Students investigate conservation laws using a potato launcher. In this physics lesson plan, students measure angles, time and distance of the potato. They discuss applications of experiments like this.

Learners apply their knowledge of friction, drag, mass and gravity as they design, build, and test mini-bobsleds.

Students define thermal equilibrium. They distinguish between internal energy and heat. Students describe how the quantity of heat that enters or leaves a substance is measured.

Students calculate, measure and identify the hardness of various chocolate bars. They determine the hardness of the chocolate bar using quantitative data. Students make observations of the hardness of chocolate while dropping the...

Students identify the five major alternative energy sources. For this physical science lesson, students assess the advantages and disadvantages for each type of energy. They complete a concept map using information they researched.

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.

Don't kick the resource to the curb; you'll definitely regret it. Future engineers devise a kicking machine that launches a ping-pong ball toward a target. They can use a pendulum, a rubber band, or both, depending on whether they want...

Students show that energy is conserved in the laboratory. They calculate the work done by a force on an object as the product of the force and a displacement of the object from a reference point.

Students explain how conservation of energy applies to roller coasters. In this physics lesson, students construct their own coasters according to a specified criteria. They make modifications to their design when necessary. 

Seventh graders investigate a change from potential energy to kinetic energy and discuss the concept of waves carrying energy. They, in pairs, work on an experiment which is guided by a worksheet imbedded in this plan.

Students compare and contrast kinetic and potential energy. They complete demonstrations of each and test the effect of varying mass and height on each type of energy. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.

Young scholars drop water from different heights to demonstrate the conversion of water's potential energy to kinetic energy. They see how varying the height from which water is dropped affects the splash size. In seeing how falling...

Seventh graders discuss how energy is transformed from one form to another. For this physics lesson, 7th graders design and build their own hydro generator. They identify the factors that affect its energy production.

Students explore the properties of electricity. This lab shows students the need for a circuit in order to have a flow of electricity. It demonstrates Ohm's law, which relates voltage, current, and resistance.

Students describe how to recognize a force, define balanced and net forces, state Newton's first law of motion, explain why friction works, state Newton's second Law of Motion, and explain why the direction of force is important.

Class, start your engines. Future engineers design a car with old CDs as wheels. The power source? Some rubber bands will do the trick! This is the first installment of a five-part series.

In this reactions worksheet, students use graphs showing reaction progress to determine if the reaction is exothermic or endothermic, the activation energy, and the enthalpy of change. This worksheet has 1 graph, 7 short answer, and 16...

In this reactions worksheet, students give the equation for the overall reaction, identifying the catalyst in the equation. Students create graphs and write out the rate determining step. This worksheet has 4 graphs, 2 short answers, and...

For this alternative energy worksheet, 6th graders read and study the varying types of fuel.  Students read examples and ways that alternative fuel can be used.

In this water and diffusion worksheet, students will explore the characteristics of water and the water molecule. Students will also answer questions about diffusion and the movement of materials due to concentration differences. This...

Students experiment with the bounce of balls on various surfaces. For this physics lesson, students use various surfaces to bounce balls to study the momentum. This hands-on activity with the concepts of elasticity of surfaces which is...

In this energy worksheet, students determine the enthalpy of exothermic and endothermic reactions. This worksheet has 1 fill in the blank and 4 short answer questions.

Students describe the properties of solids and liquids, and explain how a semiconductor works.  In this atom lesson students demonstrate the bonding properties of carbon and silicon.

Students gain an understanding of Kepler's 2nd law--that planets (and satellites) move fastest at their closest approach to the center of attraction, and slow down when far away. They explore the concepts of "potential energy" and...