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Physical Science | Unit 4 | Lesson 9: Newton’s First Law of Motion
Name Date
Acting Forces
Materials
bag of marbles
chalk
at surface such as an outdoor sidewalk or a at tile surface
In the 1930s, a marble game called Ringer became very popular among American children. All you
needed to play the game was a bag of marbles and something to draw a large circle with on the
sidewalk. Children would collect marbles, and even have a lucky marble that they would use as their
shooter. In this activity, you will see how Newton’s First Law of Motion affects the outcome of Ringer.
Procedure
1. Using chalk, draw a large circle on the sidewalk. The diameter of the circle should be as close
to 10 feet as possible.
2. Place all of the marbles but one in a + pattern in the center of the circle. The remaining marble
will be your shooter.
3. Kneel outside the circle. Make a loose st with your thumb out. Place your hand near the
ground, but not touching, with your knuckles facing down. Place the marble on your thumb.
4. Use your thumb to shoot the marble towards the marbles in the center of the circle. (This
motion is similar to that used when ipping a coin.) This may take some practice.
5. When you hit the marbles in the center, observe what happens to the marbles you hit. Observe
what happens to the marble you used as the shooter.
6. In Ringer, the object is to shoot marbles out of the ring, while keeping the shooter marble
inside the ring.
7. Continue to play the game until you have shot all of the marbles out of the ring.
Questions
1. What affect did the force of your thumb have on the shooter marble?
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