Introduction Short Description: Age range: 12-13 years old Students will find out about newton’s third law and the principle of action and reaction. A hand on experience with easy set up experiments will help understand the principle Students will have the chance to explore newton’s third law by setting up an experiment by themselves in a science center (museum) Students study mechanics by observing simulations and videos Age range: 12-13 years old Context: School, museum Time required: approx. 3-5 lessons Connection with the curriculum: mechanics, movement, forces

Set up a stimulating experiment: Eliciting Curiosity – pre visit phase 1 Set up a stimulating experiment: A student on a skateboard will be asked to move a desk Students find out neither it will be impossible to move the desk nor not to move themselves. Discuss why does this happen?

Questions Eliciting Activities – pre visit phase 1 Define questions from current knowledge Because of the obvious movement of the student it turns out there MUST BE a force on the student. This force is of equal magnitude and opposite direction This can be shown by using 2 skateboards and 2 (same mass) students. Material

Questions Eliciting Activities – pre visit phase 1 Define questions from current knowledge What examples for newton’s third law occure in everyday life? How do students intuitionally experience mechanics (e.g. walking, jumping, …) Material

Pre Visit –Phase 2: Active Investigation – PROPOSE PRELIMINARY EXPLANATION OR HYPOTHESES How can we set up an easy experiment to prove newton’s third law? Students should get some input and ideas by making research for experiments on the web or realize their own ideas. Students will be guided to develop an experiment that causes action which will provoke reaction

a possible setup could be: “the balloon-race” Pre Visit –Phase 2: Active Investigation – the rocket – balloon - race a possible setup could be: “the balloon-race” Material Source: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Rocket_Races.html

Pre Visit –Phase 2: misconceptions Identification of possible misconceptions associated to forces. Some could be: A common misconception is that the forward movement is due to the air inside the balloon is pushing on the outside air. However, this experiment would work even in the vacuum of space! This is why rockets work even outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Another misconception is the idea that force and counteracting force will sum up to zero. This is explained in the material to general information on newton’s third law.

Pre Visit –Phase 2: Observation: Simulation of force and counterforce: “the lunar lander” Try to place the lander on the surface analyze influence of force on movement and acceleration measure forces and strength Animation directions Source: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/lunar-lander activity

Pre Visit –Phase 2: simulation “forces” Explore force and counterforce on the example of aplied force and friction force Learn about vector analysis Understand relation between movement and friction force Animation activity Source: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-1d

Visit a science center: "Haus der Natur" Visit - Phase 3 Creation – GATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION Visit a science center: "Haus der Natur" Observe experiments showing Newton's third law Observe the bottle rocket rushing through the tube Discuss Newton's laws and the experimental design with people from the science center movie http://vimeo.com/12168168 http://www.hausdernatur.at/aktuelles.html

Build your own "water rocket" (assembly set) Visit - Teaching Phase 4 Discussion – consider and observe explanations Build your own "water rocket" (assembly set) Class-project: Building up a water rocket Observe the bottle rocket taking off Discuss Newton's third law and the experimental design E.g.: http://www.lenkdrachen.com/wasserrakete.de/bottle-rocket/html_seiten/frameseite.htm

Visit - Teaching Phase 4 Discussion – Explanation based on evidence Generalize the principle of rocket movement from a water rocket to a space rocket: Class-project: Get information about rockets through web research Explain and discuss the principle of thrust and propellant to be used in rockets Discuss how controlling during flight works material Source: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Applying_Newtons_Laws.html

Analyzing – post visit Teaching phase 5: communicate observations and explanations Get more information about rockets Research for rocket videos on the web observe lift off in real time Get an idea of the energy consumption of a launching rocket How does Newton's Third Law affect everyday life? working out examples for action and reaction principle walking, jumping from a base, … Collect ideas and in group work and work out presentations of findings movie

Collect ideas and in group work and work out presentations of findings Analyzing – post visit Teaching phase 5: communicate observations and explanations Collect ideas and in group work and work out presentations of findings Wings of an aircraft He-core and mother core Two rollerskaters draging to each other weapons