Use flatbed toy cars, varying weights, a 1m ramp, and a spring loaded trigger to demonstrate how changes in mass affect an object. Mark the ramp at distances of 0m, .5m, 1.0m and 2.0m, and position a weight on the flat bed car. Release the spring-loaded trigger and allow the loaded car to roll down the ramp. Record the distance that the car travels and the time in seconds. Repeat different trials by using varying masses. Write a conclusion and create a poster explaining how this project proves Newton's second law, and how it follows the formula of force = mass x acceleration.

Toy Car Speed Project

Use toy cars, 3/8 inch washers, meter sticks and books to create an experiment with multiple variables. Create a ramp (between 20cm to 30cm in height) using books and three meter sticks that are taped together side-by-side. Place different amounts of masses on the top of the toy cars. Roll the differently weighted cars down the ramp one at a time, and record the time in seconds that it took for each car to completely roll downhill. Conduct several trials by manipulating ramp heights while keeping the mass constant. Create a data table, graph and a written paper detailing how your experiment follows Newton's second law of motion.

Newton's Second Law Ball Project

Project Newton's second law of motion using a softball, ring stand, 0.75m string, whiffle ball, and another softball with an eyescrew screwed on the top. Tie one end of the string to the ring stand and the other end to the eyescrew on the softball. Manipulate the height of the ball so it hangs just above the surface, and position the whiffle ball at the edge of the table. Adjust the ring stand so that when the softball is in motion, it knocks the whiffle ball off of the table. Repeat this trial using a whiffle ball instead of the softball. Create a written report and backboard display complete with your laboratory procedures, data, graphs, and conclusion. Fully explain the difference in the distance traveled by the different balls, and how this experiment's data upholds Newton's second law of motion.

Related Articles

Science project: the effect of mass on the distance..., second law of motion experiments, how do the laws of motion apply to basketball, how to make a pendulum science project, how to build a newton car, how to calculate pendulum force, acceleration lab activities in physical science, newton's laws of motion for kids, how to make a simple machine project for school, how to make containers for an egg drop experiment, kids science fair project about the bouncing height..., how to calculate load force, science transportation activities for preschoolers, simple science fair projects for 6th graders, science projects on centripetal force, how to create a justice scale, science project on gravity and motion for third graders, how to make your own force meter.

About the Author

Ana Ulrich's passions are environmental education, environmental advocacy, and natural science. She is a highly certified science teacher and professional writer, editor and subject matter expert in her field. In her spare time, she is always outdoors; focusing on building strong relationships between the community and natural ecosystems.

Photo Credits

basketball in motion image by Jaroslaw Grudzinski from Fotolia.com

Find Your Next Great Science Fair Project! GO

What Are Newton's Laws of Motion?

Newton's First, Second and Third Laws of Motion

Getty Images / Dmitrii Guzhanin 

• Chemical Laws
• Periodic Table
• Projects & Experiments
• Scientific Method
• Biochemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Medical Chemistry
• Chemistry In Everyday Life
• Famous Chemists
• Activities for Kids
• Abbreviations & Acronyms
• Weather & Climate
• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Newton's Laws of Motion help us understand how objects behave when standing still; when moving, and when forces act upon them. There are three laws of motion. Here is a description of Sir Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion and a summary of what they mean.

Newton's First Law of Motion

Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless an external force acts upon it. Similarly, if the object is at rest, it will remain unless an unbalanced force acts upon it. Newton's First Law of Motion is also known as the Law of Inertia .

What Newton's First Law is saying is that objects behave predictably. If a ball is sitting on your table, it isn't going to start rolling or fall off the table unless a force acts upon it to cause it to do so. Moving objects don't change their direction unless a force causes them to move from their path.

As you know, if you slide a block across a table, it eventually stops rather than continuing forever. This is because the frictional force opposes the continued movement. If you throw a ball out in space, there is much less resistance. The ball will continue onward for a much greater distance.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

Newton's Second Law of Motion states that when a force acts on an object, it will cause the object to accelerate. The larger the object's mass, the greater the force will need to be to cause it to accelerate. This Law may be written as force = mass x acceleration or:

F = m * a

Another way to state the Second Law is to say it takes more force to move a heavy object than it does to move a light object. Simple, right? The law also explains deceleration or slowing down. You can think of deceleration as acceleration with a negative sign on it. For example, a ball rolling down a hill moves faster or accelerates as gravity acts on it in the same direction as the motion (acceleration is positive). If a ball is rolled up a hill, the force of gravity acts on it in the opposite direction of the motion (acceleration is negative or the ball decelerates).

Newton's Third Law of Motion

Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

This means that pushing on an object causes that object to push back against you, the same amount but in the opposite direction. For example, when you are standing on the ground, you are pushing down on the Earth with the same magnitude of force it is pushing back up at you.

History of Newton's Laws of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton introduced the three Newton's laws of motion in 1687 in his book entitled "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (or simply "The Principia"). The same book also discussed the theory of gravity . This one volume described the main rules still used in classical mechanics today.

• The Combined Gas Law in Chemistry
• Entropy Definition in Science
• Newton Definition
• Oxidation Definition and Example in Chemistry
• What Is the Density of Air at STP?
• Periodic Table Definition in Chemistry
• Stoichiometry Definition in Chemistry
• What Is an Element in Chemistry? Definition and Examples
• Metallic Compounds Definition
• Chemical Property Definition and Examples
• Molar Ratio: Definition and Examples
• Joule Definition (Unit in Science)
• Element Symbol Definition in Chemistry
• Concentration Definition (Chemistry)
• Solution Definition in Chemistry
• What Is the Rydberg Formula and How Does It Work?

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion explain the relationship between a physical object and the forces acting upon it. Understanding this information provides us with the basis of modern physics.

What are Newton’s Laws of Motion?

An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force., the acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied..

• Whenever one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite on the first.

Sir Isaac Newton worked in many areas of mathematics and physics. He developed the theories of gravitation in 1666 when he was only 23 years old. In 1686, he presented his three laws of motion in the “Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis.”

By developing his three laws of motion, Newton revolutionized science. Newton’s laws together with Kepler’s Laws explained why planets move in elliptical orbits rather than in circles.

Below is a short movie featuring Orville and Wilbur Wright and a discussion about how Newton’s Laws of Motion applied to the flight of their aircraft.

Newton’s First Law: Inertia

Newton’s first law states that every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force. This tendency to resist changes in a state of motion is  inertia . If all the external forces cancel each other out, then there is no net force acting on the object.  If there is no net force acting on the object, then the object will maintain a constant velocity.

Examples of inertia involving aerodynamics:

• The motion of an airplane when a pilot changes the throttle setting of an engine.
• The motion of a ball falling down through the atmosphere.
• A model rocket being launched up into the atmosphere.
• The motion of a kite when the wind changes.

Newton’s Second Law: Force

His second law defines a  force  to be equal to change in  momentum  (mass times velocity) per change in time. Momentum is defined to be the mass  m  of an object times its velocity  V .

Let us assume that we have an airplane at a point “0” defined by its location  X 0  and time  t 0 . The airplane has a mass  m 0  and travels at velocity  V 0 . An external force F to the airplane shown above moves it to point “1”. The airplane’s new location is X 1 and time t 1 .

The mass and velocity of the airplane change during the flight to values  m 1  and  V1 . Newton’s second law can help us determine the new values of  V 1  and  m 1 , if we know how big the force  F  is. Let us just take the difference between the conditions at point “1” and the conditions at point “0”.

\(\LARGE F = \frac{m_1 \cdot V_1 – m_0 \cdot V_0}{t_1 – t_0} \)

Newton’s second law talks about changes in momentum (m V). So, at this point, we can’t separate out how much the mass changed and how much the velocity changed. We only know how much product (m V) changed.

Let us assume that the mass stays at a constant value equal to m . This assumption is rather good for an airplane because the only change in mass would be for the fuel burned between point “1” and point “0”. The weight of the fuel is probably small relative to the weight of the rest of the airplane, especially if we only look at small changes in time. If we were discussing the flight of a baseball, then certainly the mass remains a constant. But if we were discussing the flight of a bottle rocket, then the mass does not remain a constant and we can only look at changes in momentum. For a constant mass  m , Newton’s second law looks like:

\(\LARGE F = \frac{m \cdot (V_1 – V_0)}{t_1 – t_0} \)

The change in velocity divided by the change in time is the definition of the acceleration  a . The second law then reduces to the more familiar product of a mass and an acceleration:

\(\LARGE F = m \cdot a \)

Remember that this relation is only good for objects that have a constant mass. This equation tells us that an object subjected to an external force will accelerate and that the amount of the acceleration is proportional to the size of the force. The amount of acceleration is also inversely proportional to the mass of the object; for equal forces, a heavier object will experience less acceleration than a lighter object. Considering the momentum equation, a force causes a change in velocity; and likewise, a change in velocity generates a force. The equation works both ways.

The velocity, force, acceleration, and momentum have both a  magnitude  and a  direction  associated with them. Scientists and mathematicians call this a vector quantity. The equations shown here are actually vector equations and can be applied in each of the component directions. We have only looked at one direction, and, in general, an object moves in all three directions (up-down, left-right, forward-back).

Example of force involving aerodynamics:

• An aircraft’s motion resulting from aerodynamic forces, aircraft weight, and thrust.

Newton’s Third Law: Action & Reaction

Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first..

His third law states that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction . If object A exerts a force on object B, object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on object A. In other words, forces result from interactions.

Examples of action and reaction involving aerodynamics:

• The motion of lift from an airfoil, the air is deflected downward by the airfoil’s action, and in reaction, the wing is pushed upward.
• The motion of a spinning ball, the air is deflected to one side, and the ball reacts by moving in the opposite direction.
• The motion of a jet engine produces thrust and hot exhaust gases flow out the back of the engine, and a thrusting force is produced in the opposite direction.

Review Newton’s Laws of Motion

Thanks for contacting us! We will get in touch with you shortly.

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction & Top Questions

Newton’s first law: the law of inertia

• Newton’s second law: F = ma
• Newton’s third law: the law of action and reaction
• Influence of Newton’s laws

What are Newton’s laws of motion?

• What is Isaac Newton most famous for?
• How was Isaac Newton educated?
• What was Isaac Newton’s childhood like?

Newton’s laws of motion

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Energy Wave Theory - Laws of Motion
• Khan Academy - Newton's laws of motion
• Physics LibreTexts - Newton's Laws of Motion
• Gresham College - Newton's Laws
• The Physics Classroom - Newton's Laws
• Frontiers - Complexity and Newton's Laws
• Space.com - What are Newton's laws of motion?
• NASA - Glenn Research Center - Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Lehman College - Newton’s Laws of Motion
• LiveScience - Newton’s Laws of Motion
• NeoK12 - Educational Videos and Games for School Kids - Laws of Motion
• Table Of Contents

Newton’s laws of motion relate an object’s motion to the forces acting on it. In the first law, an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it. In the second law, the force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. In the third law, when two objects interact, they apply forces to each other of equal magnitude and opposite direction.

Why are Newton’s laws of motion important?

Newton’s laws of motion are important because they are the foundation of classical mechanics, one of the main branches of physics . Mechanics is the study of how objects move or do not move when forces act upon them.

Newton’s laws of motion , three statements describing the relations between the forces acting on a body and the motion of the body, first formulated by English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton , which are the foundation of classical mechanics .

Newton’s first law states that if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at constant speed unless it is acted upon by a force . In fact, in classical Newtonian mechanics, there is no important distinction between rest and uniform motion in a straight line; they may be regarded as the same state of motion seen by different observers, one moving at the same velocity as the particle and the other moving at constant velocity with respect to the particle. This postulate is known as the law of inertia .

The law of inertia was first formulated by Galileo Galilei for horizontal motion on Earth and was later generalized by René Descartes . Although the principle of inertia is the starting point and the fundamental assumption of classical mechanics, it is less than intuitively obvious to the untrained eye. In Aristotelian mechanics and in ordinary experience, objects that are not being pushed tend to come to rest. The law of inertia was deduced by Galileo from his experiments with balls rolling down inclined planes.

For Galileo, the principle of inertia was fundamental to his central scientific task: he had to explain how is it possible that if Earth is really spinning on its axis and orbiting the Sun, we do not sense that motion. The principle of inertia helps to provide the answer: since we are in motion together with Earth and our natural tendency is to retain that motion, Earth appears to us to be at rest. Thus, the principle of inertia, far from being a statement of the obvious, was once a central issue of scientific contention . By the time Newton had sorted out all the details, it was possible to accurately account for the small deviations from this picture caused by the fact that the motion of Earth’s surface is not uniform motion in a straight line (the effects of rotational motion are discussed below). In the Newtonian formulation, the common observation that bodies that are not pushed tend to come to rest is attributed to the fact that they have unbalanced forces acting on them, such as friction and air resistance.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

OR, Choose a Category

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist. He was born in 1642 and died in 1727. This was around the time of the early colonization of North America. He lived just before the American Revolution. Newton is best known for three important principles of physics that describe how things move. Consequently, the principles are referred to today by his name – Newton’s First, Second and Third Law of Motion. Newton’s Second Law of Motion  says that acceleration (gaining speed) happens when a force acts on a mass (object).

Riding your bicycle is a good example of this law of motion at work. Your bicycle is the mass. Your leg muscles pushing pushing on the pedals of your bicycle is the force. When you push on the pedals, your bicycle accelerates. You are increasing the speed of the bicycle by applying force to the pedals.

Newton’s Second Law also says that the greater the mass of the object being accelerated, the greater the amount of force needed to accelerate the object. Say you have two identical bicycles that each have a basket. One bicycle has an empty basket. One bicycle has a basket full of bricks. If you try to ride each bicycle and you push on the pedals with the exact same strength, you will be able to accelerate the bike with the empty basket MORE than the bike with the basket full of bricks. The bricks add mass to the second bicycle. With bricks in the basket, you would have to apply more force to the pedals to make the bicycle with bricks in the basket move.

Experiments:

• Perkins School for the Blind: Newton’s Second Law of Motion
• Sciencing: Second Law of Motion Experiments
• 4-H: Newton’s Speedway: Acceleration, Mass, and Force

Websites, Activities & Printables:

• Scholastic StudyJams: Newton’s Second law of Motion
• NASA Classroom Connections: Newton’s Second Law of Motion
• NASA: Newton’s Second Law of Motion
• Printable: NASA STEMonstrations Newton’s Second Law
• Khan Academy: What Is Newton’s Second Law?
• IndyPL Blog: Newton’s First Law of Motion
• IndyPL Blog: Newton’s Third Law of Motion

You can ask a math and science expert for homework help by calling the  Ask Rose Homework Hotline . They provide FREE math and science homework help to Indiana students in grades 6-12.

e-Books and Audiobooks

Use your indyPL Library Card to check out books about Sir Isaac Newton at any of our  locations , or  check out Sir Isaac Newton e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive Kids  right to your device! If you have never used OverDrive before, you can learn how to use e-books  and  learn how to use audiobooks .

Need more help?  Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations  or  call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian . Additionally, the Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Newton’s Laws of Motion: The Science Behind How Things Move

Newton’s Laws of Motion explain force and motion, or why things move the way they do. They are great concepts to explore by doing a science experiment. These are especially good science project ideas for kids who like to move! The concepts can often be explained using sports equipment or by understanding how amusement park rides work. These books offer ideas for physics experiments that demonstrate force and motion and the laws that govern them. Some of them provide the background information needed for the report that is often required to go with projects for the science fair.

View more…

• Tags Homework Help , Science Experiments

Newton’s Laws Experiment • EX-5503B

• Thermodynamics
• Electromagnetism
• Waves & Optics

Sensors & Datalogging

Curriculum & bundles, lab apparatus & supplies, stem sense solutions, product guides.

Explore Our 2024 Catalogs

Students use this collection of equipment to discover or experimentally determine Newton’s Laws.

See the Product Description for this item's included accessories.

Product Summary

Students use this collection of equipment to discover or experimentally determine all three of Newton’s Laws.

• Newton’s First Law – Students examine an object’s motion to see if it changes when forces are applied or not.
• Newton’s Second Law – Students use the Smart Cart to discover the relationships between force, mass, and acceleration.
• Newton’s Third Law – Using two Smart Cart Force Sensors, students prove that forces between objects are equal in magnitude yet opposite in direction. These experiments include both tug-of-war exercises and collisions between cars.

PASCO Advantage: The Smart Cart has all the sensors required, which makes setup very quick and easy. The integration between the probeware and equipment helps students focus on the physics of each experiment.

• Newton’s First Law (Inertia)
• Newton’s Second Law (F = ma)
• Newton’s Third Law (Fab = -Fba)

What's Included

• 1x Smart Cart (Red) (ME-1240)
• 1x Smart Cart (Blue) (ME-1241)
• 2x Cart Mass (Set of 2) (ME-6757A)
• 2x Dynamics Track Feet (Pair) (ME-8972)
• 1x Mass and Hanger Set (ME-8979)
• 1x Elastic Bumper (ME-8998)
• 1x Super Pulley with Clamp (ME-9448B)
• 1x Aluminum Dynamics Track, 1.2 m (ME-9493)
• 1x Friction Block (ME-9807)
• 1x Braided Physics String (SE-8050)
• 1x Smart Cart Rod Stand Adapter (ME-1244)

Data Collection Software

This product requires PASCO software for data collection and analysis. We recommend the following option(s). For more information on which is right for your classroom, see our Software Comparison: SPARKvue vs. Capstone »

• PASCO Capstone Software

Connectivity Options

This product can connect directly to your computer or device with the following technologies. No Interface required. See the following guide for details regarding device compatibility: Wireless Bluetooth Product Compatibility »

• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

Experiments

Experiment Library

Perform the following experiments and more with the Newton’s Laws Experiment. Visit PASCO's Experiment Library to view more activities.

Newton's First Law

The purpose of this experiment is to determine how external forces influence an object's motion. The following objects are pushed briefly: A cart and a friction block. An analysis of this motion yields Newton's First Law.

Newton's Second Law

The purpose of this experiment is to verify Newton’s Second Law for a one dimensional system. A measured force is applied to a low friction cart and the resulting acceleration is measured.

Newton's Third Law

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the relationship between forces forming an action-reaction pair.

Support Documents

Related Products & Accessories