Forces and Motion Basics: Simulations LAB - Sample

The Website that we will be using has 4 different sections 1. Net force 2. Motion 3. Friction 4. Acceleration.

Take 5 minutes to explore the different areas of the site before completing the guided activity below.

NET FORCE: A SIMULATION

Part 1 Use the NET FORCE Section CLICK ALL THE BOXES

Tick the boxes “Sum of forces” and “Values”

Part 1: The “Net Force” tab

● Click on the “Net Force” option at the bottom of your

screen.
○

● Check the boxes for “Some of Forces”, “Values”, and “Speed”

● Fill in the chart below, adding your own mix in the final row. Be sure to fill out your prediction before you press
“Go!”

People & Predicted Sum of Forces Actual Movement Speed

Placement Movement (m/s)
(0, x-left, x-right) (none, left, right)

(Answers vary) 0N None 0 m/s

Same size
Same placement
People & Predicted Sum of Forces Actual Movement Speed
Placement Movement (m/s)
(0, x-left, x-right) (none, left, right)

(Answers vary) 0N None 0 m/s

Same size
Different
placement

(Answers vary) (Answers vary (Answers vary but will (Answers

depending on favor the larger) vary but
chosen sizes) cannot be
Different size 0)
Same placement
 (Answers vary) (Answers vary (Answers vary but will (Answers
depending on favor the larger) vary but
chosen sizes) cannot be
Different size 0)
Different
placement

(Answers vary) (Answers vary) (Answers vary) (Answers

vary)

(Answers vary)

Start by putting a small blue figure and a small red figure on the rope.

How can a get an equilibrium situation again?

The sum of forces is 0 because the cart is not in motion it’s a balanced force. Where newton’s 1st law I fan object is at
rest it will stay at rest because the sum of forces is acting on the object that is equal to 0.

What is the net force when you put a medium blue and a small red?

The net for the medium blue is 100N to the Left and for the small red is 50N to the right so speed is increasing.

The sum of forces is 50N left.

How can you get a net force of 150 N to the right?

When I put a big red man (150N) with small red man (50N) and on the other side small blue man (50N), So 200-50=150 N
to the right.

 Fill in the following table with the values of the forces (some boxes can have more than one possible correct
answer).

Situation Force to the Force to the Net force (N, left or

right (N) left (N) right)

100N 50N 50N Right

100N 100N 0N
 250N 150N 100N Right

Part 2. Use the NET FORCE Section CLICK ALL THE BOXES

Draw a scenario where the net force is 50N to the left and there is at least 1 member on each side.

(Medium blue man and small red man)

Draw a scenario where the net force is 0N and there is at least 1 member on each side

(small blue man and small red man) or (any 2 men with the same size)

Challenge: Create and describe a situation where the force is 0N but the cart moves.

When both sides have the same Mass

MOTION
● Part 3:

● Fill in the chart below, adding your own mix in the final row.

Object Total mass Force needed to get it moving at 5 m/s

Box 50 kg Answers may vary. 1 N is enough to get any

combination up to 5 m/s given enough time,
so it again depends on how patient the
Box with Girl 90 kg
student is. You may want to give a certain
amount of time for them to wait, but there
Box with Man 130 kg is no timer option in the simulation.

Box with Garbage Can 150 kg

Fridge 200 kg

1. What is the pattern you see between the total mass and the force needed to accelerate to 5 m/s? Here, the
students should say one of the following:
○ The more mass, the more force is needed
○ The more mass, the slower it accelerates
2. Which of Newton's Laws does this demonstrate?

2nd

Part 4: Use the MOTION Section CLICK ALL THE BOXES

1. Find the time it takes for each object to accelerate from 0m/s to 40 m/s when pushed with 100N of force.

2. Then calculate the acceleration for each object. When you finish you should know the mass of the mystery object.

Object Mass (kg) Time (s) Acceleration (m/s2)

Child 40 16 a = Vf – Vi a = 40 m/s – 0m/s
t t
or use F = m x a 100N = m x a

a = 100 N
40 =2.5 m/s^2

t = 40 m/s – 0m/s
2.5 m/s^2 = 16s
 Adult 80 64
a = 100 N
80 =1.25 m/s^2

t = 80 m/s – 0m/s
1.25 m/s^2 = 64s

Box 50 25
a = 100 N
50 =2 m/s^2

t = 50 m/s – 0m/s
2 m/s^2 = 25s

Trash can 100 100

a = 100 N
100 = 1 m/s^2

t = 100 m/s – 0m/s

1 m/s^2 = 100s

Mystery item 50 25
(WHAT IS ITS MASS?)
a = 100 N
50 =2 m/s^2

t = 50 m/s – 0m/s
2 m/s^2 = 25s

When you increase the mass of an object (while keeping the applied force the same) what happens to the rate of
acceleration? Explain why this occurs using your understanding of Inertia (an object’s resistance to a change in motion).

If the signs of velocity and acceleration of an object are the same, the speed of the object increases and if the
signs are opposite the speed decreases so this means the more mass the more inertia.

When you apply a constant force to an object does the object move at a constant velocity or does its velocity increase?
Explain why this occurs using your understanding of acceleration/force (gravity).

If you apply a constant force to an object it would move in a constant speed because it depends on the force that
is put in on an object where it increases in speed.

Part 5 Use the MOTION Section CLICK ALL THE BOXES

Pick one object find the time it takes to reach 40m/s when pushed with 100N, 200N, 300N, 400N, and 500N.

Name of Object: Box Mass of Object (kg): 50kg

Force Acceleration (m/s2)

 Time (s)
100N 12 a = Vf – Vi a = 40 m/s – 0m/s
seconds t 12

a = 3.33 m/s^2

or use F = m x a 100N = m x a

200N 11
seconds a = 40 m/s – 0 m/s / 11s
A = 3.63 m/s^2

300N 9.5
seconds a = 40 m/s – 0 m/s / 9.5 seconds
a= 4.21 m/s^2

400N 4.6
seconds a = 40m/s – 0m/s / 4.6 seconds
a= 8.69 m/s^2

500N 3.43
seconds a= 40m/s – 0 m/s / 3.43 seconds
a = 11.66 m/s^2

When you increase the applied force, what happens to the acceleration of the object? Explain.

When the applied force increases, the acceleration of the object increases because it is using more
force making the object transfer from one location to another at a faster rate than fewer amounts of
force that have been put in the object.

 Based on newton second law of motion F=MA. This means that there is directly proportional
relationship between force and acceleration when mass is constant.
 If you increase the applied force the acceleration of the object will increase also.