In this activity, students will experience echolocation themselves. They actually try echolocation by wearing blindfolds while another student makes snapping noises in front of, behind, or to the side of them.
Students use a watt meter to measure energy input into a hot plate or hot pot used to heat water. The theoretical amount of energy required to raise the water by the measure temperature change is calculated and compared to the electrical energy input to calculate efficiency.
This activity is an outdoor lab where students gather data and calculate velocity, acceleration, momentum, and force of a vessel they create to safely deliver 2 eggs from the roof to the pavement below.
The CyberSquad must construct a clock of sorts in order to keep track of the amount of time they have to rescue Dr. Marbles in this video segment from Cyberchase.
This video, adapted from NASA, presents rare experimental evidence from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope supporting Einstein's prediction that space-time is smooth.
Interactive Lecture Demonstration to illustrate that impulses are larger in elastic collisions than in inelastic collisions if other factors are the same.
Students model, build, and draw diagrams of electric circuits and test the conductivity of a variety of materials.
This pathway explores the foundational concepts of electric circuits, such as voltage, curent, resistance and capacitance. Some further applications of circuits are also included. Problems are provided to test for understanding.
This pathway explores how the properties of magnets and charges relate to produce electromagnetism. The basic principles of electromagnestim are discussed, with a specific focus on Faraday's law as a mechanism for producing an emf by moving charges in a magnetic field. Applications of electromagnetism such as motors and generators are explained. Problems are provided to check for understanding.
A simple experiment where you can learn how electricity affects the strength of an electromagnet! Download the activity sheet and do the experiment yourself!
This simple demonstration shows the interaction between electricity and magnetism. Two coils of wire are held close to each other, but not touching. One is attached to a music source, such as a small radio or iPod, and the other is attached to an external speaker. Students can hear the music through the speaker even though there is no direct connection.
Students will investigate the characteristics of electromagnetism and then use what they learn to plan and conduct an experiment on electromagnets.
Students learn about the scientific and mathematical concepts around electromagnetic light properties that enable the engineering of sunglasses for eye protection. They compare and contrast tinted and polarized lenses as well as learn about light intensity and how different mediums reduce the intensities of various electromagnetic radiation wavelengths. Through a PowerPoint® presentation, students learn about light polarization, transmission, reflection, intensity, attenuation, and Malus’ law. A demo using two slinky springs helps to illustrate wave disturbances and different-direction polarizations. As a mini-activity, students manipulate slide-mounted polarizing filters to alter light intensity and see how polarization by transmission works. Students use the Malus’ law equation to calculate the transmitted light intensity and learn about Brewster’s angle. Two math problem student handouts are provided. Students also brainstorm ideas on how sunglasses could be designed and improved, which prepares them for the associated hands-on design/build activity.
This is a description of a student experiment that teachers can adapt to allow students to prove that electric current produces a magnetic field. The sample includes a specific example of how to do the experiment which can be adapted to an inquiry investigation by having students complete the initial experiment and then write their investigation question and further investigate the phenomena. When completing this as a demonstration or student experiment batteries can be substituted for the variable power supply if power supplies are not available or convenient to use. The voltage provided to the circuit can be easily manipulated by changing the number of batteries connected.
This activity is a simple way for students to understand the basics of electron energy levels, a fundamental atomic concept.
In this animation produced by WGBH and Digizyme, Inc., see how molecules of DNA are separated using gel electrophoresis, and how this process enables scientists to compare the molecular variations of two or more DNA samples.
This pathway explores the fundamental force of electrostatics, which is described by Coulomb's law. The concept of an electric field is introduced, as the force per unit charge. Problems are provided to check for understanding.
An interactive lecture demonstration intended to help students use physics reasoning to predict the outcome of a puzzling electrostatics demonstration.
This activity is a lab investigation where students collect data concerning and endothermic and exothermic reaction.
Students learn to apply the principles and concepts associated with energy and the transfer of energy in an engineering context by designing and making musical instruments. They choose from a variety of provided supplies to make instruments capable of producing three different tones. After completing their designs, students explain the energy transfer mechanism in detail and describe how they could make their instruments better.