Going Fishing

Stimulate interest in ocean currents with a simulation. The first installment of a five-part middle school series teaches future oceanographers about the forces that interact to cause ocean currents. A simulation shows how wind and the...

Ever grow tired of the traditional uses for laptops? Try this fascinating simulated universe! The video shows a 3-D version of the Millennium Run, then backs it up with a simpler version created in free Adobe software. Young physicists...

The camera flash works based on a simple circuit, but why does it require a capacitor? Scholars work through two levels of simulations related to circuits and capacitors. The pupils first use a simple circuit with a battery, resistor,...

What makes a swing go back and forth like a pendulum rather than going all the way around? Scholars use the simulation to explore pendulums and how they work. They vary the weight, length of the rope, and even gravity in various trials.

Can you get the puck into the goal using only electric charges on the ice? Scholars experiment with electrostatic forces as they determine which charges pull the puck and which repel it. Multiple levels reinforce different related...

Could the universe be part of one giant video game? A video lesson considers the idea that a powerful enough computer could simulate the universe. Building on an understanding of the mathematical laws of the universe, the lesson...

To show the magnitude and direction of all forces acting upon an object, scientists use a free body diagram. This simulation serves as an introduction to free body diagrams allowing scholars to build their own. Pupils select the proper...

How much pulling force does it take to overcome static friction? The simulation applies the formula for the force of static friction to multiple trials. Scholars alter the pulling force applied until the box moves. They then determine...

It turns out that vacuums are not really vacuums. An engaging video lesson explains the process scientists use to create a vacuum. Their efforts get them close, but the video instructor explains why they cannot create a perfect vacuum.

Historically, humans have used many methods of finding due north. Using a hands-on activity, learners create their own compasses. They then test their compasses in their neighborhood or to assist with stargazing.