Force, Motion, and Energy
Science Newsletter
Students will be expected to:
- know force and motion are related to potential and kinetic energy
- identify and describe changes in position, direction, and speed of an object when acted upon balanced and unbalanced forces
- compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy
- calculate average speed using distance and time measurements
- measure and graph changes in motions
- investigate how inclined planes can be used to change the amount of force to move an object
Unit Questions to Answer:
What is motion? In science, motion is a change in position compared to a place or an object that is not moving. The place or object that is not moving is called the frame of reference.
How can motion be described? the process of changing position
What is energy? The simplest definition of energy is "the ability to do work". Energy is how things change and move. It's everywhere around us and takes all sorts of forms. It takes energy to cook food, to drive to school, and to jump in the air.
What is potential energy? stored energy of an object because of its position or shape
What is kinetic energy? energy of motion
How are potential and kinetic energy alike and different? they are both forms of energy
What is speed? the distance an object moves in a unit of time
How can speed be determined? distance divided by time
What is the method for calculating average speed? speed = distance over time
How can speed be represented on a graph? use a line graph to show the movement of an object over time
How can we measure and graph changes in motion? plot points on a distance/time graph
What is the relationship between motion and a graphed line?
How are the following scenarios represented by lines on a distance / time graph?
Constant speed when an objectās speed remains unchanged
Increasing speed the steeper the slope; the faster the speed
Decreasing speed
No motion a flat horizontal line shows the passage of time but no movement
How are the following scenarios represented by lines on a speed / time graph?
Constant speed
Increasing speed
Decreasing speed
No motion
How do the lines on a time / distance graph compare to the lines on a speed / time graph?
What is an unbalanced force? unequal forces on an object that may result in a change in position, direction, or motion
How do unbalanced forces affect the motion (position, direction, or speed) of an object? the object moves
How do you know when an unbalanced force has acted on an object? movement occurs
How can you describe the changes in position, direction, or speed of an object when acted on by an unbalanced force?
What is acceleration? change in an objectās motion (position, direction, speed); caused by unbalanced forces
What term is used to describe the changes in position, direction, or speed of an object when acted on by an unbalanced force?
What is a balanced force? equal and opposite forces on an object that result in no change in position, direction, or motion
How do balanced forces affect the motion (position, direction, or speed) of an object?
How do you know when an unbalanced force has acted on an object?
What is an inclined plane? a plane (a flat surface) that is inclined, or slanted at an acute angle. Inclined planes connect a lower level to a higher level, they make work easier.
How can an inclined plane be used to change the amount of force needed to move an object? the lower the plane; the less force needed and the longer the plane; the less force needed
Unit Understandings and More Questions:
Unbalanced forces cause change in the motion of an object.
- In what ways do unbalanced forces affect the motion of an object?
- Why can an object with balanced forces still be in motion? Justify with examples.
- In what ways are kinetic and potential energy related to force and motion? Justify with examples.
Speed is the total distance traveled by an object over a total amount of time.
- How can average speed be determined? Justify with examples.
The relationship between force and motion can be demonstrated using graphs.
- In what ways can a graph be used to show the relationship between force and motion? Justify with examples.
- In what ways can inclined planes affect the amount of force needed to move an object? Justify with examples.
Key Content Vocabulary:
- Acceleration ā change in an objectās motion (position, direction, speed); caused by unbalanced forces
- Average speed ā the total distance traveled by an object over a total amount of time
- Balanced force ā equal and opposite forces on an object that result in no change in position, direction, or motion
- Constant speed ā when an objectās speed remains unchanged
- Displacement ā how far an object has moved from its original position; the difference between the final and initial positions
- Kinetic energy ā energy of motion
- Potential energy ā stored energy of an object because of its position or shape
- Unbalanced force ā unequal forces on an object that may result in a change in position, direction, or motion
Related Vocabulary:
Flocabulary Energy
Flocabulary Force and Motion
Brainpop Videos can be found in the two links below:
Brainpop Username: kilgoremiddle Brainpop Password: pop1
Potential and Kinetic Energy
Hoodwinked Energy
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Flocabulary Motion
Speed
What is speed?
Speed is a way of measuring how quickly something is moving or being done, or something moving fast. An example of speed is a car being driven 45 miles per hour. An example of speed is someone cleaning a room in 10 minutes. An example of speed is how quickly a jaguar runs.