National Science Foundation
Science Friction—Science of the Winter Olympics
Physics plays a role in most sports, and curling is no exception! A video explains how a curling team controls the friction between the stone and the ice to modify its movement.
Steve Spangler Science
Floating Rice Bottle - Sick Science! #116
More rice grains create more friction. Pack them into a bottle and then you can use a chopstick to pick the bottle up! This is a fascinating demonstration of density and the force of friction.
National Science Foundation
Downhill Science—Science of the Winter Olympics
Newton would have made a first-rate skier! A video lesson analyzes Newton's second law from a skiing perspective. The narrator explains how the force, mass, and acceleration can work together to create a winning run.
Steve Spangler Science
Falling Ring Catch - Sick Science! #046
Amaze your class with this demonstration of gravity and friction. A ring on a string is able to catch a spool of tape as it falls. This is a perfect introduction for a class discussion on these topics, or you could have kids them try it...
Steve Spangler Science
The Tablecloth Trick - Sick Science! #010
You might not be able to pull a rabbit out of a hat, but you could certainly pull a tablecloth out from under a place setting! Display inertia and Newton's first law of motion for your future physicists or magicians by performing this...
Steve Spangler Science
Ultimate Table Trick Challenge
There's a lot going on here: air pressure changes, inertia, and chemical reactions. All of this occurs in 60 seconds time! As an end of the year physical science assessment, consider showing this video clip and then having learners write...
GPB Television
Physics 101: Physics Metrics
A half-hour introductory video on mechanics and the metric system was produced with beginning physicists in mind. Note-taking guides are provided, in addition to a follow-up metric worksheet. For the lab, learners construct paper frogs....