Interactive
Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Visualizing Forces on an Incline

For Students 9th - 10th
This program gives students a visual representation of the forces on a block that is on an inclined plane. The students can watch how force gravity, force normal, and force friction change as the angle of the plane changes. Students can...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Car Collision Testing & Tradeoffs: Don't Crack Humpty

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student groups are provided with a generic car base on which to design a device/enclosure to protect an egg as it rolls down a ramp at increasing slopes. During this activity, student teams design, build and test their prototype...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Physical Science: Gravity Gets You Down

For Teachers 6th - 9th
In this lesson, 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.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Forces: Pop Bottle Rockets

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lab, learners will work on scientific inquiry skills: observation, developing questions, conducting an experiment, and collecting data. They will investigate forces using pop bottle rockets that they have designed.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Gravity: Predicting Time to Hit the Ground

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners 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 line for...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Mechanics Mania

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Through ten lessons and numerous activities, students explore the natural universal rules engineers and physicists use to understand how things move and stay still. Together, these rules are called "mechanics." The study of mechanics is...
Activity
Other

Center for Education Partnerships: The Marble Roll

For Students 3rd - 9th
In this Science-athon, students try to make their marble roll the farthest across a flat surface, using their knowledge of forces, motion, and energy to guide them through their apparatus design. Teachers must enroll online.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Physics of Roller Coasters

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the physics utilized by engineers in designing today's roller coasters, including potential and kinetic energy, friction, and gravity. First, students learn that all true roller coasters are completely driven by the...
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Physics: Classical Mechanics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
College-level online course highlighting the study of classical mechanics. This course focuses on Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics, and kinetic gas theory. Course features include a 35 video lecture series by Walter Lewin. Also link...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: What Is Newton's First Law?

For Students 9th - 10th
Newton's First Law also called the law of inertia is the most important thing to realize about motion. This article offers more information on motion and explains solved problems involving Newton's First Law. Also included is a video...
Unknown Type
Physics4kids

Physics 4 Kids: Motion/mechanics Overview Quiz

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

Teach Engineering: Natural Disasters

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to our planet's structure and its dynamic system of natural forces through an examination of the natural hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados, as well as avalanches, fires,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Sliding Textbooks

For Teachers 5th - 7th
In this culminating activity of the unit which highlights how forces play a role in engineering design and material choices, students explore and apply their knowledge of forces, friction, acceleration, and gravity in a two-part experiment.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Skateboard Science

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site is on the science and art of skateboard design, including equipment, tricks, glossary of terms, and a live webcast of a skateboard performance.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: A Comprehensive List of All the Physics Formulas

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a long list of physics formulas for easy reference.
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.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Newton's Second: Having a Ball With Motion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students will create a gravity ball launcher to demonstrate their understanding of mass, force, momentum, and motion. The students will use critical thinking, measurement, and observation and analysis of data to make changes and improve...
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.