Laws of Motion! – Fun Science Activities for Kids Ages 8–11

Why does a bicycle keep rolling after you stop pedaling? Why is it harder to push a heavy box than an empty one? And how can a cheetah accelerate so quickly?

This month, we’re exploring the laws of motion! From Newton’s famous laws to friction, gravity, speed, and energy, there are plenty of ways for kids to see the science of motion happening all around them.

Here are some fun, hands-on ways to explore the topic at home.

1. Test Newton’s First Law

Newton’s First Law tells us that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, while an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless another force acts on it.

Try the Coin Drop Experiment

You’ll need:

• A drinking glass
• An index card or piece of cardstock
• A coin

Place the card across the top of the glass and put the coin in the middle. Then quickly flick the card sideways.

The card shoots away, but the coin should drop almost straight down into the glass!

The coin wants to remain at rest because of inertia. When the card moves suddenly, the coin doesn’t immediately move with it.

Try this: Experiment with different coins, cards, and containers. Does anything change?

2. Explore Friction

Friction is a force that resists motion when two surfaces rub against each other. Sometimes we want lots of friction—like when our shoes grip the ground. Other times, reducing friction makes movement much easier.

Build a Friction Ramp

Find a small toy car and create a simple ramp using a board or piece of cardboard. Test how far the car travels when the bottom of the ramp is covered with different materials.

Try:

• Smooth cardboard
• A towel
• Aluminum foil
• Carpet
• Sandpaper

Measure the distance the car travels each time.

Which surface creates the most friction? Which creates the least?

3. Discover Potential and Kinetic Energy

Energy can change forms as an object moves.

Potential energy is stored energy. A ball sitting at the top of a hill has potential energy because of its position.

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Once you release that ball and it begins rolling, some of its potential energy becomes kinetic energy.

Build a Marble Run

Use cardboard tubes, paper, blocks, tape, or anything else you have around the house to create a marble run.

Experiment with:

• Higher and lower starting points
• Steep and gentle slopes
• Curves
• Jumps
• Obstacles

Can you predict where the marble will move fastest?

4. Meet John Paul Stapp

Newton’s laws aren’t just something scientists study in a laboratory. Understanding motion can actually save lives.

John Paul Stapp was an American physician and Air Force officer who studied what happened to the human body during extremely rapid acceleration and deceleration.

He became famous for riding rocket-powered sleds at incredible speeds—and then stopping very, very quickly.

His experiments helped scientists understand how the human body responds to crashes and contributed to improvements in safety equipment.

Investigate Crash Safety

Choose a safety feature used in modern vehicles, such as:

• Seat belts
• Airbags
• Headrests
• Crumple zones

Find out how your chosen feature protects passengers during a sudden stop.

Then draw a diagram showing the forces acting on a passenger during a crash and how the safety feature helps.

5. Who Is the Fastest?

Some animals are incredible examples of motion in action.

The cheetah is famous for its acceleration and speed on land, while the sailfish is built for rapid movement through water.

Choose two fast animals and compare them.

Find out:

• Their top speeds
• How quickly they accelerate
• How their bodies are designed for speed
• How their environments affect the way they move

Then decide: What makes an animal fast?

Keep Exploring Motion

Motion is happening everywhere. Every jump, fall, rolling ball, speeding bicycle, and sliding object gives us another opportunity to investigate forces and energy.

Encourage your kids to make predictions before each experiment, observe what happens, and then ask the most important scientific question:

Why did that happen?

Hands-On Activities & Experiments

• ⁠Science Buddies – Teach Newton’s Laws of Motion — A large collection of hands-on experiments covering all three of Newton’s laws, including balloon cars, parachutes, car crashes, and force-and-acceleration challenges. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/newton-laws-science-lessons
• ⁠Science Buddies – Forces & Laws of Motion Experiments — Five excellent projects including balloon cars, paper roller coasters, balloon rockets, parachutes, and Newton’s Second Law experiments. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/lesson-plans-forces-motion
• ⁠Science Buddies – Ready, Set, Go! STEM Activities — Build moving creations such as propeller cars, marble runs, and balloon cars while experimenting with potential and kinetic energy. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/awesome-summer-science-experiments-ready-set-go
• ⁠Science Buddies – Rocket Science Activities — Experiment with bottle rockets, balloon rockets, and paper rockets to see Newton’s laws at work during launch and flight. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/rocket-science
• Coin Drop Inertia Experiment — Balance a coin on a card over a glass, quickly flick the card away, and watch Newton’s First Law send the coin straight into the glass.
• Friction Ramp Challenge — Race a toy car across carpet, cardboard, fabric, foil, and other surfaces to investigate how friction changes motion.
• Potential & Kinetic Energy Marble Run — Build a marble track and experiment with different starting heights, slopes, and obstacles to see how stored energy becomes motion.
• Balloon Rocket Race — Thread string through a straw, stretch it across a room, attach an inflated balloon, and release it to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law.

 Books

• Newton and Me — Lynne Mayer — A boy and his dog discover forces and Newton’s laws through everyday activities like throwing a ball, pulling a wagon, and riding a bicycle. The publisher also provides additional learning activities to accompany the story. https://amzn.to/3SkV6C2
• Forces Make Things Move — Kimberly Brubaker Bradley — A colourful introduction to pushing, pulling, reactions, inertia, friction, and gravity that is especially approachable for younger readers. https://amzn.to/4qEOhrB
• Fatal Forces — Nick Arnold — Part of the Horrible Science series, combining cartoons, strange facts, experiments, and humour to introduce kids to gravity, forces, motion, and physics. https://amzn.to/4znGTVs

Want to explore even further?

Join History Plus and experience history in a whole new way.

History Plus members can join us throughout October as we investigate the Laws of Motion, including Newton’s laws, friction, energy, speed, John Paul Stapp, and much more.