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Investigate and describe that the more mass an object has, the less effect a given force will have on the object's motion.
Standard #: SC.5.P.13.3
Standard Information
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 5
Body of Knowledge: Physical Science
Big Idea: Forces and Changes in Motion - A. It takes energy to change the motion of objects.

B. Energy change is understood in terms of forces--pushes or pulls.

C. Some forces act through physical contact, while others act at a distance.

Clarification for grades K-5: The target understanding for students in the elementary grades should focus on Big Ideas A, B, and C.

Clarification for grades 6-8: The target understanding for students in grades 6-8 should begin to transition the focus to a more specific definition of forces and changes in motion. Net forces create a change in motion. A change in momentum occurs when a net force is applied to an object over a time interval.

Grades 9-12, Standard 12: Motion - A. Motion can be measured and described qualitatively and quantitatively. Net forces create a change in motion. B. Momentum is conserved under well-defined conditions. A change in momentum occurs when a net force is applied to an object over a time interval.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
Related Courses
Related Access Points
  • SC.5.P.13.Pa.1 # Recognize that pushing or pulling makes an object move.
  • SC.5.P.13.In.2 # Identify that heavier objects take more force to move than lighter ones.
  • SC.5.P.13.Su.2 # Recognize that a heavier object is harder to move than a light one.
Related Resources
Lesson Plans
  • Paying for Payloads # Students will investigate the relationship between mass and the force required to lift an object, as well as the impact of forces on the object’s motion. Using payload data and rocket specs, they will develop a plan with a budget to launch five modules of a new spaceport into low Earth orbit.
  • Hoverama # In this lesson students will create a model hovercraft. The challenge is to lift the most mass. Students will use their knowledge of forces and how increased mass interacts with motion. They will need to follow a budget in order to purchase building material for their hovercraft. While budgeting, students will apply real world mathematical (money) problem solving. Students will use iPads to record and document the process of the engineering and building of their model hovercrafts.
  • How Does Force Affect Motion? # Students will explore how force affects an object's motion. Students will discuss how the greater the mass of an object, the greater the force required to move an object.  Students will use data gathered through experimentation to justify their reasoning and understanding of forces and motion.
  • When the Wind Blows # This is an engineering design process lesson that covers forces and motion. It is designed to engage students using hands-on problem solving strategies.
  • Bottling Rockets # In this lesson, students will explore the concepts of force and motion as they use the engineering design process to create and test rockets. Students will demonstrate their understanding of familiar forces by creating and presenting a poster. Take students up, up, and away with this engaging lesson!
  • Newton's Second Law of Motion Part 2 of 3 # This lesson plan is the second in a series of connected lessons on Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion published to CPALMS. This lesson teaches Newton's second law of motion.
Original Student Tutorial
Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea
Virtual Manipulatives
  • A Pendulum # This virtual manipulative will help the students learn some important concepts of classical mechanics, such as gravitational acceleration, energy conservation and so on. This activity will also help in students learning via the process of making predictions (about number of pendulum swings), discussing outcomes and sharing results.
  • Balance Challenge Game # Play with objects on a teeter totter to learn about balance.
    • Predict how objects of various masses can be used to make a plank balance.
    • Predict how changing the positions of the masses on the plank will affect the motion of the plank
    • Write rules to predict which way plank will tilt when objects are placed on it.
    • Use your rules to solve puzzles about balancing.
  • Explore the forces #
    Students can create an applied force and see how it makes objects move. They can also make changes in friction and see how it affects the motion of objects.
    • Identify when forces are balanced vs. unbalanced.
    • Determine the sum of forces (net force) on an object with more than one force on it.
    • Predict the motion of an object with zero net force.
    • Predict the direction of motion given a combination of forces.
  • Forces in 1 Dimension # This is a virtual manipulative which demonstrates the principles of force. Students can click on a man and push different objects of varying masses across the screen. The resulting forces (frictional and total force) are shown. Graphs show forces, position and acceleration as a function of time. Free body diagrams of all the forces can also be viewed.
Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8
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