Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waves Interference

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify different wave types and their characteristics.  In this wave instructional activity students complete activities by activating tuning forks and interpreting data. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Vibrations: Building a Wave Model

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars assess and apply recurring patterns in natural systems. They evaluate the wave properties of frequency, wavelength, and speed as applied to sound. Students develop a relationship to quantify aspects of wave motion. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acceleration and You

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss and view examples of acceleration. They work together to determine acceleration rates in two ways. They analyze their data and discuss.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unknown Element Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work with a partner to determine the identity of an unknown element based on given descriptions. Groups use classroom textbooks, encyclopedias, and science internet sites to identify their unknown element then write a report as...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Calculating the Effect of Mass, Length and Displacement

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this physics lab activity young scholars investigate how mass, length and angular displacement affect the period of a simple pendulum. Students control variables, testing one variable at a time, using manual techniques (stopwatch,...
Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Period of a Pendulum Investigation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using a simulation, students will determine that the pendulum period is affected by the length of the pendulum and gravity but not mass in this activity.
Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive tool where students can explore how a pendulum works, and how length, mass, angle, and friction affect its motion or period. As the pendulum moves, its motion is shown in an angle-time graph.
Activity
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Pendulum Lab

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive simulation that teaches about periodic motion, simple harmonic motion, and conservation of energy. Observe one or two pendulums to determine how the swing is influenced by the length of the string, the mass of the pendulum...
Activity
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Pendulum Lab

For Students 9th - 10th
Manipulate the mass of a weight and the length of string in this interactive pendulum simulation. Change the speed, friction, and gravity to make the pendulum swing change as measurements are displayed on the screen. Younger students can...
Interactive
Concord Consortium

The Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: A Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
Change the mass of a suspended object to see how its movement and forces are affected by gravity.
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Motion of a Mass on a Spring

For Students 9th - 10th
This tutorial investigates the motion of a mass on a spring and how a variety of quantities change over the course of time. Such quantities will include forces, position, velocity and energy - both kinetic and potential energy. Take the...
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Physical Pendulum Forces

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Double Inverted Pendulum Oscillating

For Students 9th - 10th
Adjust frequency, amplitude, and perturbation in this simulation to graph the trajectory of a mass at the end of each pendulum.
Interactive
Other

My Physics Lab: Chaotic Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
Experiment with a damped driven pendulum to see what happens to the oscillation when you change the mass, gravity, or damping. Students can also change the starting position. Site includes equations to help students understand what is...
Interactive
Other

My Physics Lab: Simple Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
Experiment with a pendulum to see what happens to the oscillation when you change the mass, gravity, or damping. Students can also change the starting position. Site includes equations to help students understand what is happening in the...
Interactive
Other

My Physics Lab: Double Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
Experiment with a double pendulum to see what happens to the oscillation when you change the mass, gravity, or damping. Students can also change the starting position. The site includes equations to help students understand what is...
Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Swinging Atwood's Machine Model

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Variation on the standard Atwood's Machine model, where one hanging mass swings like a pendulum and the other remains stationary. Manipulate the conditions and observe the results.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Mechanics Mania

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Through ten lessons and numerous activities, students explore the natural universal rules engineers and physicists use to understand how things move and stay still. Together, these rules are called "mechanics." The study of mechanics is...
Activity
University of Maryland

Thinking Problems in Oscillations and Waves

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of thought-provoking, multichoice questions from the University of Maryland on the topic of oscillations and waves. Equations for calculating the period of motion for masses on springs, pendulums, sounds, and waves on a string...
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: A Comprehensive List of All the Physics Formulas

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a long list of physics formulas for easy reference.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/mechanics (Force and Motion)

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of mechanics activities. Many pertain to Newton's laws of motion. Step-by-step directions provided with illustrations. Great for teacher demos or student projects.
Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: The Mechanics of Standing Balance

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a 5-question quiz to help prepare for the MCAT. It uses the analogy between a standing patient and an inverted pendulum and the mechanics of standing balance.
Interactive
Concord Consortium

The Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Newton's Cradle

For Students 9th - 10th
Adjust the mass of one of the balls to see how the other objects are affected in the animated Newton's Cradle.
Activity
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench Showcase: Physics, Mechanics

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of simulations representing concepts discussed in a mechanics unit of physics.