Exploring Newton's Second Law in Microgravity

Astronaut Randy Bresnik, aboard the ISS, explores physics in microgravity. He explains Newton's Second Law, F=ma, using practical experiments with a chapstick and a spaceship to demonstrate how mass affects acceleration. The video concludes with a summary of the experiments and an invitation for viewers to conduct their own experiments on Earth.

What environment do astronauts live in on the International Space Station?

• High gravity

• Normal gravity

• Microgravity

• Zero gravity

What does Newton's Second Law of Motion state?

• F = m/v

• F = ma

• F = m/a

• F = mv

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NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What happens to a rocket when the thrust force is greater than its weight?

• It moves sideways

• It accelerates

• It remains stationary

• It decelerates

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NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Why does the Chapstick accelerate quickly when launched?

• It has very little mass

• It has a lot of mass

• It is aerodynamic

• It has a strong force

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NGSS.MS-PS3-1

What is used to launch the Chapstick in the demonstration?

• A spring

• A bungee cord

• A catapult

• A rubber band

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How does the acceleration of the spaceship compare to the Chapstick?

• It accelerates at the same rate

• It does not accelerate

• It accelerates slower

• It accelerates faster

What additional force is felt when moving the spaceship compared to the Chapstick?

• Extra force

• No force

• Less force

• Equal force

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What is the relationship between mass and acceleration according to Newton's Second Law?

• Mass does not affect acceleration

• More mass means more acceleration

• More mass means less acceleration

• Less mass means less acceleration

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What is the largest object used in the demonstration?

• A large object

• A Chapstick

• A spaceship

• A bungee cord

What should students do after watching the video?

• Write a report

• Watch another video

• Start their own experiments

• Take a quiz