Curated OER
Trajectory and Range of a Projectile
Students investigate the factors affecting projectile trajectory. In this physics lesson, students calculate the range, time and speed of projectiles using mathematical equations.
Curated OER
Newton's Laws
Young scholars give examples of each of Newton's three laws as they occur in everyday experiences. They visually represent and differentiate the difference between a direct proportion and an inverse proportion. Students explain how the...
Curated OER
Applications of Derivatives: General Rules for Optimization
In this minima and maxima worksheet, students find the global and local maxima and minima of one function. They work in small groups to solve one optimization problem. Steps for solving are listed on the page.
Curated OER
Model Rockets
Learners study the basics of a model rocket and its classifications. In this rocket lesson students determine the flight duration of a model rocket.
Curated OER
Motion Through the Ages
Eighth graders conduct internet research to produce a timeline of man's growth in understanding of concepts of motion and planetary motion through history.
Curated OER
Rocket Physics
Students investigate the relationship between impulse, momentum, kinetic and potential energy and aerodynamic drag. In this physics lesson, students calculate data taken from launching a rocket. They compare the theoretical and actual...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Newton's Law Lab
This lab was designed to have students investigate the factors that affect the acceleration of an object on a frictionless horizontal surface. The simulation will give the students a position vs. time graph and a velocity vs. time graph....
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Atwood Machine Lab
This lab was designed to have students practice the Atwood lab prior to doing it for real. Students can adjust the masses and the planet and then collect position vs. time data and velocity vs. time data.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Acceleration and Velocity Through Walking Using Paces and Excel
This has been used for the physics portion of a ninth grade physical science course. This lab experience is designed to give students a conceptual sense of the relationship between one-dimensional distance, velocity and acceleration.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Newton's Second Law: How Does Acceleration Change With Varying Forces?
In this lab activity, students investigate the effects of changing force on the acceleration of a lab cart testing Newton's Second Law of Motion. They will use distance and time to calculate velocity and create a graph representing their...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Acceleration of a Wheel and Axle
A lab investigation of an accelerating object can be difficult without motion sensors or computer photogates. The accelerating object can gain velocity in such a way that it moves a great distance in a short time.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Acceleration on a Planet Lab
This lab was designed to have students test the factors that affect the acceleration due to gravity on a planet. Students will be able to modify the planet and then drop an object to determine the acceleration on the planet. As the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Hot Wheelin' With Speed, Acceleration, and Data Graphs
In this lab, students investigate the motion of toy cars and collect data to analyze the speed of the vehicle between various points and overall speed.
Middle School Science
Middle School Science: Motion Notes
Personal site in which a teacher outlines a unit on motion. Probes through topics such as average speed, velocity, acceleration, speed, deceleration, force and more.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Egg Drop
In this physics lab, students build a container to safely deliver two eggs from the top of the school. Students calculate average velocity, acceleration, momentum, and the amount of force as it hits the ground. If their egg breaks, they...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Analyzing the Motion of a Marble Down a Ramp
This lab activity involves rolling a marble down a ramp where the students can investigate constant acceleration motion. The students then make a position vs. time graph and a velocity vs. time graph in order to investigate the change in...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Sports in Physics: Measuring Velocity in a Mini Olympic
The Illinois Institute of Technology provides this site on Physics. It is a student lab investigation in which students compare the concept and quantity of velocity to that of acceleration. Includes directions, ideas for assessment, a...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Colliding Spheres
This lab activity from the Illinois Institute of Technology lets students investigate the impact of collisions upon the velocity and momentum of the colliding objects. Requires understanding of vectors.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Momentum Conserved
This site by the Illinois Institute of Technology gives a Lab activity in which young scholars use a variety of toys to discover Newton's second law and momentum conservation. Newton's cradle, skate boards, and a toy motorcycle are...