Plan and Observe
Newton's second law is F=ma. In this task, you will plan two controlled experiments to see how changes in force and
changes in mass affect the motion of the piece of cardboard in the setup from task 1. Because you don't have access to
special measuring devices, you'll just use observation to compare acceleration of the cardboard as it moves across the
table. You should change only the force or the mass, but not both, because these are controlled experiments.
estimated time to complete: 20 minutes
You will need these materials:
• goggles
the experimental setup from task 1
• another nonbreakable object to place on top of the cardboard (e.g., another kitchen utensil)
. a table at least 24 inches wide
1 square meter of floor space next to the table, covered with a rug, mat, or carpet
A Stay safe! Make sure you wear your goggles. The experimental setup could fall on the floor: Be sure to stop the
cardboard piece at the edge of the table before it falls. If it does fall, stay clear of the falling objects.
Part A
You should now have one more object to place on the cardboard. Using the task 1 setup and the additional object,
plan a controlled experiment to investigate how changing the mass of an object changes its acceleration. The net
force on the object must stay the same. Record your plan here.
