Activity
NASA

Make a Planetary Exploration Balloon

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Balloons aren't just for parties! An inquiry-based lesson explores the idea of using balloons for space exploration. Learners become engineers as they attempt to control the ascent and descent of a helium balloon using different masses.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Proportionality: The X-Plane Generation

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students meet NASA researchers who describe the relationship between force, energy and motion. They discuss how NASA's experimental X-plane is being tested to make space travel more reliable and show how proportionality and ratios are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity Launch

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine how gravity affects launching rockets into space. In this physical science lesson, students review the concept of gravity and use an interactive online site, "Gravity Launch," to simulate a rocket launch.
Worksheet
Curated OER

How Fast Does the Sun Spin?

For Students 8th - 10th
In this rotation of celestial bodies worksheet, students determine the speed of the sun's rotation and they determine the number of days it takes the sun to rotate once at the equator. They identify the geometric factor that causes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines - Energy

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explain how things moving relate to energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Numerical Determination of Drag Coefficients

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars create a video of an object falling with a drag. For this physics lesson, students calculate drag coefficient using data from Logger Pro. They calculate velocity and acceleration of the object.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun Affects Earth

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read, write, and listen to information about the sun and its effects on the Earth.as it relates to its axis, orbit, rotate, and revolution.  In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders examine how the sun...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Case of the Crooked Cartoon: Newton's Laws Set the Standard

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students have the opportunity to use higher-level thinking skills and to apply their talents to previously learned material. It provides an opportunity for visual, auditory, and tactile/kinetic learners to utilize their particular...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weight and Velocity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers perform an experiment in order to determine how increasing weight affects the velocity of a truck and use the computer to compile their data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Drag of Drag

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Young scholars are introduced to drag. Then they summarize drag by saying that the drag is proportional to the square of the velocity. Students then solve problems an example of such a problem: Explain why swimming underwater is faster...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Earthquake

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discuss Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws using the example of a football linebacker and a small child pushing against each other on an ice rink. Students are able to visualize the results of the push and link it to the laws. Discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Friction and Inertia

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners study friction and inertia, make predictions, and compare data.  In this investigative lesson students view a demonstration on friction, divide into groups, and complete an activity. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2D Kinematics w/ String Racers

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate the speed of string racers. In this physics lesson, students measure the time in several trials and get the average. They graph their results using a spreadsheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocket Angles

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create rockets that be launched at varying angles to determine which angle is best to launch at for the longest distance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weighing In

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use a Slinky, rubber bands, paper, coins and cups to experiment with weight and its relationship to gravity. They discuss their results and develop a consensus on conclusion statements derived from their experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Pork With Torque

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students determine the torque of CEENBoTs wheel hub. In this physics lesson, students reinforce their learning by exploring interactive websites on torque. They give real life applications of torque.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swinging on a String

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore how pendulums work and why they are useful in everyday applications. In a hands-on activity, they experiment with string length, pendulum weight and angle of release.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Egyptians as Engineers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Student design and build Lego vehicles that drag given amount of weight up an incline. They show how this demonstrates Egyptian methods of pyramid construction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In-Line Inertia

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students practice calculating the moment of inertia when discussing a skater and the position in which it is best to spin. After class discussion, students practice calculating inertia on their own.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balanced Forces

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are able to explain why football running backs benefit from having a lower center of gravity when opponents are trying to tackle them. They explain why racing cars are designed to have a low center of gravity. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toys and Forces

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss the collection of toys and demonstrate to the class how a given toy moves. They discuss the part of this toy that could be broken or missing to cause the toy not to work. Which parts could be broken and the toy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pendulum Motion Experiments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students experiment with simple pendulums to determine the validity of an equation for all angles. Students discover the usefulnes and limitations of approximations in science. Using spreadhseets and a java applet, students observe the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Momentum

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
For this momentum worksheet, students review impulses, angular momentum, and the law of conservation of momentum. This worksheet has 30 fill in the blank statements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Impulse/Momentum Lab

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners investigate the relationship between force and momentum using motion detectors and sensors. In this physics lesson plan, students graph experimental results. They calculate impulse using the area under the graph.

Other popular searches