Units / Unit B / Force, Work, Gravitational PE, and the Joule
Force, Work, Gravitational PE, and the Joule
Force, work, Ep, Ek, energy change, and the joule as SI unit (B-GO2-SO8–SO12).
Lesson plan — step by step
- 1
Prepare
Metre sticks, spring scales or force sensors, ramp demo.
- 2
Set purpose
Display learning-intent slide; clarify success criteria and POS tags.
- 3
Teach
Walk through 9 slides in order—use talk tracks and questions in presenter notes.
- 4
Formative check
Work calculation: Calculate work for 20 N over 3 m; compare to mgh for 2 kg raised 3 m (g ≈ 9.8 N/kg).
- 5
Close
Exit slide; assign optional review of student notes online.
Materials
- Metre sticks, spring scales or force sensors, ramp demo.
Program of Studies tags
General outcomes
Specific outcomes
- B-GO2-SO8
- B-GO2-SO9
- B-GO2-SO10
- B-GO2-SO11
- B-GO2-SO12
Teacher overview
Connect operational definitions of force and work to energy equations in POS.
Before class
- Metre sticks, spring scales or force sensors, ramp demo.
Common misconceptions
- Force and energy are not the same quantity — work links them when displacement occurs.
- Carrying a heavy box at constant speed does no work on the box in the physics sense (no displacement in force direction).
Formative checks (classroom)
Work calculation
Calculate work for 20 N over 3 m; compare to mgh for 2 kg raised 3 m (g ≈ 9.8 N/kg).
Look for: Uses W = Fd with consistent units; states joules.
Slide outline
- 1. [hook] Push, pull, and pay in joules · ~3 min
- 2. [learning-intent] Learning intentions (Alberta POS) · ~2 min
- 3. [concept] Work and gravitational PE · ~6 min
- 4. [worked-example] Falling object · ~7 min
- 5. [concept] The joule · ~6 min
- 6. [guided-practice] Practice set · ~8 min
- 7. [safety] Lab safety · ~3 min
- 8. [formative-check] Exit ticket · ~4 min
- 9. [exit] Next lesson · ~2 min