Lesson 26 of 84 · Forces and Motion
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabSprings and Elastic Energy
Forces and Motion.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Energy never disappears — it just hides somewhere else.
Mind = Blown
⚡ Static electricity is the same physics as lightning, just smaller.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: which will move faster, and why?
What You'll Learn
A force is a push or pull that can change an object's motion, shape, or direction. Forces are measured in Newtons and can act through contact or at a distance.
Key Words
- attract
- repel
- motion
Materials Needed
- weights
- tape
- ruler
- cardboard
- marbles
- paper clips
Safety First
- Clean up spills immediately to prevent slipping.
Steps
Read about Forces and Motion and write down three key facts.
Test friction: pull a weighted box across 4 surfaces (carpet, tile, sandpaper, foil). Use a spring scale to measure the force needed for each.
Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.
Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What does Newton's third law state?
Where you see this in real life
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Forces and Motion for 3rd Grade
Get the full Forces and Motion track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.