Purpose
In this activity, you will observe the motion of a variety of objects under a variety of conditions. You will interpret your observations to learn the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

Discussion
Some of the most fundamental laws of motion eluded the best minds in science for centuries. One reason for this is that when objects are pushed or pulled, there are usually several forces acting at once. To understand the nature of force and motion, it is necessary to observe the effect of a single, unbalanced force acting on an object. In this activity, you will do just that. You will also vary the amount of force acting on the object and you will vary the mass of the object being acted upon. Careful observations will lead you to an understanding of the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.