Lesson Plan
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Winds Go Spinning Around

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students simulate the Coriolis Effect to comprehend why winds in the Westerlies are prone to cyclonic and anti-cyclonic motion. They arrive at an explanation of processes that drive world wind patterns
Worksheet
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Waves Velocity & Particle Velocity

For Students 12th - Higher Ed
In this physics worksheet, students examine a single wave pulse which travels down a slinky. Then they sketch a single ring of the slinky as the wave goes by and determine whether the wave is constant or not.
Lesson Plan
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Biodiesel Combustion and Its Influences in NOx Emissions

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders evaluate the physical mechanisms that cause a change in NOx emissions. In this combustion lesson plan, 10th graders participate in a research project. Students create a presentation of their findings. 
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Jet Engine Magazine

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore physics by creating a magazine cover in class. In this flight lesson, students identify the motion and force that must be generated in order for a jet engine to lift off the ground. Students create a cover for a...
Lesson Plan
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Atmospheric Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars recognize that the sun is the source of energy driving atmosphere cells. They relate the motion of the atmospheric cells to mantle convection cells. Students recognize that the function of atmospheric cells is to move heat...
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Theory of Universal Gravitation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how Newton tied together the gravity observed on Earth and the motion of the Moon. They apply an earlier instructional activity about centripetal forces.
Lesson Plan
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Building And Launching a Model Rocket

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are introduced to the basic parts of rockets and the physical forces at work in the flight of rockets. They build and launch a model rocket and discuss the challenges of launching a real rocket.
Lesson Plan
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Recognizing and Describing Chemical Changes

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders distinguish between physical and chemical changes in both natural and technological settings. They identify the reactants and products for a given chemical reaction. they then write simple chemical equations given the...
Lesson Plan
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The Human Pendulum

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the pendulum. In this physics instructional activity, students investigate how length, amplitude and mass affect the period of a pendulum. The students will engage in an exploratory activity in order to best grasp the...
Lesson Plan
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Electric Field Mapping in 3D

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students create a 3D vector field map of an electric field. In this physics lesson, students measure the voltage inside an aquarium with water. They present their findings and map to class..
Lesson Plan
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Eggs On My Head

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students apply math skills using formulas to solve a Physics equation. Working individually, students create an equation to calculate the drop rate of an egg from a tower so it will hit a specified target, the teacher. Students test...
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Laws

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine and discuss Newton's Laws and discover his contribution to physics. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they much apply the Laws to the world around them. They describe contact and conservative forces...
Worksheet
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Electricity and Magnets

For Students 10th - 12th
In this physics review activity, students compare average and instantaneous speed, review Newton's laws, electricity, and magnets. This activity has 12 fill in the blank, 8 short answer questions, and 6 problems to solve.
Lesson Plan
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Weightlessness

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students compare and contrast the terms "weight" and "mass". In this physics lesson plan, students observe an experiment in which objects are placed on a balance scale and weighed under different circumstances. Partners drop items and...
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Airplanes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment with gravity and lift by building paper airplanes. In this physics lesson, 4th graders compare the falling rate of a crumpled vs. flat sheet of paper. Then after class discussion and demonstration of Bernoulli's...
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To See or Not to See: The Colors of Light

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe and conduct an experiment that identifies the physical properties of light. They explore sources of visible light and an electromagnetic spectrum. Students explain the conversion of one form of energy to another.
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Learn to Build a Rocket in 5 Days

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore physics by participating in an engineering activity. In this rocket instructional activity, students define a list of scientific vocabulary terms such as "re-engineering" and "trade-off." Students identify the rocket...
Lesson Plan
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Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics lesson, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
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Making Ice Cream

For Teachers K
Student examine the physical changes of matter and are able to describe them. They make ice cream in plastic bags to observe the changes in matter. They describe and record the changes in the ice cream mixture as it freezes.
Worksheet
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Types of Scientists

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, students match each type of scientist listed in the left-had column to its correct description found in the right-hand column. There are 34 different scientists to match on the sheet.
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Baseball Activity: Bouncing Balls

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the concept of motion. In this hands-on physics lesson, students examine how the construction of baseballs and the temperature they are stored at affect their bounce.
Worksheet
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Rotational Dynamics

For Students Higher Ed
In this motion worksheet, students calculate the initial angular acceleration, and the angular speed before and after impact for different objects. This worksheet has 3 problems to solve.
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Friction

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the force of friction between materials. In this physics lesson plan, students participate in an experiment using various materials such as wood, waxed paper, and aluminum foil and explore which item produced the most...
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Rover Landing Design Challenge

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students examine the concepts of forces and motion. They work together to design protective devices for their egg rovers as they are dropped from a specific height. They record their observations and discuss.