Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, high school physics teacher and Modeling Instruction leader Aaron Debbink leads a guided investigation designed to help students develop a quantitative understanding of Newton's 2nd Law of Motion. Through this hands-on lab, students explore the relationship between acceleration and mass by observing how different forces affect the motion of an object. By varying the fan's force and the cart's mass, students can observe how acceleration changes, reinforcing that acceleration is proportional to net force divided by mass.
Using an affordable fan cart system (under $30), students experience the principles of inertia, acceleration, and action-reaction in a way that allows them to discover the key equation for Newton’s 2nd Law themselves. Unlike experiments relying on gravity, the fan cart system provides near-constant acceleration, making it an excellent tool for investigating motion in a controlled way.
This active learning approach encourages students to think critically, analyze real data, and engage in meaningful discussions about forces, motion, and the laws of physics. The Modeling Instruction Lab provides a great opportunity for concept development without complex equipment, making it a cost-effective and engaging way to teach Newton’s 2nd Law in high school physics classrooms.
Featured Blog: bit.ly/2XTrz5A
Join our CoolStuff Insider List: bit.ly/34HbfVO
Download our FREE Acceleration Lab Guide: bit.ly/3imfhu3
Video Chapters
0:00 Video Introduction
2:11 Prelab Discussion
5:13 Data Collection
6:58 Data Analysis
10:27 Conclusion Discussion
16:13 Outro
Featured Products
- Fan Cart: bit.ly/3AfqjIO
- Slotted Mass Set with hanger: bit.ly/3kBRNSa
- Digital Newton Meter: bit.ly/36vF50t
- Whiteboard 6 Pack: bit.ly/3j6o4S0
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About Arbor Scientific
For more than three and a half decades, we’ve been committed to supporting science educators with meaningful and engaging lab demonstrations and hands-on experiences that not only inspire students but educators as well. We understand school budgets are limited, so we only provide products that offer value, without sacrificing quality. That’s our promise.
In this video, high school physics teacher and Modeling Instruction leader Aaron Debbink leads a guided investigation designed to help students develop a quantitative understanding of Newton's 2nd Law of Motion. Through this hands-on lab, students explore the relationship between acceleration and mass by observing how different forces affect the motion of an object. By varying the fan's force and the cart's mass, students can observe how acceleration changes, reinforcing that acceleration is proportional to net force divided by mass.
Using an affordable fan cart system (under $30), students experience the principles of inertia, acceleration, and action-reaction in a way that allows them to discover the key equation for Newton’s 2nd Law themselves. Unlike experiments relying on gravity, the fan cart system provides near-constant acceleration, making it an excellent tool for investigating motion in a controlled way.
This active learning approach encourages students to think critically, analyze real data, and engage in meaningful discussions about forces, motion, and the laws of physics. The Modeling Instruction Lab provides a great opportunity for concept development without complex equipment, making it a cost-effective and engaging way to teach Newton’s 2nd Law in high school physics classrooms.
Featured Blog: bit.ly/2XTrz5A
Join our CoolStuff Insider List: bit.ly/34HbfVO
Download our FREE Acceleration Lab Guide: bit.ly/3imfhu3
Video Chapters
0:00 Video Introduction
2:11 Prelab Discussion
5:13 Data Collection
6:58 Data Analysis
10:27 Conclusion Discussion
16:13 Outro
Featured Products
- Fan Cart: bit.ly/3AfqjIO
- Slotted Mass Set with hanger: bit.ly/3kBRNSa
- Digital Newton Meter: bit.ly/36vF50t
- Whiteboard 6 Pack: bit.ly/3j6o4S0
--
About Arbor Scientific
For more than three and a half decades, we’ve been committed to supporting science educators with meaningful and engaging lab demonstrations and hands-on experiences that not only inspire students but educators as well. We understand school budgets are limited, so we only provide products that offer value, without sacrificing quality. That’s our promise.
