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eBook
Rice University

College Physics for AP® Courses

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Take a look at an organized physics course. The 34-section electronic textbook covers material in AP® Physics 1 and 2. Teachers use the text to supplement lectures and have the class work through the labs. Each section contains multiple...
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Interactive
PHET

Forces and Motion: Basics

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How is tug of war related to pushing a refrigerator? Here's a simulation connects these two activities with Newton's First Law of Motion. Four different simulations allow scholars to explore net force with tug of war, motion with pushing...
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Lesson Plan
Micron Technology Foundation

Forces of Motion: Rockets

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Young scientists design a rocket to launch using Newton's Laws of Motion in order to discover for themselves the forces of motion. 
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Organizer
CPO Science

Physics Skill and Practice Worksheets

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Stop wasting energy searching for physics resources, this comprehensive collection of worksheets has you covered. Starting with introductions to the scientific method, dimensional analysis, and graphing data, these skills practice...
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Interactive3:20
Scholastic

Study Jams! Newton's First Law: Inertia

For Students 6th - 9th
Give your class some inertia with a far out video and multiple-choice questions about Newton's first law of motion. Several examples are given in an animated feature in a style that upper-elementary learners will enjoy.
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Interactive3:52
Scholastic

Study Jams! Force & Motion

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Set youngsters in motion when studying forces. This quick animated film stars Sam and Mia, two intelligent but cool kids who talk about forces and motion on the soccer field. Consider using this resource when preparing junior-high...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Work and Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The first activity may not work for your class if you don't have access to an open area of 30 meters and two cars of different masses, but the remaining activities can be used in any physics course. They all involve the investigation of...
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Handout
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NASA

How Rockets Work

For Students K - 12th Standards
Now, that's some fire power! A five-page handout provides a description of the basics of how rockets work. The reading explains Newton's Laws of Motion by beginning with defining some of the important terms. The article finishes by...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Water Rocket Construction

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
What are the basics for building a rocket out of a two-liter bottle? The procedures outline the basics to create an air- and water-powered bottle rocket. Prior to launching the rockets, teams perform safety checks to ensure their designs...
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Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

Ace in the Hole

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How does inertia affect an object's trajectory? After watching a video on safety belt use, pupils discuss the notions of inertia. Using their knowledge, individuals try to drop a ball on a target while running, and classmates observe the...
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Activity
Museum of Science

Cup Drop

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Create egg drop soup. Teachers first set up eggs that are held up above cups of water with a piece of cardboard and cardboard tubes. Learners try to determine a way to get the eggs to drop into the cups. Using a broom, the instructor...
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Lesson Plan
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NASA

Christa's Lost Lesson: Newton’s Laws

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How do the laws of motion work in space? Learners explore Newton's laws of motion in different experiments as part of the Christa's Lost Lessons series. They rotate around the room in three stations to experience each law in action using...
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eBook
Utah Education Network (UEN)

Utah Open Textbook: Physics

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Textbooks come in all shapes, sizes, and media these days. An electronic textbook resource offers Physics materials for an entire course. The text offers an explanation of physics topics as well as examples of calculations and reading...
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Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Straw Rockets

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Scholars become rocket scientists as they take off on a journey exploring Newton's laws of motion. After learning the laws of motion, pupils design their own investigations using straw rockets. They highlight their literacy skills in a...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Air-Powered Mini Rocket

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Does the position of the clips make a difference? The activity provides directions to build and test a paper rocket. Pupils attach paper clips to the rocket in different configurations and measure the distance the rocket flies each time....
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Activity
DiscoverE

Rocket-Powered Ski Lift

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
If a ski lift had rockets, imagine how fast it would be! Scholars let their imaginations take flight as they build models for such a ski lift. Rather than using a rocket, though, they'll use a much safer balloon as the power source.
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

First Law Simulation

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Does Newton's First Law of Motion explain how to move a sled across ice? A simulation encourages scholars to decide if they should push, pull, or apply no force. Their decision moves a sled across the ice and to the home at the...
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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...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Hot Air Balloon

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
How can people control a hot air balloon? The simple simulation allows scholars to adjust the payload mass, burner, and vent position on a hot air balloon and observe the changes in velocity and altitude over time. Challenge questions...
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PPT
Bowels Physics

Newton's First Law

For Students 9th - 12th
Force acts on objects in mysterious ways ... until now! A comprehensive presentation explains the balance of forces acting on objects. Learners draw free body diagrams to show these invisible forces and make force calculations.
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

The Great Gravity Escape

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Groups simulate an orbit using a piece of string and a water balloon. Individuals spin in a circular path and calculate the balloon's velocity when the clothes pin can no longer hold onto the balloon.
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Activity
It's About Time

Life (and Death) Before Seat Belts

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did you know only 80-90% of passengers wear a seat belt in a moving car? Young scholars use clay and a cart to complete an experiment about what happens without a seat belt in a collision. The lesson includes Newton's Second Law of...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Water Rocket Launch

For Teachers 3rd - 10th Standards
How do rockets fly? Teams design, build, and launch a rocket made from a two-liter bottle to explore forces on a rocket such as Newton's Laws of Motion.  During the design phase, young engineers draw a diagram of their rocket and include...