Activity Number 309

	Overview and Learning Objectives
	Classroom Practice
	Central Concepts
	Benchmarks and Standards
	Extensions and Connections
	Activity Credits
	Requirements

Newton's Laws at the Atomic Level (SAM) (a 2-day, 9-page activity)

Interactive, scaffolded model

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	Overview and Learning Objectives Students explore how Newton's three laws apply to the world of atoms and molecules. Observations start with the originally contradictory observation of Brownian motion. Then, each law is addressed at the atomic level. Examples of the laws in real‐world applications are given to help students make sense of how these laws are always at work. Students will be able to: • Describe how Newton’s Laws are relevant and in action at the atomic level. • Observe how Brownian motion seems to contradict Newton’s first law and deduce how interactions of individual atoms can approximate Brownian motion. • Use models to experimentally derive Newton’s second law (F=ma) and determine why some atoms move faster than others when equal forces are applied. • Explain how attraction between atoms (either neutral or oppositely charged) relates to Newton’s third law. • Analyze a real‐world example showing Newton’s third law. return to top



	Classroom Practice Teacher's Guide: http://sam.concord.org/publications/teacher-guides/newtons_laws.ver6.pdf return to top



	Central Concepts Key Concept: Additional Related Concepts Physics/Chemistry Energy Energy conservation Energy transfer Mass Mass and Movement Velocity return to top



	Benchmarks and Standards AAAS THE PHYSICAL SETTING: MOTION - Whenever one thing exerts a force on another, an equal amount of force is exerted back on it (Full Text of Standard) NSES Physical-Science: Motions and Forces - 1 Objects change their motion only when a net force is applied (Full Text of Standard) return to top



	Extensions and Connections Fermi Lab's ARISE Project suggests the following enhancement to this SAM unit: http://www.concord.org/~barbara/SAM/ARISE/ARISE_SAM_Newton's_Laws.pdf return to top



	Activity Credits Created by CC Project: SAM using Molecular Workbench return to top



	Requirements Java 1.5+ - Java 1.5+ is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X 10.4 and greater. If you are using Mac OS X 10.3, you can download MW Version 1.3 and explore within it instead. return to top

These materials are based upon work supported
by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers
9980620, ESI-0242701, EIA-0219345, DUE-0402553, and 0628181.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the National Science Foundation.

Newton's Laws at the Atomic Level (SAM) (a 2-day, 9-page activity)

Overview and Learning Objectives

Classroom Practice

Central Concepts

Additional Related Concepts

Benchmarks and Standards

Extensions and Connections

Activity Credits

Requirements