Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Slice the String
This game is intended to give students an intuitive feel for the direction the velocity for an object in circular motion. The objects is to score as many points in two minutes as possible. You earn more points the closer you are to the...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Water Spinner
A student demonstration which illustrates that rotating water has a curved surface called a parabola.
Pennsylvania State University
Acoustics and Vibration Animations: Demonstrations: The Simple Pendulum
A series of graphics, downloadable animations and text describe and explain the motion of a pendulum. Some sections require an understanding of calculus.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Convert Rotational Movement to Waves
View a simulation that converts rotational motion into waves.
Concord Consortium
The Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Rotating Drum Mixer
Adjust the rotation in this simulation to see how particles of fluids move.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Co Fixed Points of Rigid Motions
A rigid motion of the plane is a map of the plane to itself which preserves distances between points. The purpose of this task is to use fixed points as a tool for studying and classifying rigid motions of the plane, i.e., translations,...
Shodor Education Foundation
Shodor Interactivate: Lesson: Translations, Reflections, and Rotations
This upper elementary and middle school lesson plan introduces a variety of motion geometry concepts such as translations, reflections, and rotations. Lots of interactive support for students.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: F Tf, G Co, Trigonometric Identities and Rigid Motions
The purpose of this task is to apply translations and reflections to the graphs of the functions f(x)=cos x and g(x)=sin x in order to derive some trigonometric identities. There are also rotations 180 degrees about points on the x-axis...
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Kicked Rotor Dynamics Model
Simulation analyzing the motion of a rotor that is repeatedly kicked. Adjust the settings for kick strength and speed and observe the results.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Torque
Investigate how torque causes an object to rotate. Discover the relationships between angular acceleration, moment of inertia, angular momentum and torque.
Concord Consortium
The Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Linkages
View several examples demonstrating that rotational motion may be transformed into straight-line motion.
Utah Education Network
Uen: As the World Turns
Third graders use their bodies to act out the motions of earth.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Circular, Satellite, Rotational: Inertia Right Hand Turn
Many students of physics do not believe in centripetal/inward forces. Even after completion of a thorough physics course, such students will still incorrectly believe that an object moving in a circle experiences an outward force. Use...
Concord Consortium
The Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Forces and Systems
See how motion is converted and the energy associated with the motion is used to do work.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Torque
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this online lesson students will learn about Torque and how to calculate Torque in various situations.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Kinetic Energy Formula
Explains what is meant by kinetic energy and demonstrates how to use the formulas for a point mass moving at less than the speed of light, for rotational motion, and for a mass moving at a relativistic speed. Includes interactive...
Science U
Science U: Isometries: Rotation
This site from Science U gives good examples of rotational symmetry and some background information about them.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What on Earth Is Spin?
Why is the spinning motion so special? Brian Jones details the dizzyingly wide array of ways that spinning affects our lives. [3:57]
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Bicycle Wheel Gyro
Description of a museum exhibit in which the spinning bicycle wheel induces the rotation of a student in a rotating chair. Excellent demonstration idea.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Super Spinners!
Use this hands-on activity to demonstrate rotational inertia, rotational speed, angular momentum, and velocity. Students build at least two simple spinners to conduct experiments with different mass distributions and shapes, as they...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Ring Around the Rosie
Learners learn the concept of angular momentum and its correlation to mass, velocity and radius. They experiment with rotation and an object's mass distribution. In an associated literacy activity, students use basic methods of...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Spinning Cylinder
Explore the motion of a cylinder that spins around its axis at the same time as it rotates around a line that is perpendicular to this axis.
Center of Science and Industry
Cosi Columbus: Bottle "Tops"
Learn about rotation and balance in this hands-on science experiment. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of how wobbling affects the "spin time" of an object due to it being unbalanced.
University of Guelph
University of Guelph: Physics Tutorials: What Is Torque?
This site provides an introductory look at torque, the measure of how much a force acting on an object causes that object to rotate. Provides a definition of torque, illustrations, and also a formula to define torque.