In this video segment from NOVA scienceNOW, learn about the effects of gravity as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson falls through a virtual hole through Earth's center.
This activity is a field lab where students use a half gallon milk/juice carton containing two raw eggs and "other" materials to design an internal protective structure that will prevent the eggs from breaking from a 50 foot drop off a roof top.
In this video segment adapted from NOVA, a meteorologist explains how an unusual weather pattern led to one of the most devastating floods of this century.
Students use water balloons and a length of string to understand how the force of gravity between two objects and the velocity of a spacecraft can balance to form an orbit. They see that when the velocity becomes too great for gravity to hold the spacecraft in orbit, the object escapes the orbit and travels further away from the planet.
Build your own miniature "greenhouse" out of a plastic container and plastic wrap, and fill it with different things such as dirt and sand to observe the effect this has on temperature. Monitor the temperature using temperature probes and digitally plot the data on the graphs provided in the activity.
Make your own miniature greenhouse and measure the light levels at different "times of day"--modeled by changing the angle of a lamp on the greenhouse--using a light sensor. Next, investigate the temperature in your greenhouse with and without a cover. Learn how a greenhouse works and how you can regulate the temperature in your model greenhouse.
Metals are grouped according to their characteristics. This video segment uses the periodic table for an in-depth discussion.
This expository article, written for students in grades 4-5, explains why ice floats and how this is essential to life on earth. Modified versions are available for younger students.
This informational text discusses the unique property of ice - that it floats in liquid water. Students learn why this occurs and how ice is necessary for life in the polar regions. The text is written at a grade four through grade five reading level. This version is a full-color PDF that can be printed, cut and folded to form a book. Each book contains color photographs and illustrations.
This informational text discusses the unique property of ice - that it floats in liquid water. Students learn why this occurs. They also focus on real-world examples and how ice is necessary for life in the polar regions. The text is written at a grade four through grade five level. This is a PDF containing the informational text and a glossary.
Compiled by Kyle Gray, University of Akron, 'krg10@uakron.edu' and David N. Steer, University of Akron, 'steer@uakron.edu'
In this ZOOM video segment, join Hana as she learns traditional Japanese drumming with her Taiko group.
This towing lab students use a active learning activity to develop planning, problem solving and conceptual skills to clarify understanding of applied and net force. The assessment is the correct composition of a vector diagram.
Students learn about weight by building a spring scale and observing how it responds to objects with different masses.
This activity is a guided lab where the students gather data from different swinging pendulums, compares the results to equation results, and finally draws general conclusions on these results.
Through a teacher demonstration using water, heat and food coloring, students see how convection moves the energy of the Sun from its core outwards. Students learn about the three different modes of heat transfer (convection, conduction, radiation) and how they are related to the Sun and life on our planet.
Students learn the fundamental concepts of heat transfer and heat of reaction. This includes concepts such as physical chemistry, an equation for heat transfer, and a basic understanding of energy and heat transfer.
This activity is a classroom demonstration activity in which students make predictions and explore the concepts and applications of heat transfer and heat absorption.
Students explore heat transfer and energy efficiency using the context of energy efficient houses. They gain a solid understanding of the three types of heat transfer: radiation, convection and conduction, which are explained in detail and related to the real world. They learn about the many ways solar energy is used as a renewable energy source to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses and operating costs. Students also explore ways in which a device can capitalize on the methods of heat transfer to produce a beneficial result. They are given the tools to calculate the heat transferred between a system and its surroundings.
Heat transfer is an important concept that is a part of everyday life yet often misunderstood by students. In this lesson, students learn the scientific concepts of temperature, heat and the transfer of heat through conduction, convection and radiation. These scientific concepts are illustrated by comparison to magical spells used in the Harry Potter stories.