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Terminal Velocity
High schoolers calculate acceleration due to gravity with the measurements of the period of a pendulum or measurements of the time for an object to fall from different heights. They observe and measure the effect of air resistance on the...
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Newton's Hat Trick
Young scholars are challenged to develop skits illustrating each of Newton's three laws of motion. They are asked to identify examples of Newton's laws in sports. Students are asked how does Newton's third law allow a runner to run?
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Breathing Victory
Students know that participation in sports requires energy. They comprehend that we get energy form the foods that we eat and the air thta we breathe. Converting food and air into usable energy is defined as celluar respiration. Students...
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Tracking Speed
Students calculate the speed of an object, by measuring the amount of time it takes to cover a given distance, and then divide: speed=distance/time. However, the object may not have been moving at a constant rate over the given distance....
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The Gear Game
High schoolers discuss that the conservatin of energy states that the energy imput must equal the energy output. They then figure out how can a machine help you to perform task otherwise considered impossible? Students discuss the six...
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Walking on Water
Students use this problem to help them to relate to force vectors: Suspend a meterstick horizontally between two tables. Place a 1kg mass in the middle of the meterstick. Notice the bend of the meterstick. Explain why the meterstick...
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Big Air Rules
Students discuss projectile motion using a basketball player taking off for a slam dunk, a fly ball launched off a hitter's bat, and a snowboarder flying off a pipe as examples. The lesson is expanded by introducing the mathematical...
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Relaxing with Impulse
Young scholars discuss Newton's second law of motion in terms of momentum and impulse using examples of landing on concrete versus dirt if you were to jump off an elevated platform or football players wearing protective padding....
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Boarding School
Students discuss conservation of energy using a skateboarder in the halfpipe or a person on a roller coaster as an example. Using mathematical equations, students examine potential and kinetic energy of the examples. Lesson is completed...
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Batting the Unknown
High schoolers use batting averages to provide a measure of a player's past success. They use Algebra to calculate required performance to improve the average. Students compare baseball batting statistics early in the season and late in...
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Ice Ain't Easy
Learners are introduced to the laws of thermodynamics. The 1st law of thermodynamics states that the energy must be conserved when two objects of different temperatures come in contact. If one object gains energy, the other object must...
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Breathing Victory
Students discuss anaerobic respiration and how it relates to sprinting. After discussion of related processes, students create a brochure that explains the complex processes behind every muscular interaction.
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The Math Reaction
Students use the reaction time to figure out problems. They use the following example to get them started with reaction time: the edge of a ruler is placed near a person's thumb and index finger and, without warning, the ruler is...
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Running on Metrics
Students use the metric system to convert equations. They use a conversion table to change from metric units to the units they are more comfortable with (Fahrenheit temperatures, miles, quarts, pounds.) Students use algebraic equations...
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Perpetual Motion
High schoolers are introduced to the concept of Energy Conservation with the example of: Tony Hawk seems to defy the conservation of energy as he keeps reaching new heights on each pass on the halk-pipe. Actually, Tony is supplying the...
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The Trig To Soccer
Students are given the background information to open the instructional activity: Suppose a penalty kicker in soccer could choose where he could kick from, as long as he stayed on the back line of the penalty area. Would he have a better...
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Running With Momentum
Students discuss the conservation of momentum in a collision between two bumper cars. They are given the equation for momentum. Students then solve problems using the equation for momentum.
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In Golf Gravitas
Students are introduced to potential and kinetic energy through the example of a ball being thrown straight up in the air. They are then told that the energy associated with the position of the object is referred to as potential energy....
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That Mu You Do
Students are told that the weight of a car is equal to its mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity. When a car is at react on a horizontal road, there must be a normal force with which the road pushes up on the car to keep it...
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Cartesian Baseball
Students are told what a coordinate system is and also that it provides a way of uniquely describing each point on a plane or in space. They are given a practice problem along with the equation. Students solve the following problem:...
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Hang Time
High schoolers simulate the motion of a fly ball with different winds. They use a partner to provide the simulated wind. Students draw a baseball diamond and the field on a piece of paper. They drag the pen across the paper to show the...
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Waterskiing in Circles
Students discuss and give examples of Newton's three laws. They then answer questions in reference to Newton's three laws. One example of the questions that students answer is: A water-skier typically uses a 75 foot tow rope. The skier...
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Scale Basketball
Students understand that a spreadsheet can be used to find the best scale to use in a model. They place the distances of the planets of the solar system to the Sun in one column of the spreadsheet. Students try different scales so that...
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The Spin Doctor Is In
Students are given the difintion of translational motion, which is the object in motion stays in motion. If you are in a car and the car stops, you keep moving. They then discuss rotational motion, which is a spinning object continues to...