Curated OER
The Bricklayer's Lesson in Physics
Students read a simulated report, written to an insurance company as explanation for a claim of medical benefits. They list the collisions that resulted in the injuries, and identify the forces involved which caused the injury.
Curated OER
Investigating Force, Acceleration and Velocity
In this Investigating force, acceleration and velocity worksheet, students read story problems involving constant velocity and acceleration, create a diagram of the problem, and consider the forces acting upon the item discussed. They...
Curated OER
What is Work?
Students investigate the connection between work, potential energy, kinetic energy, and heat. In this physics lesson, students use pulleys to produce mechanical advantages and incline planes to demonstrate energy conversion.
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Fifth graders observe six simple machines. Through student demonstration they define work and force and calculate the work done. They identify the utility of each of the six simple machines and how each one "exchanges" force for...
Curated OER
Density and Buoyancy Lesson Plan
High schoolers investigate why some objects float or sink in water. In this physics lesson, students calculate the density of clay ball using a mathematical equation. They write a complete lab report about the experiment.
Curated OER
Work, Power, and Entropy
Learners experience work and power and observe the process of entropy. In this physics lesson, students conduct an experiment that shows work (force & distance), power (work/time), and exemplifies the process of entropy.
Curated OER
Propellers, Forces and Energy
Students 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
What Can We Lose? What Do We Lose as we Gain Force With A Lever?
Third graders view a demonstration of a teeter totter as a basis for assessing pre-knowledge of a lever. They create a KwL chart. Students work in small groups to conduct a variety of experiments. The first requires students to tie books...
Curated OER
Tree House Escape!
Middle schoolers participate in a role play in which they use simple machines to do the work of retrieving their sibling from a tree which lost its ladder. They investigate how work is accomplished when an object moves in the direction...
Curated OER
To stretch or not to stretch
Hands-on is the best way to play. Learners read a graph that shows the force needed to stretch a rubber band. They do this and then participate in a simple experiment where they create coiled springs with wire. They work to determine how...
Curated OER
Gravity Versus the Mighty Egg
Middle schoolers design, revise and construct a method for protecting an egg from cracking when it is dropped from a height. They work in small groups to develop their protection method and then collect and analyze data as a class when...
Curated OER
Forces, Controls And Aircraft Systems
Learners are introduced to the physics of flight through video and PowerPoint presentations. They construct and fly model gliders and compete for height, distance, time, etc.
Curated OER
Fall 2003 Midterm Exam #1
Electricity is the focus of this college-level midterm exam. It requres physics learners to answer multiple choice and short answer questions in addition to evaluating several diagrams and graphs. This is appropriate for most high school...
Curated OER
Fall 2005 Midterm Exam #1
You've got the power! With this physics midterm, you have the power to assess learners' grasp of electricity concepts. The exam is neatly formatted and provides a variety of question types: true or false, multiple choice, and problem...
Curated OER
Science Lesson for Grade 12
Twelfth graders perform dihybrid crosses and calculate phenotype and genotype ratios. In this series of science lessons, 12th graders explain the process of anodizing aluminum. They research on the benefits and harm caused by resonance...
It's About Time
Defy Gravity
Test the limits of gravity while encouraging full class participation with this thrilling lesson. Pupils investigate the meaning of work and how it is equivalent to energy. They explore the joule and apply it as a unit of work. They...
EngageNY
Graphing Quadratic Functions from the Standard Form
Use context to explain the importance of the key features of a graph. When context is introduced, the domain and range have meaning, which enhances understanding. Pupils use application questions to explore the key features of the graph...
Curated OER
Simple Harmonic Motion
Back and forth, and back again. A presentation on harmonic motion would make a great backdrop for a directed instruction lesson in Honors Physics. It includes diagrams, formulas, graphs, and a few sample problems.
SeaWorld
Design a Fish
Craft some neat refrigerator magnets while studying ocean animals with a lesson about the anatomy of a fish. After kids learn about the different parts and shapes of fish, they use modeling compound to design their own fish.
Teach Engineering
Off-Road Wheelchair Challenge
Challenge your class to use their understanding of the engineering design process to design and build a small-scale, off-road prototype for an assistive technology device. Teams select materials to build their scale models, and, using...
EngageNY
Modeling with Inverse Trigonometric Functions 2
Use inverse trigonometric functions to work with ramps, rabbits, and Talladega. The class models real-world situations with trigonometric functions and solves them using inverses in the 15th installment of a 16-part series. Pupils solve...
Curated OER
The Metamorphosis: Problematic Situation
Are you enjoying the use of all five senses? Imagine that you have to lose one of them; you can choose which one, but it's gone forever. Work through a lesson based on Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis that asks class...
Curated OER
Race the Track! Design Challenge
Students use the design process to investigate physical science. For this force and motion lesson, design a track to achieve a specified outcome. Students complete additional experiments with speed and distance. Students...
Curated OER
Electricity and Magnetism
Fourth graders compare electricity and magnetism. In this science lesson plan, 4th graders discuss the concepts of electricity and magnetism and brainstorm examples of electrical and magnetic forces.