This Nature of Science book looks at the history of astronomy and how scientists understanding of the solar system, forces and gravity has developed. The story includes the revolutionary ideas of Copernicus, Galileo and Newton and the theory of magnetism.

The chapters are:

1. Stars and gods

2....

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Understand that a force makes things change: the speed, direction and/or shape of an object.

• Explain changes caused by more than one force acting on an object at the...

From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode introduce students to the importance of circular motion and the need for a centripetal force to keep an object moving along a circular path. The activities include: * observing circular motion * whirling bucket and centripetal force * discussing examples of...

This collection of videos show ESA Astronaut, Tim Peake, on the International Space Station, demonstrating circular motion.  In this free-fall environment, Tim can demonstrate how objects move in a circular path without the observed effects of gravitational acceleration with similar experiments performed in the...

In this resource, from the Department for Education Standards Unit, students learn to use past paper examination questions creatively. The questions give them practice in using the equations of motion for constant acceleration and allow them to develop their ability to...

This activity provides a simple demonstration of forces and motion. There is a basic description of non-contact forces and some questions for students to answer.

Published by the Nuffield Foundation, ‘Molecules and Motion’ was originally written to provide an extended look at one of the central topics of Year Five of the Nuffield Physics course. It was also recommended as supplementary reading for the Unit on...

From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by MEI, this series of activities explores how mechanical oscillations are important in many areas of everyday life. Sometimes they are useful, for example the motion of the suspension on a car, sometimes they...

This video explains how our preconceived ideas of how objects move can distort our understanding of Newton’s laws of motion, creating misconceptions.

1.            An object with no unbalanced force acting on it will naturally come to rest.

2.            An unbalanced force causes an object to move...

The teaching unit ‘A...

Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode contains demonstrations and practical activities through which students learn about the conditions for static equilibrium (excluding moments of forces).

Students look at:
• forces on a horizontal washing line with a weight in the middle...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students look at the forces involved when one vehicle impacts another object. This can be used to illustrate the forces, acceleration and deceleration involved. It considers the effect of the distance over which a force acts rather than the time of action of...

The objectives of this activity are to expose common misconceptions about the nature of forces and to introduce Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students are asked to place the headings, true, false, unsure at the top of their paper and place the accompanying cards into the appropriate column, giving reasons for placing it...