Exploratorium
Diamagnetism
If you are attracted to activities dealing with diamagnetism, here is a rare find that you will appreciate. With a neodymium magnet and a few common materials, move a pair of juicy grapes without touching them. Though the fruit is...
Santa Monica College
Flame Tests of Metal Cations
Scientists used flame tests to identify elements long before the invention of emission spectroscopy. Young chemists observe a flame test of five metal cations in the fourth lesson of an 11-part series. Individuals then work...
Curated OER
Forces in Action
Young scholars investigate questions centered around force and motion by going through the scientific process and creating fair tests and experimentation. In this lesson about forces-in-action, students diagram their findings and explore...
Curated OER
Friction
Students compare and contrast the movement of objects on different surfaces, experimenting with friction and forces of motion. This friction instructional activity has numerous online tools including worksheets and virtual activities;...
Curated OER
What is an Electromagnet?
Students give examples of electromagnet applications. In this physics lesson plan, students explore what makes electromagnets work. They experiment picking paper clips with it.
Curated OER
Wind Power
What a wonderful way to explore wind power! Through this lesson plan, learners get a background in the history of wind power, create their own wind turbine, and the test their designs. This is a terrific way to tie scientific principles...
Curated OER
Circuits And Conductors
Students predict the common classroom items, such as paper clips, chalk, keys, or erasers, that will be good conductors in a circuit. They build circuits using a variety of circuit diagrams to test their predictions.
Curated OER
Work, Energy, and Power
In this energy worksheet, students determine how much work a person an object does, the potential energy of an object, the amount of power being exerted on an object. This worksheet has 16 word problems.
Curated OER
Harnessing Solar Energy
Young scholars discover the properties of light (radiant) energy from the sun by experimenting with solar collectors, cookers, and calculators. After a lecture/demo, students create their own solar collectors and test their efficiency.
University of Texas
Free-Body Diagram
Preparing for an AP test is about more than bubble sheets and memorization. The two activities in this resource require a direct application of skills learned throughout an AP Physics course.
Exploratorium
Eddy Currents
Make electromagnetic eddy currents evident with this demonstration. You will need to gather a few materials from the local hardware store and a strong neodymium magnet, but the visual value is well worthwhile.
Exploratorium
Stripped Down Motor
Mostly for teacher's use, here are instructions for making a traditional electromagnetic motor and a detailed explanation of how it works.
Curated OER
Coulomb's Law
Students solve problems involving electric charges and force. In this physics lesson, student solve word problems using addition and subtraction of vectors. They identify the direction represented by a vector as it relates to an electric...
Curated OER
The Four States of Matter
The concise slides in this presentation give a good amount of detail for many aspects of matter chemistry. There are summaries and diagrams for particle movement in solids, liquids, gases and plasma.
Curated OER
Transformation of Energy-8th Grade
Eighth graders examine how electricity is produced in relation to the atom as well as what causes electric current to flow and what determines how much current flows through a circuit. These and other concepts of transformation of energy...
Curated OER
What's the Attraction?
Students experiment with magnets to determine the distances at which they attract and repel each other.
Curated OER
Circuit Boards
Students explore circuit boards. They determine that a complete circuit is needed to light the bulbs, experiment with the boards to develop strategies for finding where the hidden connections are, and develop strategies that can be used...
Curated OER
The Conncection Lesson
Fourth graders see how electricity can flow through objects and can be used to do work. They construct a working circuit of their own and explain why it is able to do work. They get students familiar with what it takes to create a movie.
Curated OER
Static Cling
Students work together to discover the concept of static electricity. They participate in an experiment in which they test different objects charge. They make observations and record them for later use.
Curated OER
Sticky Books
Fourth graders investigate items that are magnetic and those that are not. They determine the properties of the magnetic items. They create a digital book that demonstrates what they have learned about magnetism.
Curated OER
Am I Sticky
Fourth graders become familiar with magnets and their properties. They investigate what items are magnetic and non-magnetic and make generalizations about the properties. They utilize technology to develop an interactive digital book.
Curated OER
Mystery Card 3
Learners will make a circuit on a mystery card. They will connect wires, bulbs, and battery to form an electrical tester. After students learn how to make one following the directions, they can create their own mystery card by...
Curated OER
Fun with Electromagnets
Junior scientists work in groups to construct electromagnets. They experiment by varying number of wraps around the nail, the diameter of the nail, and the type of metal the nail is made of to see if any of these factors has an...
Curated OER
Ohm's Law
If your future physicists know how to construct simple circuits, include resistors, and use a multi-meter to measure voltage, then you might employ this instructional activity on Ohm's law. Each lab group investigates the...