Curated OER
Construction and Use of an Accelerometer
Eighth graders, in groups, study acceleration and build an accelerometer.
Curated OER
Deceleration of a Toy Truck
Eighth graders complete labs using toy trucks to study deceleration, record thier data, and then transfer it to graphing software to produce a graph. They create a lab report of the completed lab using a word processing program.
Curated OER
You Drive Me crazy
Students calculate the distance and acceleration of an object. In this algebra lesson, students collect data and create table and graphs to analyze it. They complete a lab as they collect and analyze data on acceleration and distance.
Curated OER
Water Pressure Experiments
Young scholars perform experiments measuring water pressure. They record their observations after poking holes in plastic bottles filled with water with the lids on and then off. They discover the role gravity plays in the water flow.
Curated OER
Building Bridges
Students identify the different types of bridges. Using the internet, they research information on how they are built by completing a scavenger hunt. Locating a specific area, they determine which type of bridge would be appropriate and...
Curated OER
Force
Fifth graders move a variety of objects in different ways to observe the different forces. In this physics lesson, 5th graders observe pushing, pulling, gravity, and friction. The hands-on component, and teamwork involved, should make...
Curated OER
Galileo: His Times & Beliefs
Students study Galileo and his scientific discoveries. They complete a series of experiments/model constructions, using 17th century equipment and procedures, to "recreate," demonstrate and explore the various discoveries of Galileo.
Curated OER
Strength of Water
Young scholars perform experiments using flexible bottles of water and eyedroppers partially filled and placed in the bottle. They record what happens when they tighten the bottle lid and squeeze the bottle.
Curated OER
Fantastic Friction!!!
Young scholars work in small groups to list at least 10 items that have movement or motion choosing one item from the list to use as a topic for the following questions: How does this item move? How can we slow down the movement? How can...
Curated OER
Simple Machines
Third graders are introduced to the six types of simple machines and discover how they make tasks easier. In groups, they rotate between stations to experiment with the different types of simple machines. To end the lesson plan, they...
Curated OER
Bouncing Balls
Students make observations of a bouncing ball and study how it travels. In this height lesson students complete a lab activity and describe and explain the motion of the ball.
Curated OER
Cosmic Ray Momentum
Students describe how cosmic rays achieve high kinetic energy via conservation of momentum.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Vertical Motion of Firework Lab
This lab was designed to give students an environment that they could relate to that would let them test how launch speed and time of flight affect the height of an explosion and the speed at the time of the explosion.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Motion: Calculating and Graphing Students Walking Speed
In this activity young scholars will collect and analyze data of their walking speed. They will compare their speed to an outside speed walker. They will determine their speed every 20 meters up to 100 meters. They will complete five...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Two Dimensional Motion and Conservation of Energy
In this physics lab students look at conservation of energy to find the horizontal velocity of a sphere in order to predict where it will land.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Hot Wheelin' With Speed, Acceleration, and Data Graphs
In this lab, students investigate the motion of toy cars and collect data to analyze the speed of the vehicle between various points and overall speed.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Pendulum Lab
Manipulate the mass of a weight and the length of string in this interactive pendulum simulation. Change the speed, friction, and gravity to make the pendulum swing change as measurements are displayed on the screen. Younger students can...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Equations of Motion Lab
You will be adjusting different parameters, such as speed and time accelerating, in this lab to see how they affect the motion of your car. Record the data and then reset your system to make desired changes.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Projectile Lab
This lab is designed to have students find the relationships that affect the horizontal distance travelled by a projectile. Students will be able to modify the starting height, initial speed and angle at which the projectile is fired....
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Circular Motion Learning Lab
This lab/learning activity is designed to introduce students to some of the basic terms with circular motion. They will be introduced to rpm, frequency, period, angular frequency, speed and velocity. It is hoped that students will be...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Graphing Motion Lab 2
This lab was designed to generate some data that students can use when learning about two stage graphing motion. Students will track the motion of a dragster as it accelerates and then moves at a constant speed and then they will create...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Rolling Distance Lab
In this lab, students will be able to change the radius and the linear speed of a wheel. They can then see how each of these variables affects the angular speed. Students can also look at the relationship between angular distance and...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Satellite Lab
This lab is designed to allow students to explore different aspects of satellite motion. Students can vary the mass of the satellite, the orbital radius of the satellite and the body that the satellite is orbiting. Students can measure...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Ground to Ground Soccer Kick Lab
This lab is designed to have students find the relationships that govern the behavior of a soccer ball that is kicked on an angle. The ball will start on the ground and end on the ground. Students will have control over the speed of the...