Students explore the equation at the heart of mechanics — F = ma — discovering exactly how force, mass, and acceleration relate, and using it to predict how objects respond to pushes and pulls.
Students will be able to…
Push a shopping cart, then push a loaded one with the same force. Why does one speed up faster? One simple equation predicts it every time.
Project this and change the force and mass. Watch the acceleration — and the box’s motion — update, showing F = ma in action.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Same force on a light vs. heavy cart — why the difference?
Students investigate.
Teacher explains.
Apply.
Three quick checks.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (High School Physics) and Common Core literacy in science.
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law relates force, mass, and acceleration.
Use mathematical representations (F = ma) to predict motion.
Apply Newton’s laws to design a solution.
Follow a complex multistep procedure.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students draw free-body diagrams showing all forces on an object and calculate the net force and acceleration. A printable forces sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.