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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Malt Shop

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about kinetic friction and how objects slide to a stop under the influence of friction.
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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...
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Acids and Bases: Making a Film Canister Rocket

For Students Pre-K - 1st
ZOOM cast members mix different amounts of baking soda and vinegar to see which combination produces the most carbon dioxide for launching a film-canister rocket. [3:23]
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Activity
Science Museum of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota: Thinking Fountain: Friction

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Thinking Fountain provides this simple experiment for understanding friction and it relationship to energy.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Forces in 1 Dimension

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the forces at work when you try to push a filing cabinet. Create an applied force and see the resulting friction force and total force acting on the cabinet. Charts show the forces, position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time....
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Handout
PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Zip Line (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
Hands-on challenge to design and build a ping-pong ball carrier that can go from the top of a zip line string to the bottom in four seconds or less. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Slip Sliding Away: Experimenting With Friction

For Students 3rd - 5th
As you headed up the mountain to enjoy your last ski trip, you may have noticed a sign reading: Hazard. Icy Roads Ahead, Put On Your Chains. Putting chains on car tires increases the resistance between the tires and the road allowing the...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Rubbing Up Against Static Electricity

For Students 3rd - 5th
A tried and true balloon activity is to rub a balloon on your head to make your hair stand up. Learn how the rubbing builds up static electricity using this experiment to see if the number of rubs makes a difference.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Explore the Forces of Friction

For Students 9th - 10th
We all recognize what friction is, but do you really understand what causes it? This project focuses on friction, its causes and forces and specifically how it affects how fast you can slip down slides.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: The Swimming Secrets of Duck Feet

For Students 3rd - 8th
By comparing the feet of different water birds you can discover how they propel the birds through the water. This Science Buddies project show you how to modify swim fins to simulate ducks' feet, greebes' feet, and the feet of...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Whirl Y Bird vs. Whale Y Bird

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Improve the design of a very simple aircraft, the whirlybird, and learn about hydrodynamics and biomimicry in this science experiment. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Effect of Friction on Objects in Motion

For Students 6th - 8th
The funny thing about friction is that you couldn't get anywhere without it, yet it still acts to slow you down as you're getting there. Here is an easy project to measure the effects of friction.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: What a Drag!

For Students 6th - 8th
What makes some objects more streamlined than others? Find out which ordinary objects around your house are made to move smoothly through the water in this easy experiment. Which objects will produce the most drag when pulled through the...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: You Nailed It! Hammering Force for Different Types of Wood

For Students 6th - 8th
This Science Buddies project explains how to build a mechanism that will reproducibly swing a hammer so you can determine the amount of force needed to hammer a nail through various densities of wood. The Science Buddies project ideas...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Do Submarines Need Fins?

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this science project, you can investigate how submarines use stabilizing fins to move forward. Exploring friction and buoyant force you will get closer to understanding how these large ships function. Research resources are included...
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Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Parachutes and Air Resistance

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
By using different materials students construct a parachute to show how air resistance slows down its fall in this lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating the Inclined Plane Through Inquiry

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students will use different materials to find the most effective way to use an inclined plane (in other words, moving an object with as little force as possible). This is a guided inquiry. Although the students will be...
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Activity
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Energy Skate Park

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive skate park simulation that teaches about energy, conservation of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and friction. This simulation can either be downloaded or played online and includes handouts, lesson plans, and...
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Activity
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Energy Skate Park: Basics

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive skate park simulation that teaches about conservation of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, and friction. This simulation can either be downloaded or played online and includes handouts, lesson...
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Activity
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Friction

For Students 3rd - 8th
An interactive simulation that teaches about friction, thermodynamics, and heat by making observations while rubbing two objects together. This simulation can either be downloaded or played online and includes handouts, lesson plans, and...
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Forces and Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the forces at work when you try to push a filing cabinet. Create an applied force and see the resulting friction force and total force acting on the cabinet. Charts show the forces, position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time.
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Article
Other

City Journal: Let's Break Up the Big Cities

For Students 9th - 10th
This lengthy article offers many examples in its claim that smaller municipalities do a better job of governing and providing services than huge megacities.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Energy Skate Park

For Students 9th - 10th
Build tracks, ramps and jumps in a skate park to learn about energy.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Forces and Motion: Basics

For Students 9th - 10th
See how forces affect various items that are pushed or pulled.