Learners drop two different masses of play dough and observe how long it takes them to hit the ground. Learners also drop two pieces of paper of the same material and size, one crumpled and one flat, to see how air resistance affects the speed at which an object falls. This activity starts on p.8 of the manual. This manual contains 4 activities related to the Spectra's Force comic book published by the American Physical Society.

In this demonstration about momentum, use physics to distinguish between a hard-boiled egg and a raw egg without cracking them open. Learners will discover that hard-boiled eggs are much easier to stop spinning because they are solid, whereas the liquid inside the raw egg prevents it from stopping and provides enough drag to start the raw egg spinning again. You can demonstrate that the eggs are really hard-boiled or raw by breaking them open in front of learners. This activity guide includes a helpful video that demonstrates each step of the demonstration. This egg-related activity could be integrated into any Easter or Spring themed programming.

Learners build a small rocket using a matchstick and a piece of aluminum foil. A second, lit match launches the match rocket. This activity involves fire; adult supervision required.

This classroom demonstration illustrates the concept of inertia. A large wooden crochet hoop is balanced on the lip of a glass soda bottle. A pencil is then balanced atop the hoop. The pencil remains stationary until the demonstrator yanks the hoop in a downward angle. Performed properly, the pencil should drop directly into the soda bottle below. The page contains photos and background information on the physics fundamentals (in this case, Newton's First Law of Motion). Performed incorrectly, the demo still illustrates the effects of a net external force on a stationary object. Phun Physics is a collection of physics demonstrations which introduce basic physics topics, are approximately 45 minutes long, and can be varied for presentation to grades 3-12. See Related Items for a link to the full collection.

This resource is a collection of activity-based physics tutorials developed by the University of Sydney Physics Education Research group (SUPER). Designed to be implemented in student-centered cooperative learning environments, the tutorials feature thematic workshops across a broad range of topics for first year physics students. The first volume covers Mechanics, Properties of Matter, and Thermodynamics. The second covers Electromagnetism, Waves (including Optics) and Quantum Mechanics (including Nuclear and Atomic Physics). The third volume describes the hands-on activities for all topics with descriptions of the apparatus and the physics illustrated in each case. Each tutorial is freely accessible in either Word or pdf format.

This classroom demonstration illustrates the concept of Newton's First Law and inertia. A dollar bill is placed between two soda bottles, with the top bottle filled with water. The currency acts as a water sealant, creating a system of balanced upward and downward forces. The water remains at rest until the demonstrator yanks out the dollar bill. Background information and reference material on Newton's First law are included. Phun Physics is a collection of physics demonstrations which introduce basic physics topics and can be varied for presentation to grades 3-12. Se Related Items for a link to the full collection.

As part of Princeton University's Plasma Physics Laboratory, the Interactive Plasma Physics Education Experience Web site contains interactive plasma physics topics, ranging from electricity and magnetism to energy and fusion. Although some of the activities have difficulty running on old browsers and Macintosh computers, the interactive lessons give students a fun and engaging way to explore physics topics.

In this physics activity, learners use square blocks to explore how towers fall. Learners attach a piece of string to the side of a block and then construct a tall tower on top of this base block. They observe what happens when they topple the tower by pulling the string. This activity guide explains why the tower bends and breaks and the role of acceleration and gravity in bringing the tower down.

This online textbook by Glenn Elert contains explanations, examples, and practice problems for many topics in introductory physics. These topics include Mechanics, Matter, Thermal Physics, Waves & Optics, Electricity & Magnetism, and Modern Physics. This textbook is a work in progress and is not yet finished.

Multimedia instructional tools for the physical sciences are rather in vogue these days, and a number of universities and colleges have developed creative resources in this area. One such set of resources happens to be the Physics Applets collection, created by staff members at the University of Oregon's physics department. The interactive applets are divided into four sections, including mechanics, thermodynamics, astrophysics, and energy & environment. In total, there are over thirty different applets, and they include those that illustrate the concepts of potential energy, Kepler's Third Law, and atomic emission. The site also includes a listing of credits, a help section, and information about this initiative.

This website consists of a collection of short videos designed for computer analysis in introductory physics classrooms. The videos are 20-40 photograph frames in length and each depict a physical process commonly discussed in beginning courses. Positions of objects in the video frame can be viewed in step motion or real-time. Position and time data may be measured and collected by using video-analysis software, or in some cases using a Flash-based interface available on this web site. These materials can be used for data analysis, modeling, and student-centered investigations.

This web site contains in-depth notes with examples and practice problems for several topics in introductory physics and astronomy. Some of these topics include classical mechanics, geometric optics, celestial mechanics, and stellar atmospheres; the heat and thermodynamics section has been removed. All of the topics may be downloaded for use as pdf documents offline.

This website contains student and teacher resources for a wide range of topics in physics and astronomy. The materials are arranged by student age and topic. The student materials provided include short explanations of physical concepts, problems, and laboratory activities. Resources for teachers include sample answers to problem and lesson plans. A CD is available for purchase with more teacher resources.

This web site was developed to provide an accessible, fun, and free resource that accurately communicates what science is and how it works. It was designed to help learners of all ages "re-engage" with science and appreciate the dynamic, exciting nature of the scientific process, and the human motivations that underlie it. It includes interactive tutorials on the process of science, classroom resources for teachers, and a do-it-yourself guide on how to design a fair experiment.

This website, hosted by Five Colleges, Incorporated, offers a Thinking About Physics "placard" with interesting physics problems or questions. The reader is encouraged to answer the questions on their own using hints, clues, and other discussion offered by the website. Links are provided for additional information.

This learning cycle features 24 videotaped experiments, organized sequentially for introducing Newton's Laws in introductory physics courses. Each video includes learning goal, prior information needed to understand the material, and questions to elicit critical thinking. The instructional method is based on cognitive apprenticeship, in which students focus on the process of science by observing, finding patterns, modeling, predicting, testing, and revising. The materials were designed to mirror the activities of scientists when they construct and apply knowledge. See Related Materials for links to the full collection by the same authors and for free access to an article explaining the theoretical basis for this instructional method.

On an airplane trip, learners have an opportunity to investigate the properties of air pressure at different altitudes. When the plane is at cruising altitude, learners open and cap a empty disposable water bottle. When the plane lands, the water bottle implodes due to greater air pressure on the ground. Learners can also try this experiment in reverse--capping the bottle on the ground and observing the bottle when it is at cruising altitude.

This activity (on page 2 of the PDF) is a full inquiry investigation into speed and motion and takes place at a water park. Groups of learners will compare two water slides by measuring each rideäóťs length and duration to calculate the speed. They will also attempt to trace a clean line through a maze while riding down the slides to measure which is the wildest. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV: Waterslides.

This is an activity (located on page 3 of the PDF) about nanotechnology making its way into everyday products, such as sunscreen, and how effective these invisible particles may be vs. their old-fashioned, non-nano counterparts. Learners will protect bags of color changing UV beads with sunscreens, one with nanoparticles and one without, and record which sunscreen is clearer and how well each one protects the beads. Also relates to linked video, DragonflyTV Nano: Stained Glass.

Activity-Based Physics aims to sustain and enhance efforts to render introductory physics courses more effective and exciting at both the secondary and college level. It uses the outcomes of physics education research along with flexible computer tools to promote activity-based models of physics instruction. This program includes the refinement of existing written materials, apparatus, instructional techniques, and computer software and hardware; the creation of new instructional materials and approaches; and dissemination. This work will be informed by a comprehensive program of classroom testing and educational research.