Tug of Force (Physics)

At a glance:

Topics: physics, force, net force, vector addition

Grades: 6-9

Standards: NGSS 3-PS2-1,2

Duration to complete: 10-15 minutes

Learning outcome: Students will conceptualize forces as vector quantities. Students will learn how opposing and complementary forces interact with each other when applied to an object. Students will learn how to calculate net force.

Intro for students: It’s a food fight! Learn how forces can interact with one another, oftentimes to accomplish a task -- in this case, stealing someone else’s dinner! Visualize net force and learn how to calculate it. Satisfy your appetite for learning and become a force to be reckoned with! #forces #physics #foodfight #vectors #netforce

What makes this topic challenging for kids?

The concept of force is one that is familiar to students, yet often misunderstood. Students may make incorrect assumptions about force based on prior real-life experience. Forces may not be conceptualized as vector quantities, especially if vectors as a whole are unfamiliar.

What’s our approach?

Our experience has incredibly simple controls and mechanics. A student will learn just through playing the game how to calculate net force. They will also intuitively learn one dimensional vector addition through the game. Force vectors are portrayed in an approachable manner.

By focusing on the basics and focusing on the cause and effect through the interactive controls, Intro to Forces will build physics intuition in no time.