California State Parks
A Teaching Unit on Electricity
It's the invisible energy most people take for granted. Explore the properties of electricity in a complete three-week unit. Learners first manipulate circuits, then experiment with electromagnetism, and finally discover different...
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Utah Open Textbook: Physics
Textbooks come in all shapes, sizes, and media these days. An electronic textbook resource offers Physics materials for an entire course. The text offers an explanation of physics topics as well as examples of calculations and reading...
Purdue University
Design of a Door Alarm
How does electricity work? Budding scientists explore the concepts of electrical currents and open and closed circuits with class discussion and a hands-on activity using a battery to turn on a light bulb. Learners also make predictions...
College Board
2015 AP® Physics 2: Algebra-Based Free-Response Questions
As one of the few AP tests that count for second year college course credit, the AP Physics 2 exam requires a higher level of knowledge than most. Help young scientists study for their upcoming AP Physics 2 exams with previous...
College Board
2016 AP® Physics 2: Algebra-Based Free-Response Questions
While AP Physics 1 counts as an introductory college Physics course, AP Physics 2 counts as a second-year college Physics course. Help scholars prepare for this more advanced college-level test with questions from previous assessments...
College Board
2018 AP® Physics 2: Algebra-Based Free-Response Questions
While the AP Physics 2 test maintains the reputation for one of the most difficult AP exams, scholars feel better prepared after practicing free-response questions on currents, conservation of energy, and displacement. The College Board...
College Board
2015 AP® Physics 1 Free-Response Questions
It's rare for even 40 percent of test takers to pass the AP Physics 1 exam. Improve those odds for young scientists with the help of actual free response questions covering topics from free body diagrams to velocity. The College Board...
College Board
2016 AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based Free-Response Questions
Generally, scholars struggle on the free response portion of the AP Physics 1 exam more than the multiple-choice section. Scholars benefit from additional practice with the help of previous test questions, including questions on forces,...
College Board
2017 AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based Free-Response Questions
Do you know how to help scholars study for the AP Physics test? Use the free response questions from the 2017 exam covering topics from circuits to waves to prepare pupils for future AP assessments. After answering the questions, read...
Magic of Physics
Electric Circuits
Teaching about circuits can be as easy as flipping a switch! Science scholars explore the world of electricity using a fun interactive. The resource uses drag-and-drop images to promote an understanding of circuit components, types of...
Physics Classroom
Parallel Circuits - ∆V = I•R Calculations
Parallel circuits often provide less of a challenge for teens than parallel parking. An installment of a series on parallel electric circuits requires learners to solve increasingly difficult levels of calculations. Each level provides...
Physics Classroom
Series Circuits: ∆V=I•R Calculations
Better than some television series, parallel series circuits provide practice for calculations. Scholars work through a series of problems, each progressively more difficult. They apply knowledge of voltage calculations, resistors, and...
Physics Classroom
Electric Current
Pupils focus on the flow of electricity as they work through three sections of questions as part of a series of lessons on electric circuits. The activities cover the fundamentals, case studies, and law breakers. Learners use conceptual...
Physics Classroom
Light Bulb Anatomy
Scholars apply their understanding of circuits and electric pathways to many simulations. They move through three different activities and 18 questions, receiving immediate feedback after each answer. The lesson is part of a larger...
US Department of Energy
Electric Avenue: Parallel and Series Circuits
Can you infer the wiring diagram of a series of lights based on their behavior alone? Scholars work with multiple boxes of four lights. They must flip the switch and decide how the lights are wired. By applying their knowledge of...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Small Scale Stenciling: Mask Lab
Investigate the procedure for developing computer chips! Learners use solar print paper to create both positive and negative images. They observe the effects of single and multiple exposures and compare results.
Cornell University
Characterizing a Solar Cell
Young classes are sure to get a charge out of this instructional activity! Learners experiment with circuits of a solar cell. They practice determining current, voltage, and power for the circuit and maximize the voltage and current of...
CK-12 Foundation
Resistor Simulation
Many scholars struggle to picture electrons traveling in a circuit but understand water going through a pipe. The simulation compares circuits to water pipes. It walks pupils through four levels of questions, allowing them to switch...
CK-12 Foundation
Capacitor Simulation
The camera flash works based on a simple circuit, but why does it require a capacitor? Scholars work through two levels of simulations related to circuits and capacitors. The pupils first use a simple circuit with a battery, resistor,...
CK-12 Foundation
Flashlight
In a simple circuit, does electricity start instantly? A simulation encourages thinking about the flow of electrons at a microscopic level. Pupils control the voltage, resistance, and switch in order to observe the change in both ideal...
LABScI
Circuits Lab: Lightbulbs
Electrons flow from negative to positive, but the general consensus is that current flows from positive to negative. Scholars explore current through construction of circuits in both series and parallel. The focus is on voltage,...
Phys Ed Games
X-Circuit Fitness
Get the class fit and have them participate in x-circuit fitness with six stations. Groups move from station to station in the correct directional path in two minutes completing each desired activity. Choose activities that are...
PHET
Resistance in a Wire
Resistance is not futile, it is voltage divided by current. A creative simulation presents a wire graphic and allows participants to alter the area, length, and resistivity. As scholars increase or decrease a variable within the...
Teach Engineering
Applying Statistics to Nano-Circuit Dimensions in Fabrication
Do flexible circuits change dimensions during fabrication? Groups use GeoGebra software to measure the length of pictures of flexible nano-circuits. To determine if the circuits change dimensions, future engineers use Microsoft Excel to...