Force, net Forces and Free Body Diagrams

Are you looking for NET FORCES lesson that is both engaging and stimulating? Look no further. I have designed this 3 part forces lesson that offers students the opportunity to explore key force concepts through PHET simulations, practice drawing free body diagrams and try their hands on many variety of challenging net force problems.

What’s included in this resource?

• Explore Worksheet :Phet simulation (includes liks and QR codes to simulation)
• Free body diagram worksheet
• Net force practice problems ( 2 pages )
  See preview to see sample sheets and Annswer Keys.

Part 1: Explore Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

In this parts, students explore how balanced and unbalanced forces affect an objects movement using PHET simulations. Through this activity, students arrive at their own conclusions regarding key ideas relating to forces, acceleration and friction. The worksheet provides easy-to-follow steps ( with pictures) to play the simulations.

Part 2: Drawing Free body Diagrams

In this second part, students read statements and draw free body diagrams to represent the forces being applied. Afterwards, they calculate the net forces and check if the the forces are balanced or unbalanced and whether the object will accelrate or not accelerate.

Part 3: Net Forces Practice Questions

In the last part, students will solve various net forces questions from simple to challenging ones. Page 1 involves simple calculations of addition and subtraction. Page 2 involves forces at right angles ( pythagoras theorem) and angles less or greater than 90 degrees ( law of cosine). It will be helpful if students have some knowledge before they begin page 2 as it is requires the use of various formulae.

I have included answer keys and Teacher Guide to assist the teacher.

GRADE LEVEL:

Grades 7 to 9

The variety of activities make this lesson highly engaging for students. They not only get to “play” fun simulations but they can learn through the process. They can make their own conclusions rather than being told the correct answers. And finally, they can try simple to challenging problem set involving net forces and free body diagrams. I am confident that this resource will be valuable to you and your students. Thanks and have an amazing class!

Please reach out at eazyscience221@gmail.com with feedback, and questions. Thanks and have an amazing class.