Students conduct an experiment to determine the relationship between the speed of a wooden toy car at the bottom of an incline and the height at which it is released. They observe how the photogate-based speedometer instrument "clocks"...

Step-by-step illustrated instructions showing how to drop four eggs into four cups without touching them. Demonstrates the concept of inertia according to Newton's first law of motion.

Through illustrated examples and interactive examples, students learn about the two categories of forces are referred to as internal forces and external forces.

Students will learn what causes reactions and what affects the rates of reaction through data collected by conducting several simulated experiments.

An interactive simulation that teaches about springs, Hooke's Law, and conservation of energy observing changes in kinetic, potential, and thermal energy by adjusting the stiffness and damping of springs holding various masses. This...

Students play the role of engineers as they test, design and build Mentos fountains - a dramatic example of how potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy. They are challenged to work together as a class to optimize the design...

Students must predict the distance traveled by a person on a sled. The person will start with potential energy due to gravity and it will turn into KE without loss. They will then lose their energy on a level surface at the bottom of a...

Science experiment that demonstrates how energy is transferred. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of how the tension in the catapult causes an object to travel far.

Check out the slideshow defining and describing kinetic energy. What is the difference between potential and kinetic energy?

This lesson will present the different states of energy and how they affect living things. It is 4 of 7 in the series titled "Energy."

Disappearing Wetlands: Simulate sediment reintroduction channels using a ramp at two slopes. They will then find the kinetic energy of the ball at different times as it rolls down the ramp.

An activity that explores how two cylinders that are identical in shape and mass may travel down a hill differently due to how their mass is distributed. Learn how the distribution of mass in an object can affect its translational...

Learners design and build a three hill "tennis ball" roller coaster made of cardboard. During the design and building process, students explore the concepts of potential and kinetic energy and how they change as the roller coaster...

A discussion from the Oklahoma Climatological Survey of the thermal factors effecting the movement of air masses in the atmosphere. Numerous topics such as methods of heat transfer, latent heat, phase changes (including sublimation and...

In this module Activity 4 investigates How are bonds formed and broken? This activity explores the relationship between energy and the formation and breaking bonds, using the ideas of energy transfer and conversion.

An interactive lesson where students design and build their own virtual roller coaster. Choose the height of the hills. the shape of the hills. and loop to find out if you successfully used physics concepts to pass the safety and fun...

This interesting and interactive exhibit demonstrates how Newton's Laws of Motion impact the design and safety of roller coasters.

Students learn why and how motion occurs and what governs changes in motion, as described by Newton's three laws of motion. They gain hands-on experience with the concepts of forces, changes in motion, and action and reaction. In an...

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? One might ask the same question about potential and kinetic energy. Make observations while you watch the video below. Think about what scientific conclusion you could make from your...

This site provides an overview of the role of energy in chemical reactions.

This is a really fun project even if you don't like going on roller coasters yourself. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much of an initial drop is required to get...

In this lesson plan, students will apply mathematical, science, and engineering concepts to experiment with balancing levers. They will learn to classify types of levers to design and build a simplified mobile. Students will explore...

Build the roller coaster, then keep making adjustments to see how it affects the potential and kinetic energy of the marble along its tracks.

If you need a brief overview of energy than check out this website. Energy is defined and several different types of energy are mentioned. The site also has an online quiz you can take to measure your understanding.