In this activity, students design their own airplanes and fly them. The challenge is to create a fast plane and a slow plane and compare the speed to the design. Students will hypothesize and test which factors affect the speed of the plane (e.g. mass, shape, force thrown, etc.).

Students will find and calculate the angle that light is transmitted through a holographic diffraction grating using trigonometry. After finding this angle, the students will build their own spectrographs in groups and research and design a ground or space-based mission using their creation. After the project is complete, student groups will present to the class on their trials, tribulations, and findings during this process.

Students will find and calculate the angle that light is transmitted through a holographic diffraction grating using trigonometry. After finding this angle, the students will build their own spectrographs in groups and research and design a ground or space-based mission using their creation. After the project is complete, student groups will present to the class on their trials, tribulations, and findings during this process.

Students will demonstrate the difference between one-dimensional elastic and inelastic collisions. They will also calculate momentum of various balls colliding against three different surfaces and compare results with theoretical principles of conservation and energy. Students will record and graph data.

This activity will allow students to analyze a direct measurement video clip of a blow dart colliding with a cart initially at rest. Students will be able to make measurements directly from the video that will allow them to investigate physics concepts such as velocity and conservation of momentum.

This activity is intended for an entry level algebra-based physics course in the chapter of forces in two directions. The objective of this lesson is for students to use a direct measurement video to calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction of a block sliding down a ramp. This video is best used after the students have a good grasp of forces in two directions, and the students must have prior experience with direct measurement videos.

In this online lesson, students will read and watch video animations to learn more about direct and alternating current. As a review, students will compare and contrast the two types of current.

In this short lab, students will observe the acceleration of a object as it initiates acceleration, maintains a steady speed, and slows to a stop. The student will diagram the motion of an accelerometer (a bubble level attached to the object).

In this physics lab students will investigate whether Ohm's Law applies to common electric devices (incandescent light bulbs and LEDs). Students will design a controlled experiment, including a written procedure, and then conduct the experiment, collect and graph data. Students may submit their findings in a formal written report or through informal class discussion.

This web page features a collection of Easy Java Simulations developed by secondary teachers for use in introductory high school physics courses. Topics include astronomy, momentum and collision, projectile motion, Gauss's Law and electric field, special relativity, and more. Each simulation is accompanied by a standards-based lesson plan and printable student guides. Users may run the simulations as a Java applet or may directly download a jar file version. The materials in this collection were created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool. This resource is part of Project ITOP (Improving the Teaching of Physics), a graduate program offered at University of Massachusetts-Boston. The archived computer models are hosted and maintained as part of the BU Physics Simulation collection.

In this lab activity, students build a container to safely deliver 2 eggs from the top of the school to the pavement below. Students will use the mass of the container and the time it takes to fall to calculate average velocity, acceleration, momentum, and force as it hits the ground.

Students observe and understand motion of a projectile launched horizontally. They will apply kinematics equations to data to determine the time of flight, velocity with which the ball leaves the table, and the acceleration on the ramp.

In this activity, students view a Direct Measurement Video that applies Newtonian mechanics to a model of an amusement park ride. An Einstein "action figure" (doll) is pinned against a vertical wall on a rotating platform. As the platform slows its rotation, Einstein slips down the vertical surface. Students can make measurements and calculations to determine the minimum speed that will keep Einstein from sliding, and calculate the coefficient of static friction between Einstein and the wall. In addition, students can develop an experiment that will let them determine the coefficient of sliding friction as Einstein slides down the vertical surface.

In this lab activity, students will gather evidence that total system momentum is conserved in an explosion-like impulse between two stationary carts and to describe how the evidence supports the law of conservation of momentum. Students will produce a formal lab write-up at the conclusion of the activity.

This set of problems provides students practice with calculations dealing with electric circuits. Each problem features an audio clip describing the solution process. 34 problems in the set

In this activity, students use an interactive applet / simulation to observe and describe the nature of the electric field line pattern in the space surrounding a positive charge, a negative charge, and a configuration of two or more charges. Students will complete a formal lab write-up at the conclusion of the activity.

Students demonstrate their understanding of electric fields by effectively and accurately describing what an electric field is using words and sketches.

This unit focuses on charges and electric fields. It also introduces students to voltage or potential difference. Many of the initial ideas and concepts are abstract ideas, while some incorporate the use of hands on labs and numerical equations.

This worksheet assesses student understanding of the information and concepts related to electrostatic potential.

Students review gravitational potential energy, how to calculate it, and how to use it as a comparison to electric potential energy in these video lessons from Khan Academy.