Minor adaptations can be used for lower grades. CBL units can also be implemented for more advanced high school physics students. The concepts of force, mass, and acceleration are reviewed with students first. Have two students push on a small car with bathroom scales under their hands against the bumpers. Have them push straight ahead, trying to keep the scales at a constant force.
Students qualitatively measure the car's acceleration rate.
Now two students push on a mini-van with bathroom scales under their hands against the bumper. Students again qualitatively measure the van's acceleration rate. Ask students to formulate their own conjectures about the relationship between mass and acceleration for objects being pushed or pulled. Students will now complete the following lab. Assemble your dynamics cart system as follows, be certain cart does not hit pulley.