Imagineering Newton’s Three Laws.
Watch the video in class, or follow this link and find examples of the following concepts from the movie:
1. Net force- 2 examples
2. Friction- 3 examples
3. Gravity- 2 examples
4. Newton’s 1st law: Inertia- 4 examples
5. Newton’s 2nd law: f=ma- 4 examples
6. Newton’s 3rd law: action/ reaction- 4 examples
1. Net force:
- When Lightning McQueen accelerates forward, the net force on him is in the direction of motion.
- When Lightning McQueen hits the brakes, the net force on him is in the opposite direction of motion.
2. Friction:
- The tires of the cars gripping the road to propel them forward is an example of friction.
- The sparks flying when Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks rub against each other is an example of friction.
- When Lightning McQueen skids on the track due to friction from a sharp turn, it causes him to lose speed.
3. Gravity:
- The cars being pulled down by gravity as they go over a hill on the race track.
- The scene where Lightning McQueen falls off the lift and drops to the ground due to gravity.
4. Newton’s 1st law: Inertia:
- Lightning McQueen wants to keep moving at a constant speed unless acted upon by an external force.
- Chick Hicks wants to stay in the lead unless acted upon by an external force.
- The cars on the track want to continue moving forward in a straight line unless a turn or obstacle causes them to change direction.
- Mack, the truck, wants to keep moving at a constant speed on the interstate unless he needs to brake or accelerate.
5. Newton’s 2nd law: f=ma:
- Lightning McQueen accelerating faster when he presses the gas pedal harder.
- The cars slowing down when they hit the brakes, due to a decrease in acceleration.
- Mack having a higher resistance to acceleration due to his larger mass compared to the race cars.
- The cars having to use more force to push through air resistance at higher speeds.
6. Newton’s 3rd law: action/reaction:
- Lightning McQueen’s tires push back against the ground to propel him forward.
- When another car collides with Lightning McQueen, both experience an equal and opposite force.
- Vibration can be felt when the cars rev their engines, an equal and opposite reaction to the force created by the engine.
- When a car skids and kicks up dirt, the dirt is pushed back to create a reaction to the force of the skidding car.