Students are introduced to the concepts of torque, power, friction and gear ratios. Teams modify two robotic LEGO vehicles by changing their gear ratios, wheel sizes, weight and engine power, while staying within a limit of points to...

College-level online course highlighting the study of classical mechanics. This course focuses on Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics, and kinetic gas theory. Course features include a 35 video lecture series by Walter Lewin. Also link...

Students use inclined planes as they recreate the difficult task of raising a monolith of rock to build a pyramid. They compare the push and pull of different-sized blocks up an inclined plane, determine the angle of inclination, and...

In this science project, you can investigate how submarines use stabilizing fins to move forward. Exploring friction and buoyant force you will get closer to understanding how these large ships function. Research resources are included...

This lesson focuses on static electricity, including how particles can be charged by friction, and electrical forces and why they repel or attract each other. Includes a link to a test.

Newton's First Law also called the law of inertia is the most important thing to realize about motion. This article offers more information on motion and explains solved problems involving Newton's First Law. Also included is a video...

A contrast of Galileo and Aristotle's view of inertia and motion. Describes air resistance force and how its reality seems to initially support Aristotle's view.

Observe how friction affects a mass connected to two springs that are on opposite sides of the mass. Create a graph while the friction is on or off.

This site is a discussion and animation about whether the total mechanical energy of a cart rolling down an incline is conserved, which can be determined if there are any external forces acting upon it.

Take this ten question multiple choice quiz on motion and mechanics.

Students learn about friction and drag - two different forces that convert energy of motion to heat. Both forces can act on a moving object and decrease its velocity. Students learn examples of friction and drag, and suggest ways to...

Learn more about finding acceleration through the practices found in this lesson. "The process of determining the acceleration of an object demands that the mass and the net force are known." Check out this comprehensive site.

This site is an interactive app of an inclined plane showing the effect of the angle, the weight of the block, and the friction as a block is pulled up an incline.

To learn how friction affects motion, students explore how different textures provide varying amounts of friction to objects moving across them. They build a tool to measure the amount of friction between a note card and various surfaces...

A clear explanation of Newton's First Law of Motion, the law of inertia, with diagrams and real-world examples. Useful for both students and teachers. Written by a high school physics teacher.

Students must calculate the time it takes for a car to come to a rapid stop and the distance the car covers when stopping.

This site details how simple machines create a mechanical advantage for humans. Levers, theoretical mechanical advantage, actual mechanical advantage, and pulley systems are discussed.

Spanish-language site lets students discover the life and work of this physicist and engineer, who is known for his studies of electric charges.

In this lesson, young scholars make predictions about falling objects of different sizes and masses to learn about gravity and air resistance. Includes audio vocabulary list and extension activities.

A teacher lesson plan which includes activities pertaining to common methods of charging objects - induction, conduction, and friction.

This simulation of a pendulum will demonstrate how friction and force have to change to keep the mass in the same position on the pivoted rod.

In this hands-on activity students learn about the laws of physics by creating a marble roller coaster.

Students are introduced to our planet's structure and its dynamic system of natural forces through an examination of the natural hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados, as well as avalanches, fires,...

This virtual experiment is designed to let the student measure the relation between muzzle velocity (which determines projectile energy), gravitational potential and the effects of frictional drag caused by wind speed blowing opposite to...