Curated OER
Rockin Roller Coaster
Learners discuss gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and the relationship between potential and kinetic energy. They create a working roller coaster from provided materials and criteria then evaluate each roller coaster. They...
Curated OER
In Golf Gravitas
Learners are introduced to potential and kinetic energy through the example of a ball being thrown straight up in the air. They are then told that the energy associated with the position of the object is referred to as potential energy....
Curated OER
Coffee Cooling
Students explore the factors that affect how long coffee stays hot. They develop a question and a testable hypothesis for one factor such as initial temperature or size of opening of the container. Then they design and conduct an...
Curated OER
Friction Force
Students investigate friction force on a variety of objects such as bricks and cardboard boxes. They use a force probe to collect data on the changes in force required to drag the objects across a variety of surface types.
Curated OER
Let the Sunshine in
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...
Curated OER
E3 Project Instrustional Plan
Students will learn about energy. This physics lesson plan, outlines the energy unit to be taught that covers energy, conversions, and heat.
Curated OER
Energy for Free: Perpetual Motion Machines
Students observe the "drinking bird" perpetual motion machine and critically examine the designs of other so-called perpetual motion machines. They use this experience to create their own definition of conservation of energy.
Curated OER
Bouncing Basketballs
Students discover how the coefficient of restitution is applied to sports by measuring the bounciness of a ball. After examining the mathematical equation that applies to coefficient of restitution, students go to the gym, measure the...