forces and motion experiments

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20 Fun Forces Activities For All Grade Levels 

October 27, 2022 //  by  Rachel White

One of the best ways to approach science is through hands-on activities. Some students have a difficult time wrapping their mind around these difficult topics, but if they can physically practice the rule or see it in action, these scientific concepts become clearer. The physics concept of forces is an excellent example as the many kinds of forces could definitely get confusing for your students. We've collected twenty interactive activities to help you teach the different concepts of forces to all grade levels.

1. Investigate Shape & Motion

One of the simplest lessons on gravity and air resistance involves different shapes of paper. Observe how fast different shapes fall and track your observations.

Learn more: Around the Kampfire

2. Paper Airplanes

Paper airplanes are a favorite activity for students. Teach them about thrust, lift, and air resistance. You can also choose to add items such as paper clips to the plane and then discuss drag, weight, and gravity.

Learn more: Science Buddies

3. Helicopters

While we're teaching about drag, weight, lift, and thrust, this helicopter activity is a great STEAM activity. Not only will the students learn about the parts of the helicopter and the basic concepts that help it fly, but they'll also get to design their own.

Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers

4. Parachutes

Another activity to show gravity and air resistance is creating parachutes. This lesson aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards  3-PS2-1 (balanced and unbalanced forces).

5. Fairy Tale STEM Activities

While we're on the topic of parachutes, we can't forget about kindergarten lesson plans. One of the easiest ways to bring these concepts to life at a young age is by implementing fairy tales into our STEM or STEAM activities.

Turnertots put together a great list of gravity activities and introductions to the engineering design process.

Learn more: Turner Tots

6. Toy Cars

We can see gravity and force in class with toy cars. After constructing a ramp, let a toy car loose and measure how far it rolls. Then, add some weight to the car and repeat the experiment. Continue adding weight and measure each time. Your students may be surprised to see which car travels the furthest.

Learn more: Sciencing

7. Car Roll

Another way to utilize toy cars in the classroom is with a lesson on gravity and friction. Set up some cars on a stack of books. Change the height of the books to test the gravity and then add some friction to the books by laying down a piece of felt or some sandpaper.

Learn more: The Classroom Nook

8. Tabletop Hovercraft

We can also observe friction between a CD and a balloon. Create your own tabletop hovercraft and see if the students can guess what is causing the lift.

Learn more: Explorify

9. Gravity Force Lab

If you're looking for online activities, check out the University of Colorado Boulder's interactive simulations. This simulation introduces the concept of gravity and allows students to use measurements to determine the gravitational constant.

Learn more: Ph ET Colorado

10. TedEd Video

While discussing gravity, show them this TedEd video. The site includes  questions that prompt deeper thinking and discussion topics for after the video has finished.

Learn more: TED-Ed

11. Red Light Green Light

If you want to show the concept of a body in motion and wanting to stay in motion, have the students do sprints outside. Play red light green light- instructing them to fully stop when you shout red light. Most students will recognize that their bodies do not completely stop. Maybe their feet slide a little more or their chest still moves forward.

Learn more: Praxi Labs

12. Rube Goldberg Machines

Have the students build a chain reaction machine, also known as the Rube Goldberg machine. This can be done with dominoes, cars on a track, or in this video, even DVD cases. These machines pair well with lessons on the laws of motion or potential and kinetic energy. They're also just creative classroom fun.

Learn more: Eureka Museum

13. Equal and Opposite Reaction

An easy way to show equal and opposite reactions are with a few sports balls. Make a line of balls on a flat surface. Roll or kick a ball toward other balls and observe their reactions. This will bring the basic idea to life right in front of them!

14. Marshmallow Shooters

If you're looking for fun ways to implement STEM Challenges in your classroom, check out these marshmallow shooters. You can use them to introduce potential & kinetic energy while also implementing an element of competition.

Learn more: Joshua Willoughby

15. Vinegar & Baking Soda

Anytime you bring vinegar and baking soda into a classroom, the science lessons get more fun. To show potential and kinetic energy, mix up some water and vinegar in a flask with a cork, then add some baking soda, top with the cork, and step back. The kinetic energy will blow the cork right off!

16. Balloon Car Lesson

A balloon car is another great way to show potential & kinetic energy. This is a great hands-on activity for kids and this video is sure to get them excited about the project.

17. Egg Drop Activities

The egg drop is a classic you cannot go wrong with. To show inertia & velocity, have the students create their own egg carrier and drop it with an egg inside off a high point. This is a fun experiment all grade levels will enjoy!

18. Skeleton Bridge

This STEM engineering challenge is perfect for Halloween. Your students will use their engineering design skills to create a bridge using cotton buds while learning about force, load, tension, and compression.

Explore Force & Motion with STEAM Activities for Kids

Investigate the concepts of force and motion with fun and engaging hands-on STEAM activities for kids.

Opportunities for hands-on experimenting with various materials allows children to learn and extend their knowledge of Scientific concepts by integrating with other subjects.

STEAM is the traditional STEM + Art.

These STEAM activities are great extensions to further understand the concepts of force and motion.

With STEAM activities the final product of the activity is not as important as the process. Give children time to explore and experiment with the different types of force.

Let’s investigate force & motion.

What is force? 

Force is the energy it takes to do work.

For example, if you push or pull an object, it takes energy to make the object move.

What is motion?

Motion is the change of position of an object because of the force that is applied.

Vocabulary:

Push – A force to move something away.

Pull – A force to move something closer to you.

Gravity – A force that attracts objects towards each other.

Magnetism – A force that pulls metal towards a magnet.

Push & Pull Painting

Explore the force of push and pull as you try to move paint to create a unique abstract work of art.

• White Cardstock Paper
• Small size cardboard rectangles

Directions:

Tape your paper to your tray.

Dip your cardboard rectangle into the paint.

Push and pull the cardboard on your canvas to create a unique design. Experiment with different sizes of cardboard.

Repeat with other colors until you’re satisfied with your design.

Gravity Painting

Gravity is what keeps people and objects on the ground and causes objects to fall toward the Earth.   Experiment with how to use the Earth’s gravitational pull to direct the paint on your canvas. 

• White Foam board or Cardboard
• Liquid Watercolors
• Pipette or Eyedropper

 1. Prep your workspace with a drop cloth. Prop your board against a table or easel.

2. Use a pipette or eyedropper to drip the paint at the top of your board.

What happens to the paint?

3. Experiment manipulating the drips by turning the board as the drips run down. 

What happens to the paint if you turn the board?

Magnetic Painting

Explore magnetic force with this fun hands-on painting STEAM activity for kids.

• Small metal objects
• Cardstock Paper
• Washable Paint

1. Tape your piece of white paper to the cookie sheet.

2. Place your small metal objects on the white paper and place the magnet on the underneath side of the cookie sheet.   Experiment with moving the metal objects around the paper with the magnet. 

3. Place a small squirt paint on the paper and u se the magnet to move the objects through and around the paint. Try moving the objects fast, slow, across the page or in circles.

STEAM activities for kids don’t have to be complicated. With a few simple materials, you can start investigating your favorite ways to create force!

For more STEAM activities check out the links below:

Pendulum Painting Made Easy

Sweet Action Painting with Gumballs

Chihuly Inspired Action Painting

This post is part of the 28 Days of STEM Activities hosted by Left Brain Craft Brain .

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Last updated by Linda Kamp on May 25, 2024 • 1 Comment

15 Force and Motion Activities for Third Grade

Teaching force and motion, and all the hands-on activities that come with it, are always a highlight for my students. In this post I’ll share some of our favorite third grade force and motion activities that will spark curiosity in your students and excite their creativity. 

I’ve included teaching ideas, resources, force and motion lesson plans , books, videos, and force and motion science experiments that align with Next Generation Science Standards for 3rd grade as well as many state  science standards.  

Find activities and experiments for teaching:

• Relative Position
• Patterns of motion
• Force and motion
• Contact and noncontact forces 
• Balanced and unbalanced forces 
• Static electricity
• Magnets and magnetism

 15 Favorite Force and Motion Activities

Play a relative position game

Relative position is the position of one object compared to the position of another object. We used real pictures of track and field and go-kart races, objects on a shelf, or objects in a row to demonstrate how to describe relative position. Generate a list of position terms like in front of , behind, beside, next to, above, below etc.

PowerPoint lesson source

Next, head outside to the playground and have students spread out around the equipment and any objects in the area. Students take turns describing their relative position compared to the objects and equipment on the playground. 

Lab activity source

Next, have each students turn around and repeat their description. Ask them to notice how the position of an object went from being “in front of“ them to “behind” them.

Investigate how shape affects motion

This force and motion activity is always a hit! Students observe how the shape of an object affects its motion by doing this simple lab using sheets of paper. 

Crumple, fold, and make a paper airplane with sheets of paper and time how long it takes each paper to fall one meter. This easy to do lab is part of this force and motion science unit .

Find Patterns of Motion on the Playground

The playground is an ideal place to observe patterns of motion. Head outdoors to observe patterns of motion as students play on equipment, jump rope, and play ball games.

Force and motion activity cards source

Have students record the patterns of motion they observe as classmates play on swings, slides, with balls etc. 

Draw a Force Diagram

Science drawings are a great way to assess students understanding. While outside, have students draw playground equipment and make a force diagram by labeling the drawings with arrows to show the directions and pattern of motion the object makes while moving.

 PowerPoint lessons source

Build A Chain Reaction

Otherwise known as a Rube Goldberg machine, this fun project is an opportunity for students to use a variety of forces to create a chain reaction that completes a simple task. 

Provide students with building materials such as cardboard, tape, Hot Wheels tracks, string, dominoes, magnets, and anything else you have available.

Learn more about Rube Goldberg at Time for Kids . And watch this short video, All About Rube Goldberg Machines | Nat. Geo Kids

Explore Static Electricity 

Create flying objects by charging a balloon with static electricity. Learn how static electricity works and explore ways to make objects levitate. 

We tested a number of objects after charging them with static electricity to see if they would attract or repel.

See more about how to use electrical charges to attract or repel objects on Steve Spangler Science experiments .

Make An Electromagnet

Have students can make their own electromagnets with AA battery, thin copper wire, and a nail. 

This video shows how: How to Make an Electromagnet   

Measure A Magnetic Field 

Measure the size of a magnet’s magnetic field by attaching a magnet to a craft stick and a paperclip to a string. Carefully “raise” the paperclip. Have partner measure the size of the magnet’s magnetic field.

Using a ruler, students measure the space between the magnet and the paperclip. This takes some testing first to determine where the magnetic field ends and the paperclip falls.

Make a Homemade Compass 

As students learn about magnetic force and the earth’s magnetic field have them make a homemade compass. This Sci Kids video shows how to make a compass using a needle and a cork. Did you know that if you rub a metal object on a magnet it becomes magnetized?

  Learn About Magnetic Levitation Trains  

As you plan your force and motion activities, you’ll definitely want to include a floating train.  Show your students forces in action and the technology used in a maglev train. The world’s fastest bullet train, it reaches speeds of 375 miles per hour. Powerful magnets in the train and rails lift the train and propel it forward at high speeds. These videos show how the technology and the train works: 

• The Floating Train
• How Do Maglev Trains Work?

Play Force and Motion Games Online

These fun, online force and motion games reinforce science vocabulary, allow students to make force diagrams, an explain friction.  Some sites require you to sign up for a free account to play.

Science Trek   This site is a gold mine for teachers! Sponsored by Idaho Public Television, it is a collection of online games, videos, activities, and loads of other resources for teaching force and motion.

Legends of Learning   This is a great site for students! Sign up for a free account and access thousands of math and science games, listed by grade level, that align to most state and NGSS standards. Check out their library of force and motion games!

Learning Games for Kids | Motion Find force and motion spelling, vocabulary and definition games that promote language and reading skills using science content.

Scholastic Force and Motion Study Jams   Scholastic Study Jams is an interactive site with over 200 science games, songs, and videos in a wide range of science topics ideal for 2 nd and 3 rd grade kids.

PBS Learning Media   One of my favorite science sites, PBS Learning has a whole library of science activities, investigations, and videos for kids 

Force & Motion Videos

• Relative Motion Explained
• Swings, Slides & Science Sci Show Kids
• Noncontact Forces
• The Science Behind Magnets
• Magnetism|Crash Course Science  
• Friction | Generation Genius

Force and Motion Books 

I’ve put together a collection of force and motion books for kids and teachers on my Amazon page. The topics include, balanced and unbalanced forces, motion, gravity, magnets, push and pull concepts, electricity, and magnetism.

Get Force and Motion Lesson Plans

I’ve planned a complete 27-day force and motion unit with an in-depth, interactive teaching PowerPoint, detailed lesson plans, journal response activities, lab investigations, and quizzes for each lesson.

The unit includes vocabulary posters, focus wall resources with guiding questions and learning target cards as well as a complete teacher guide in a handy planning binder. Aligned to NGSS and most state science standards this complete unit will save you hours of planning time! The digital add-on unit has narrated audio slides, digital practice games and quizzes for each lesson.

Click the picture or the link to see the Forces & Motion Science Unit , DIGITAL Forces & Motion unit or save on the Forces & Motion BUNDLE.

Planning your force and motion activities is easy with these units because I’ve already done it for you! They save hours of planning time.

Visit these posts for more third grade science activities:

Dollar Store Science Materials for Teaching Force and Motion   

10 Easy Inherited Traits Activities for 3rd Grade

30 Ideas for Teaching Weather & Climate in 3rd Grade

Free Science and Engineering Posters & Standards Cards

Third Grade Back to School Science Activities

Happy teaching!

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September 25 at 7:19 am

Great experimenta for keeping the attention to young kids in Science lesiona.

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Hello Friends

I’m Linda Kamp, a 20 year primary grade teacher with a passion for creating educational materials that excite students and make learning fun! I'm so glad you're here!

Force and Motion for Kids: Simple Experiments and Activities

Force and Motion: A Fun Introduction for Kids

Have you ever wondered why a ball rolls when you kick it? Or how a swing moves back and forth? It's all about force and motion! Let's explore these concepts in a way that's fun and easy to understand.

What is Force?

Imagine a big, strong push or pull. That's what force is! It's a push or pull that can make something move, stop, or change direction.

Think about these examples:

• Pushing a door open: You apply force to the door to make it move.
• Pulling a toy car: You use force to make the car move forward.
• Stopping a rolling ball: You apply force to the ball to make it stop.

What is Motion?

Motion is simply the act of moving. When something changes its position, it's in motion. Here are some examples:

• A bird flying in the sky
• A car driving down the road
• A leaf falling from a tree

The Connection: Force and Motion

Here's the key: Force causes motion ! Without force, nothing would move. You need a push or pull to get something moving, to stop it, or to make it change direction.

Fun Experiments and Activities

Let's put force and motion into action with some fun experiments!

1. The Rolling Ball Race

• Materials: A ball, a ramp (you can make one by using a book or a piece of cardboard), a stopwatch (optional)
• Place the ball at the top of the ramp.
• Let go of the ball and watch it roll down the ramp.
• Try different ramps (taller or shorter) and see how the speed of the ball changes.
• If you have a stopwatch, time how long it takes the ball to roll down the ramp.
• What you learn: Gravity is a force that pulls the ball down the ramp, causing it to move. A steeper ramp means more force from gravity, making the ball roll faster.

2. The Paper Airplane Challenge

• Materials: Paper, scissors
• Fold a paper airplane.
• Throw the airplane and see how far it flies.
• Experiment with different ways to fold the airplane to see how it affects its flight.
• What you learn: The force of your throw makes the airplane move through the air. The shape of the airplane affects how it flies, like how the wings help it glide.

3. The Magnet Magic

• Materials: Magnets, metal objects (paperclips, nails, etc.)
• Hold a magnet near a metal object. What happens?
• Try different magnets and see which ones are stronger.
• Experiment with different metal objects.
• What you learn: Magnets have a force that pulls on certain metals. This force can make objects move without touching them!

Keep Exploring!

Force and motion are everywhere around us! Keep observing and experimenting to learn more about these amazing concepts. You might even discover new things about how things move!

science experiments

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19 Fun Ideas & Resources for Force and Motion

Teach force and motion with style by using experiments, free printables and resources that will help bring science concepts alive. This collection of force and motion ideas should help you cover the topics of texture, gravity, incline and some simple machines .

If you’re looking for fun ideas, then this is the place to start!

Ideas to Experiment with Force and Motion

1. Angle Height and Track Texture – Use basic classroom materials like books to experiment on angle height (incline) to work on developing predictions. Use the same experiment set up to change the variable of ramp texture to experiment with friction.

2. Elementary Exploration: Friction – Using rulers, a wood block and a few materials, you can create a similar experiment to above to see how students can compare what they’ve learned about friction using a car and texture and apply it to this situation. Using rulers will allow students to share accurate measurements for their incline. {Free download}

3. Incline Marble Races – To create some basic concepts about the way incline effects the way things move, try creating some marble races. Allow students to experiment and record their findings using simple materials and varying heights using objects like a bookshelf.

4. Forces in Action: Play – This interactive website will recreate a similar set of experiments virtually and allow students to adjust the incline and add parachutes to add drag. What concepts can students solidify using the included table based on their virtual experiments? Great for a smartboard whole group activity too.

5. Car Ramps – Here is an example of creating experiments that face multiple problems and allowing students time to come up with solutions. This is a more exploratory way of approaching it, but a good introduction to understanding more about the way things move on an incline.

6. Forces in Action: Lesson Plan – This lesson hits four objectives that includes understanding that friction (including air resistance) is a force that slows moving objects. Works beautifully along with the interactive site listed above in number 4.

7. Marshmallow Shooter – When you’re discussing push and pull as forces and including measurement you’ll want to include marshmallow shooters in your lesson plans. You’ll end up including words like force, distance and finding ways to measure.

8. Leprechaun Balloon Races – This would be a fun experiment when trying to explore the friction of a different surface – string and explore the friction of air. What types of force can a balloon which also has air create? Can you see students getting into the force and motion of this?

9. A Slide is a Simple Machine – What school playground is complete without a slide? Break your science class outdoors to discuss and explore how a slide works like a simple machine. This will help explore the concepts that incline planes make it easier to lift things and that machines make work easier. {Free download}

10. Simple Machines: Lever  – Here’s another idea that break out onto the playgound to explore the concept of using simple machines to explore force and motion. Begin by exploring a see saw and then create your own levers with pencils, pennies tape and a ruler. {Free download}

Free Resources for Force and Motion

11. Mouse Trap Trials – Here is a great culminating activity for students to use when wrapping up a force and motion unit. Have students create their own mouse trap! Using household “junk” see what types of fast moving creations can they create using what they’ve learned about motion, force and friction. {Free downloads}

12. Force and Motion (Pre/Post)Assessment – Here is a one page activity that you could use in order to see where your students are at or to give at the end of a unit to cover vocabulary and basic concepts of force and motion. {Free download}

13. Force and Motion Posters – You’ll find word cards that will be great for a word wall, a display banner, a movement word reference mat and 6 types of forces posters. {Free downloads}

14. Forces in Action Worksheet – Here is a worksheet to practice naming forces like gravity, lift, pushing and pulling. You’ll also be able to practice showing how forces act and students can create their own illustration examples. {Free download}

Songs to Teach Force and Motion

15. The Gravity Song – Who doesn’t love using a song to help teach a concept. This song won’t have them rappin’ but it will help explore the concept of gravity and help embed some vocabulary just from listening once.

16. What is Friction – This song will remind you of what you listened to when you were in school, but it does a good job of helping lay down some basic examples of friction and vocabulary.

Books to Teach Force and Motion

These are affiliate links to helpful books you’ll probably want to have on hand!

17. Forces Make Things Move – This book illustrates examples of the forces all around students during a normal day. It helps give names to those forces and are easy to act out within the classroom.

18. Forces and Motion: From High-speed Jets to Wind-up Toys – This book is better suited for third grade and up, but it is a great resource with 20 activities that you can guide students through with ease to develop some basic and solid concepts.

19. And Everyone Shouted, “Pull” – A fun way to bring in a fiction piece into exploring push and pull, join with these farm animals as they venture to market. Great for elementary grades.

And I recently came across this new books that I had to add to the list!

20. Motion: Push and Pull, Fast and Slow – This books uses everyday occurrences to explain what motion is to kids. It covers inertia, gravity and friction. Kids will understand why we need seat belts – because of inertia!

I hope you can draw inspiration or use some of these ideas the next time you are teaching force and motion. Is it too corny to say something like ‘May the force be with you’ as you teach this concept? {ha!}

Need more force and motion materials? You’ll love these 24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities .

Need more hands-on science ideas? I’ve got your back. Check out these 8 Fast, Free Water Cycle Resources and Activities .

More Science

• Rocks for Kids – 15 Fun Activities and Ideas
• 25 Easy Frog and Toad Ideas and Activities
• Clouds Science for Kids: 23 Smart Ideas for the Classroom

Teach Junkie

Leslie {aka the original Teach Junkie} loves learning new things to make teaching easier and more effective. She enjoys featuring creative classroom fun when she's not designing teacher shirts, making kindergarten lesson plans or planning her family's next trip to Disney World.

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Easy Paper Spinners

March 22, 2020 By Emma Vanstone 3 Comments

I was so surprised at how well these easy paper spinners ( or paper helicopters ) worked. They take less than two minutes to put together, spin amazingly well and inspire some great investigations. They are also part of my Tray a Day series , which is a program of science activities using simple materials that fit in a tray!

I’ve also got lots more easy paper science challenges you might like to try.

How to Make a Paper Spinner

What you need:      .

Different types of paper

Paper clips

How to make a paper spinner ( or paper helicopter )

Watch the video for instructions for how to make the paper spinners. Or download our easy to follow Paper Spinners instructions .

Hold the top of the spinner between your fingers ( paperclip end down ) and let it fall to the ground, does it spin?

Things to think about

Consider factors that might affect how fast the spinner falls:

• Type of paper
• Number of paper clips
• Size of spinner
• Height dropped from

Paper Spinner Extension Activit ies

Children can then design a fair test to find out how one factor affects the time the spinner takes to fall. Think about whether to use a timer or drop two spinner at the same time.  

Paper Spinner Challenge 1

Try to make the slowest spinner? What do you need to change?

Challenge 2

Did you know astronauts aboard the ISS return to Earth in a capsule? Their descent is slowed down using a parachute, why would  a mechanism like our spinners not be a good alternative?

Challenge 3

Ask children to develop a different spinner design.

Learning points

Air Resistance slows moving objects and that when an object falls, air resistance acts in the opposite direction to the weight.

Children should be able to explain the forces acting on the spinner as it falls to the ground ( air resistance pushes up and weight of the object pulls down ).

Paper Spinner Instructions

Click below to download the instruction sheet.

Paper Spinner Template

Make this activity even easier with our FREE Paper Spinner template .

Suitable for:

Key Stage 1 Science

Working Scientifically

• Asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
• Observing closely, using simple equipment
• Performing simple tests
• I dentifying and classifying
• Using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
• Gathering and recording data to help in answering questions.

Upper Key Stage 2 – Forces

More science for kids.

Try one of our fun forces and motion experiments . Make rockets, slip and slide on the floor and more!

Science concepts

Air resistance

This post was first published in 2016 and updated in 2020.

Affiliate Links

Last Updated on September 8, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

February 17, 2016 at 11:31 am

ooh these are very cool..simple too which suits me!

February 24, 2017 at 8:50 am

I’ve done this with Year 1. Was a great way of doing a practical investigation tied into the seasonal change aspect of the year 1 science curriculum. We were looking at the seeds and leaves that we’re falling as part of our autumn work and inspired to make our own spinners and investigate how changing them affected how they fell.

July 27, 2020 at 10:24 am

Great starter for many experiments and investigations. Important to remember though that weight doe snot affect how fast something falls. The shape of the falling object determines the magnitude of the air resistance so different objects do fall at different speeds. However, if weight is the only difference between the objects, Galileo taught us that they will fall at the same speed.

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Science Fun

Unbreakable Thread Force And Motion Science Experiment

In this fun and easy force and motion science experiment for kids, we’re going to investigate unbreakable thread. 

• Wooden cloths hanger
• Thin wooden stick
• Two pieces of thread
• Metal edged ruler

Instructions:

• Tie one piece of thread to each end of the wooden cloths hanger.
• Now tie the free end of each thread to each end of the wooden cloths hanger so that the wooden stick is suspended below. Do so in a way that the wooden stick hangs about twelve inches below the hanger.
• Now hit the stick with the metal edge of the ruler.
• The stick will break before the threads. 

EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS!

How it Works:

Because of inertia, the stick will attempt to remain at rest so much it would rather break than move.

Make This A Science Project:

Try pencils or wooden dowels that are larger in diameter. Try thicker pieces of string or yarn. 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

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