NAME _________________________ PhET Simulation - Forces and Motion: Basics
Learning Target: I will explore the relationship of forces and motion by using an interactive PhET simulation.
Standard: NGSS MS-PS-2-2
Finding the simulation: Navigate to the website for the Simulation by clicking the link:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-motion-basics_en.html
OR use a search engine to find “PhET Simulation Forces and Motion Basics
Explore the computer simulation to find answers to the questions.
Net Force Section – enable measurement functions by checking boxes in top corner
1. Explore the program by placing red and blue figures on the rope to simulate a tug of war
a. Which figure can pull with the most force?
b. What is the exact measurement of force that each figure can pull the rope?
i. Small –
ii. Medium –
iii. Large –
2. Place 2 small blue figures on the left against 1 medium red figure on the right
a. What is the resulting motion or speed?
b. What is the sum of the forces (net force)?
c. Use a math equation to show how the net force was calculated?
d. Are the forces balanced or unbalanced? How do you know?
3. Place 2 small blue figures on the left against 1 large red figure on the right
a. What is the resulting motion or speed?
b. What is the sum of the forces (net force)?
c. Use a math equation to show how the net force was calculated?
d. Are the forces balanced or unbalanced? How do you know?
NAME _________________________ PhET Simulation - Forces and Motion: Basics
4. What happens to the speed of the cart when one side is winning the tug of war?
a. Is this type of motion considered “acceleration”? Why or why not?
5. What happens to the speed of the cart when the tug of war is a tie?
a. Is this type of motion considered “acceleration”? Why or why not?
6. When 2 small figures are both pulling in the same direction, their individual forces are
_______________ together.
7. When 2 small figures are pulling in the opposite direction, their individual forces
________________.
8. An unbalanced force results when the sum of all forces is ____________________ and causes the
object to ________________.
9. A balanced force results when the sum of all forces is ____________________ and does not
cause the object to _____________.
Friction Section – Be sure to enable the functions at the top corner of the screen.
10. Set your friction bar to medium, select one 50-kg crate, and slowly apply rightward force using
the single arrow button.
a. Stop when applied force reaches 10N
i. What is the friction force?
ii. What is the sum of the forces? In which direction?
iii. Is the crate accelerating (speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction)?
b. Stop when applied force reaches 100N
i. What is the friction force?
ii. What is the sum of the forces? In which direction?
iii. Is the crate accelerating (speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction)?
NAME _________________________ PhET Simulation - Forces and Motion: Basics
c. Stop when applied force reaches 200N
i. What is the friction force?
ii. What is the sum of the forces? In which direction?
iii. Is the crate accelerating (speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction)?
d. Move applied force back down below 50N, but above 0N and observe
i. What is the friction force?
ii. What is the sum of the forces? In which direction?
iii. Is the crate accelerating (speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction)?
11. What happens to the box when the frictional force is greater than the applied force?
12. Compare the applied force required to move a 50-kg crate and the applied force required to move
something much more massive, like the 200-kg refrigerator
a. 50-kg crate
b. 200-kg fridge
c. Why?
13. Compare the applied force required to move a 50-kg crate when there is LOTS of friction,
MEDIUM friction, and NONE friction
a. LOTS of friction
b. MEDIUM friction
c. NONE friction
If you are done, feel free to continue to experiment in the Net Force and Friction simulations, but you
may also check out the acceleration and motion simulation if you wish.
