Lesson 32 of 84 · Energy
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabNewton's First Law: Objects at Rest (Part 2)
Newton's First Law: Objects at Rest (Part 2).
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.
Mind = Blown
🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: where does the energy go?
What You'll Learn
Newton's first law states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an unbalanced force. This is called inertia.
Key Words
- gravity
- friction
Materials Needed
- cardboard
- marbles
- paper clips
Safety First
- Adult supervision recommended.
- Do not taste any materials.
Steps
Read about Energy and write down three key facts.
Build a simple circuit using a battery, wire, and light bulb. Then add a switch and test what happens when you open and close it.
Observe what happens and describe it in detail.
Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What does Newton's third law state?
Where you see this in real life
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Energy for 8th Grade
Get the full Energy track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.