Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand how forces and energy are used in products in the physical world.

Materials and Prep

• Pen and paper
• Access to the internet for research
• Optional: household objects to demonstrate forces and energy

No specific prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

• Research and Report: Ask the student to choose a product they are interested in and research how forces and energy are used in its design and operation. They can write a report or create a presentation to share their findings.
• Force and Energy Demonstration: Encourage the student to choose a household object and explore how forces and energy are involved in its functionality. They can demonstrate this to you by explaining the forces and energy transfers that occur.
• Product Redesign: Challenge the student to think of a product they use regularly and brainstorm ways to improve its design by considering forces and energy. They can sketch or describe their redesigned product and explain how it would work more efficiently.

Talking Points

• "Forces are pushes or pulls that can change the motion or shape of an object."
• "Energy is the ability to do work or cause a change."
• "When designing products, engineers and scientists consider how forces and energy can be utilized to make them more efficient and effective."
• "Forces and energy can be transferred or transformed in various ways within a product."
• "Understanding the forces and energy involved in a product helps us appreciate its functionality and potential improvements."