Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Rotational Equilibrium
Physics stars design mobiles that demonstrate rotational equilibrium. They take measurements and solve related equations for force by graphing, substitution, or determinants. This is a well-developed lesson plan, complete with student...
Curated OER
Motion in Two Dimensions
Two activities employ the use of kinematic equations for determining projectile ranges. They both require the use of a toy dart gun. Included in this resource are both the teacher's guide and student laboratory sheets. This is an...
Exploratorium
Stripped Down Motor
Mostly for teacher's use, here are instructions for making a traditional electromagnetic motor and a detailed explanation of how it works.
Curated OER
Freestanding Structures: A Tech Museum Floor Activity
Students attempt to design the tallest structure that they can with the given materials which are wooden dowels and rubber bands. They discuss the physics of their structure and how they would improve it the next time they built a...
Curated OER
Gyroscopes in Motion
Physics stars will enjoy learning about the conservation of energy as you demonstrate gyroscope precession. The lecture is broken into five subtopics: cross product, rotating vectors, angular momentum, rotating rigid bodies, and torque...
Curated OER
The Gear Game
Students discuss that the conservatin of energy states that the energy imput must equal the energy output. They then figure out how can a machine help you to perform task otherwise considered impossible? Students discuss the six simple...
Teach Engineering
Wimpy Radar Antenna
The Diary of a Wimpy Antenna? In the last installment of a six-part series, your class constructs a model of a radio antenna and tests its torque. Pupils use the results to design a better model that resists bending and twisting forces.
Teach Engineering
Investigating Torque
Torque--a teachable moment? Here's a lesson on torque (or moment) and variables that include size, reinforcement, structural bracing, and material that affect torque.
Curated OER
Review of Rotational Motion
In this rotational motion worksheet, students calculate and answer 50 multiple choice questions related to the properties of rotating bodies.
Curated OER
How are torque and work different?
Sixth graders explore how torque and work are different. In this torque lesson plan, 6th graders will understand the relationship between torque and work as it applies to force and distance. Students will be assessed on their conclusions...
Curated OER
The Mag Mile and ... Torque!
Students use paper plates and detailed directions to build a model of the Michigan Avenue Bridge's gear system. By carefully measuring and cutting "teeth" for the gears of the "Gear Train," they create small gear that will intersect the...
Curated OER
Pendulum Motion
Students explore questions which cannot be handled with simple pendulums, and examine both the usefulness and the limitations of approximations in science. A Java applet created from a Stella model is included.
Curated OER
The Learning Tower of Straws Challenge
Students construct a tower as high as possible that can successfully lean without collaspling. They examine the effect that lowering an object's center of gravity has on the torque produced on an object.
Curated OER
Robot Gears
High schoolers build simple gear trains and record data to discover how to compute gear ratios. They investigate the definition of torque and how torque can be increased or decreased in a gear train.
Curated OER
The Center of Mass
Students determine the center of mass of two irregularly shaped objects, determine when the center of mass is inside or outside the boundaries of the object, determine when and/or why an object is stable, balanced, unstable or unbalanced.
Curated OER
Wheels on the Bot Go Round and Round, Part II
Students hypothesize about the relationship between tire size of CEENBoT and ability to move a load. For this physics lesson, students design an experiment to test their hypothesis. They record results and formulate their conclusion.
Curated OER
Gyrocopters-Producing Rotary Motion
Students demonstrate rotary motion by practicing with gyrocopters. In this physics lesson students work in groups to construct a gyrocopter and explore how physics effect it torque and inertia.
Curated OER
Learn about Torque
Students calculate torque and determine its uses. In this lesson on torque, students watch a video and teacher demonstrations and work with a small group on a lab activity. Students provide example of how torque is used in daily life,...
Curated OER
Gearing Up--Learning About Gears
In this learning about gears activity, 5th graders read and discuss a 1 page article on gears, fill in 7 blanks to complete 5 facts about gears and make a set of gears from a template provided in the activity.
Curated OER
Torque Play
In this physics activity, students use torque to explain several very odd phenomena. They write the definition of torque and the relation between torque and change in angular momentum.
Curated OER
Work and the Farm
Students listen to a lecture by the teacher about farm work and ways to use physics to make farm work easier. The machines that are highlighted include pulleys, ramps, lever, and gears. Each machine is explained in context of its use in...
Curated OER
Science: Vectors
Students solve vector problems and identify the x and y coordinates. They determine if the coordinates are positive, negative, or zero. Students solve problems and convert the x and y coordinates to magnitude and direction.
Curated OER
Attributes of Accuracy
Young scholars explain necessity in using accurate instruments when measuring, and how measurements can be checked for accuracy. They make a six-inch ruler, design, test, and evaluate a system to measure work, and produce a table and...
Curated OER
The Pork With Torque
Learners determine the torque of CEENBoTs wheel hub. In this physics lesson, students reinforce their learning by exploring interactive websites on torque. They give real life applications of torque.