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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Hot Oven

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why does the air in a hot oven not burn skin, but metal in the oven does? The simulation focuses on the difference between temperature and thermal energy and the way these are transferred. Scholars adjust the temperature of an oven and...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Trampoline

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Does a trampoline use mostly potential or kinetic energy? Pupils adjust the mass of the jumper, stiffness of the trampoline, and initial jump height in order to answer that question. The simulation displays graphs of the various types of...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Block and Tackle

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Can you easily lift more than your own weight? With a pulley system, almost anyone can manage this challenge. Scholars adjust the mechanical advantage (number of pulleys), weight of object being lifted, and the length of rope pulled. The...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Roller Coaster

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Roller coasters rely on both kinetic and potential energy, but how much total energy does a roller coaster need? Scholars vary the mass of a coaster and the height of the initial hill. Graphs showing the types of energy and total energy...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Bowling Alley

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Sometimes it appears that a bowling ball slides down the alley rather than rolling, while other times it appears to switch rolling directions at some point. Scholars control the bowling ball size, initial rotation, initial speed, and...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Yo Yo

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Does a yo-yo descend at the speed of gravity? The simulation explores angular speed and torque as a yo-yo is moved through a standard rotation. Scholars control the size and style of the yo-yo as well as the throwing speed. Challenge...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Unicycle

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
What is the steepness of a hill before a unicyclist slides down it rather than pedaling down it? The simulation graphs the wheel speed versus the unicycle speed as the rider goes down a hill. Scholars control the mass of the rider,...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Orbital Motion

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why do planets orbit the sun in ellipses when moons orbit their planet in circles? Pupils control the semi-major axis, eccentricity of the orbit, and position angle. The resulting orbital appears with the related force vectors as...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ramp and Piano

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Can you lift a piano into a truck? Simulation allows scholars to explore the relationship between force, ramp length, and weight. Pupils control the variables of truck bed height, ramp length, weight of piano, and the number of friends...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Collisions

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Is momentum conserved in a collision, along with energy, or are they opposing forces? Pupils vary the mass and velocity of two bumper cars along with the type of bumper in order to answer this question. Worksheet and in-simulator...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Bumper Cars

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Is the transfer of energy different in bumper cars with stable versus bouncy bumpers? One of the variables explored in the simulation is bumper type; other variables are the mass and velocity of each car. This allows pupils to see the...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Crash Test Dummy

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why are car manufactures required to install seat belts and airbags; do they really make that big of a difference? Scholars use a simulator to determine the amount of force dissipated by a seat belt and airbag in a head-on crash. This is...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Journey to Mars

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Why are there launch windows when traveling to outer space? Scholars explore the trajectory of traveling from one planet to another. By adjusting the departure and destination planets, as well as the launch date, they observe the ideal...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Newton's Apple

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Scientists state that the higher something is above the earth, the greater the gravitational potential energy. Does this mean there is more gravity acting on the moon than on an apple falling from a tree? Scholars adjust the distance...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Clarke's Dream

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
How does satellite TV keep a steady stream when the earth and the satellite are constantly moving? Scholars use a simulator to adjust the radius of orbit of a satellite around the earth. They view graphs of acceleration and time period...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

See Saw

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Can a mother who weighs five times more than her child really be held in the air on a see saw by the child? A simple simulation demonstrates how this is possible through altering the distance from the fulcrum. Scholars can adjust the...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Wind Turbine

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Scientists know wind is a renewable resource, but is it an efficient one? Scholars adjust the propeller diameter on a wind turbine, the wind speed, and the conversion efficiency within range to learn about the efficiency of these...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Tetherball

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What forces are at work when playing tetherball? Using a simulator, pupils control the ball mass, tether length, and ball speed to better understand the physics of the game. A worksheet and challenge questions reinforce the concepts...
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Interactive
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CK-12 Foundation

Phases of the Moon

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The sun can tell us what time it is with a sun dial, but can the moon do the same? Scholars play with a simulation of the phases of the moon. They control the type of moon and time of day in order to see when the sun is up and when the...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Water Fountain

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Most water fountains are designed to keep the water inside the fountain, but how are they designed to shoot up and out without the water leaving the fountain? Scholars vary the launch angle, fountain height, launch speed, and catcher...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Horse and Cart

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Can a horse pull more than its weight? A simple simulation answers this question and more. Pupils adjust the mass in a cart, the mass of the horse, the acceleration of the horse, and the angle of the tension rope between the horse and...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Sprinter

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why do sprinters wear spiked shoes? Scholars explore various styles of shoes and how they handle forces when running. Scholars adjust variables including shoe type, horizontal force, surface type, and normal force to determine which...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Elevator

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Do you weigh slightly less when an elevator first starts its descent? The simulation teaches the change in the force based on the acceleration, constant speed, or deceleration of an elevator. Scholars control the mass and acceleration...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Everglades Airboat

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
How does an airboat move when there isn't a motor in the water? The simulation teaches the forces related to the thrust and drag on an airboat. Scholars vary the boat mass and thrust force in order to view graphs of the changing force...