Popular Mechanics

Twisting and turning through the sky, roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks around the world, but how exactly do they work? Explore the physics behind these thrilling rides with an engineering design activity....

This is a note-taking chart for an interactive lesson on the effects of different drugs on brain activity. Middle schoolers choose a lab mouse and put it into a viewer to see what brain chemicals are being affected. They record the...

Pupils draw a picture of a person from popular culture, then "clone" it using printing techniques in this Art lesson plan that tackles the questions surrounding cloning, DNA, and current scientific techniques. An emphasis is placed on...

Learners participate in a culminating activity for a unit on Energy and Simple Machines. They are challenged to incorporate simple machines in to a complex mechanical system. While designing and testing their machine they will also...

Schrodinger's cat has been mentioned on more than 17 different popular tv series, yet many people don't understand what the reference means. This engaging video explains what the original thought experiment was and why it was created. It...

All human infants are lactose tolerant, yet some adults are lactose intolerant—why is that? Individuals discover the process of gene mutation through a study of the lactase gene (LCT). They understand the geographic connections,...

Learn about the center of mass and projectiles by examining the movement of Olympic figure skaters! Physics and skating fans will be delighted as they watch super athletes perform unbelievable feats. Arrows and text appear to highlight...

Imagine precisely cutting and then moving a 120 ton boulder more than two miles without mechanical cutting tolls, skid loaders, or hydraulic cranes. Imagine carving a stone figure that includes a drainage system that permits rainwater to...

A little history of book bindings opens this film. The first bindings were hand-stitched. Today, commercial book binding is highly mechanized, although a worker is still required to complete the process. This video is high-quality and...

Students explore the different types of lifters through a series of activities. In this physics lesson, students explain the mechanics involved in the lifter designs. They compare aluminum versus zinc lifters.