Lesson Plan
Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Build a Parachute

For Teachers K - 1st
Learners create a parachute to explore how air pushes up against an object and slows it down as it falls.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What a Drag

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students learn about friction and drag - two different forces that convert energy of motion to heat. Both forces can act on a moving object and decrease its velocity. Students learn examples of friction and drag, and suggest ways to...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Science of Everyday Life: Don't Slip! [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson plan students experience friction by sliding a block of wood over sandpaper. Students will experiment with frictional forces by measuring with spring scales or rubberbands.
Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Sliding Down an Incline Plane

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Here is a simulation demonstrating an object placed on an inclined plane. The user will vary the slope of the plane to see the relationship the slope has on the gravity of the object and the static friction.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Work and Energy: Energy Transformation Downhill Skiing

For Students 9th - 10th
The intricate relationship between work and mechanical energy is depicted in the animation for students to be able to visualize.
Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Charles Augustin De Coulomb

For Students 9th - 10th
A short biography about Charles Coulomb, known for developing Coulomb's law, the definition of the electrostatic force of attraction and repulsion.
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Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Car Stopping Distance

For Students 9th - 10th
Students must calculate the time it takes for a car to come to a rapid stop and the distance the car covers when stopping.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Ruff Ruffman Show: Bottle Cap Hockey

For Students K - 1st
Explore sports science and see how many points can you score with your bottle caps in Ruff's take on table hockey.
Handout
Ohio State University

Ohio State Univ.: Simple Machines & Mechanical Advantage [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details how simple machines create a mechanical advantage for humans. Levers, theoretical mechanical advantage, actual mechanical advantage, and pulley systems are discussed.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Charles Augustin De Coulomb

For Students 9th - 10th
Spanish-language site lets students discover the life and work of this physicist and engineer, who is known for his studies of electric charges.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building Roller Coasters

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this hands-on activity students learn about the laws of physics by creating a marble roller coaster.
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Amusement Park Physics: Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 10th
This interesting and interactive exhibit demonstrates how Newton's Laws of Motion impact the design and safety of roller coasters.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Physical Science: Gravity Gets You Down

For Teachers 6th - 9th
In this instructional activity, students make predictions about falling objects of different sizes and masses to learn about gravity and air resistance. Includes audio vocabulary list and extension activities.
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Third Grade Science

For Students 3rd
This customizable digital textbook covers topics related to third-grade science. It is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned.
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Electrostatics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A teacher lesson plan which includes activities pertaining to common methods of charging objects - induction, conduction, and friction.
Activity
University of Oregon

Uo: Cannon Simulator: Experimental Instructions

For Students 9th - 10th
This virtual experiment is designed to let the student measure the relation between muzzle velocity (which determines projectile energy), gravitational potential and the effects of frictional drag caused by wind speed blowing opposite to...
eBook
Other

Wikibooks: Physics Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A handy resource that gives an overview of equations and definitions pertinent to an introductory, college-level physics course, with two of its three sections focusing on motion-related topics and principles.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Gravity: Predicting Time to Hit the Ground

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars will drop and shoot horizontally "Nerf" balls from a variety of known heights then record the amount of time it takes for the ball to hit the ground for each trial. They will plot height vs. time data and create a trend...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Projectile Motion: Creating a Catapult

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity is for 9th grade physical science students. It begins with an inquiry-based activity using a projectile motion computer simulation. It culminates with students building a catapult; applying and connecting science knowledge...
Lesson Plan
McREL International

Mc Rel: Whelmer #9 Learning Activity: Nickel Karate

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
An easy to do activity that investigates the basic theories of inertia. The activity is in lesson plan format that meets NSES standards.
Lesson Plan
McREL International

Mc Rel: Whelmer #31 Activity: Static Charged 2x4s

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A simple activity that investigates the basic principles behind static electricity. The activity is in lesson plan format that meets NSES standards.
Interactive
Concord Consortium

The Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench: Weight Balance on a Pulley

For Students 9th - 10th
Watch how the placement of two weights attached to a chain on different sides of a pulley affect the movement of the system. You can adjust the heaviness of the weights.
Website
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: The Science of Sports Cycling

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed look at the aerodynamic principles associated with cycling. Good science and even better web page design. Includes an online calculator that allows the user to calculate the aerodynamic drag and propulsive power of a bicyclist...
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Physics4kids

Physics 4 Kids: Motion/mechanics Overview Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
Take this ten question multiple choice quiz on motion and mechanics.

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