Curated OER
Balls and Ramp
Students role several balls of different weights down a ramp and into a paper cup and record how far each ball made the paper cup move. They then answer questions that help them analyze their results and reinforce the idea that energy...
Curated OER
Electric Circuits
Middle schoolers model the flow of electrons in a circuit, draw diagrams of an electric circuit and build an electric circuit. Students explain how to tell when the path of an electric circuit is complete, and test the conductivity of a...
Curated OER
Electricity And Magnetism
Students explore the relationship between magnetism and electricity byby explaining how the model motor operates. They observe the the spinning of a coil of copper wire that is part of a circuit.
Curated OER
Investigating Motion, Forces, and Energy Lab Book
Eighth graders create their own experiements using toy trucks, cars or balls to measure the time it takes two of them to travel 5 meters, as well as at each 1 meter interval. They make use computers to make a time/distance graph and...
University of Florida
Understanding Car Crashes: It's Basic Physics!
Make an impact on young physicists with this fun collection of resources. After first watching a video and taking notes on the physics of car crashes, students go on to complete a series of activities that explore the...
NASA
Touchdown
Individuals design and build a set of shock absorbers to protect their astronauts when they land. Using a limited amount of supplies, pupils build a system that will keep two large marshmallows from flying out of a cup when it lands...
NASA
Cosmic Microwave Background
Begin your next class with a BANG! Pupils discuss the formation of our universe and its expansion before proceeding with an activity designed to demonstrate what most likely occurred billions of years ago. They conclude with a discussion...
Curated OER
Energy, Work, and Power
In this energy worksheet, learners review the equations to solve for work and power. Then students complete 10 matching, 14 fill in the blank, and 10 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Newton and his Laws
Young scholars explore Newton's laws, including what they state, and what the intuitive meaning is of the first and third laws.
Curated OER
Forces and Acceleration Unit
Students investigate that an unbalanced force, acting on an object, changes it speed or path of motion or both, and know that if the force always acts toward the same center as the object moves, the objects path may curve into an orbit...
Curated OER
Electricity and Magnets
In this physics review activity, students compare average and instantaneous speed, review Newton's laws, electricity, and magnets. This activity has 12 fill in the blank, 8 short answer questions, and 6 problems to solve.
Curated OER
May The Force Be With You
Eighth graders investigate Newton's Laws of Motion. They use the example of a roller coaster for illustration purposes. A force associated with a roller coaster is tested, data graphed, and a conclusion is drawn. They use excel in order...
Curated OER
Skateboards, Rocket Balloons and Newton's Laws of Motion
Students investigate forces. In this laws of motion lesson, students visit the Glasgow Science Center or Techniquest to participate in activities related to the Newton's law of motion.
Curated OER
What Does Motion Have to do with Sound?
Second graders investigate and explore sound energy. They investigate how the vibrational motion moves through matter in waves. Students describe sounds and vibrations. They observe that vibrational motion creates sounds. Students record...
Curated OER
Demonstrating the Kinds of Energy
Students experiment with inner tubes, weights, flasks, and pistons to demonstrate the gas laws. In this molecular motion lesson, students demonstrate pressure as a force per area. They conduct an experiment to show the relationship...
Curated OER
Propellers, Forces and Energy
Young scholars construct a model airplane, measure distance, and calculate velocity. In this creative lesson students work in groups to build a model and use it to calculate distances and velocity.
Curated OER
Student Exploration: Energy Conversions
In this earthquake exploration worksheet, students complete 3 prior knowledge questions, then use "Energy Conversions Gizmo" to conduct several activities, completing short answer questions when finished.
Curated OER
Simple Machines/Technology/ Force
Third graders study and define force. They determine that the cause of movement is pushing or pulling which are the types of force used when operating simple machines. They experiment to determine which object requires the most amount of...
Curated OER
Newton's Laws and Rocketball
Young scholars investigate Newton's Three Laws. In this Newton's Law instructional activity, students write the laws in their own words. Young scholars then do an experiment with a ping pong ball. Students drop the ball from a set...
Curated OER
Double Toss
Young scholars experiment with potential and kinetic energy. They design a device that will toss a ball at least 30 centimeters, catch it and to the ball up again.
Curated OER
Temperature Changes Everything
Middle school chemists visit interactive websites in order to discover what happens to molecular motion when heat is added to matter. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the expansion of matter with the addition of heat. A lab...
Curated OER
Friction: Friend or Foe?
Using a hands-on approach, learners explore the effect of friction on objects. Learners use toy cars, shoes, wood, metal, and more to experiment with the causes and effects of friction. Afterwards, they conduct experiments in which they...
Curated OER
Qualitative Aspects of Rotational Dynamics
Explanations for six different physics lab activities and five suggested assessments are contained in this resource by the National Science Teachers Association. Any combination can be used to open learners' eyes to rotational motion....
NTTI
Vectors: Traveling, But in What Direction
High schoolers watch a video of real-world situations regarding speed, direction, velocity, force, etc. and answer questions while viewing. They then practice drawing and using vectors to solve more real-world problems.