Grade 12 · Week 07 · Thursday · Day 04

Newton’s Laws Virtual Investigation

Learning objective: Run controlled force–mass investigations and test third-law interactions with separate-body force accounting.

45–60 minutes · Offline practice · Local student notebook

Read and reason

Make a predicted calculation first

Choose a known net horizontal force, cart mass and initial velocity. The Dynamics Studio predicts acceleration and a short constant-force motion interval. Before moving a slider, predict the sign and magnitude of acceleration. When mass is doubled with force held constant, calculate the expected new value. Interpret the numerical table before trusting the chart.

Two experimental series

In the single-cart section, compare fixed mass with varied net forces to show a proportional F–a relationship, then fix net force and change mass to explore the inverse mass–acceleration relationship. Record at least three runs and export the JSON evidence. The tool offers a precomputed CSV option for students without access to interactive controls.

Compare action and reaction

In the pair section, set the magnitude of a mutual horizontal push. The computer shows +F on B and −F on A. Compare the equal force magnitudes with the acceleration values for different masses. The special acceleration predictions assume that this interaction alone produces the entire horizontal net force on each body. Discuss how friction would change the results.

Do not turn practice into a safety experiment

This laboratory is simulated arithmetic and native SVG: no carts, motors, pushing real students, tight springs or collisions are required. Real force measurements demand safe apparatus, teacher supervision, calibrated sensors and uncertainty treatment. The tool does not simulate the physical process by which bodies push one another or the time course of contact forces.

Five key terms

independent variable
One condition deliberately changed to test a prediction.
controlled variable
A setting held constant during a comparison.
net force
The vector sum of external forces on the chosen object.
data provenance
Information stating whether numbers came from measurement or simulation.
model limitation
A condition restricting the applicability of a calculation.

Write an original example showing how the term applies.

Worked physics example

At fixed 8 N, changing cart mass from 2 kg to 4 kg changes a from +4 to +2 m/s². For an interaction F=12 N, mA=3 kg and mB=6 kg, the respective isolated-net accelerations are −4 and +2 m/s².

Write each variable, direction, algebraic substitution and SI unit in your own solution.

Student science notebook

Record three single-cart trials and two third-law pair comparisons; submit one matched table, two calculations with units, a model limitation and a JSON evidence export.

Notes save locally if browser storage is available; export to preserve a portable copy.

Daily · 4 Retrieval Questions

Open-book formative practice with explanatory feedback and an 80% correction target. Scores are browser-local and not authenticated midterms or final exams.