Exploring Newton’s First Law: Inertia (Developed by SEPUP)
kit #351S
Using the specially-designed LAB-AIDS©/SEPUP track, students investigate inertia by observing a marble’s motion.
In Part 1:
• They observe a marble in motion around a circular track then predict what path it will follow when a section of the track is removed, allowing the marble to roll unconstrained across the table top.
• Students discover that once the marble leaves the confines of the track, it moves in a straight line path.
• They also investigate how changing the mass of the marble affects the motion of the marble on the track.
In Part 2 they complete a reading about inertia and Newton’s first law of motion.
Accommodates unlimited classes, each with 6 groups of 4 students.
- An object that is not being subject to a force will continue to move at a constant speed in a straight line
- Friction is a force that causes changes in the speed of an object’s motion
- Scientific explanations emphasize evidence, have logically consistent arguments, and use scientific principles, models, and theories
Content List in Exploring Newton’s First Law: Inertia (Developed by SEPUP) is as follows:
| Quantity | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher’s Guide |
| 28 | Student Worksheets and Guides - Parts 1 and 2 |
| 6 | Roundabout tracks, LAB-AIDS® |
| 6 | Glass marbles |
| 6 | Metal marbles |
| 6 | Miniature road cones |
| 1 | Transparency: Inertia Diagrams |
- Number of students
- 24
- Number of groups
- Maximum 6 groups per period
To complete the two activities in this kit requires two to three ~50-minute class periods.
