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Falling
Students should describe the path that the motion would take as well as what might begin or stop the motion. The common characteristic of all the motions that students have experienced directly is that one or more forces are acting on...
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The Pork With Torque
Students determine the torque of CEENBoTs wheel hub. In this physics lesson, students reinforce their learning by exploring interactive websites on torque. They give real life applications of torque.
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Newton's Third Law of Motion
Seventh graders are introduced to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this physics lesson plan students examine the concept of thrust as one of the forces acting on aircraft.
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Magnetism in Action
Third graders experiment with magnetic force and magnetic fields. They examine how magnetic forces can act through a distance.
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What Makes a Kite Fly?
Ninth graders compare the nature of forces of gravity, lift, thrust, and drag. They select proper materials for making a kite and attach a proper tail. Students interpret and summarize the observations made during the flight of the kites.
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Impulse/Momentum Lab
Students investigate the relationship between force and momentum using motion detectors and sensors. In this physics lesson, students graph experimental results. They calculate impulse using the area under the graph.
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What's the Rub? It's All About Friction!
Students determine the coefficient of friction for different surfaces. In this physics instructional activity, students identify the factors that affect friction. They collect data and write a formal lab report.
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Model Storage Facility
Students design a storage facility that can withstand extreme wind loads. In this physics lesson, students decide how to build their facility considering budget constraints. They evaluate their design and present it to class.
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Torque Me Off
Students investigate the lever and the mathematics associated with levers. They determine the conditions necessary to balance a system of forces around a fulcrum.
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The Science of Swinging
Students learn how a pendulum works in the concept of an amusement park ride. In this pendulum lesson, students are introduced to Newton's first law of motion and how it works in an amusement park ride. Continuous motion and inertia are...
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Candy Quakes
Eighth graders, using a candy bar, gum, and Twizzlers, demonstrate the effects of deformational forces on the earth's crust. They examine the processes of rock and fossil formation.
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Reliability Check of Power Grid
Learners complete a simulation on power grid reliability check. For this physics lesson, students discuss the consequences of power grid failures. They complete a simulation worksheet.
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Move It!
Students explore the notion that simple devices can help us move objects when an understanding of forces is applied. They apply the design process, make predictions, draw sketches, make a model and evaluate their solution.
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Balsa Wood Airplane Flight and Speed Correlation
Ninth graders calculate the average speed of their balsa wood airplane. In this physics activity, 9th graders build their own airplane and make necessary modifications to to make it fly straight. They interpret distance and time graph...
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Stop Pulling My Bot Around!
Students investigate the relationship between work and mechanical advantage. In this physics lesson, students calculate the work and efficiency of pulleys. They identify the different types of pulleys.
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What is Work?
Third graders investigate the concept of force and work. In this physics lesson, 3rd graders visit four stations which include pushing the wall with your hand, holding books for ten seconds, pushing a chair, and lifting a light object....
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Power Blackout Assessment
Students discuss the importance of power grids in power generation. In this physics instructional activity, students explain the impact of power failure. They investigate the power blackout in 2003 and discuss their findings.
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Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree…You Might Become Famous
Students explore Newton's laws using CEENBoTs. In this physics lesson plan, students collect data and create tables and graphs. They calculate speed, acceleration and forces using mathematical formulas.
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Sound and Hearing
Learners form an understanding that there are many different types of sound. The core concepts are presented in the most basic form for elementary school. Also students investigate how sound travels.
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Magnets, Electromagnets, and Motors
Students investigate the concepts of magnetism and its properties. They construct a magnet and test foods for iron content. Then students define the use of a motor and make their own electric motor while working in small groups. Then...
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Seeing Mathematics in the Forces of Nature
Students study waves and their characteristics. In this wave activity students calculate the speed of waves, wavelength and the period.
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Catapult Physics
Student explore the relationship between Hooke's Law and catapults. After exploring the four types of catapults, young scholars use Hooke's law to determine the spring constant in a torsion powered catapult. They answer questions based...
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Pendulum Lab in 9th Grade Physical Science
Ninth graders conduct experiments to determine what affects the rate of a pendulum's swing. Working in small groups, they identify an independent variable to study and create an experiment to test their hypothesis. When tests are...
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FORCES, MOTION, AND ENERGY
Eighth graders engage in a variety of activities in order to investigate the basic concepts of physics. They read and answer questions in a written text. This is only one type of activity that is part of many others.