Understand the phenomenon of rolling without slipping, even under an applied torque, in the context of a unicycle using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:22]

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Learn about wave harmonics on a string by looking closely at the sound produced by a violin. Test string tension with harmonic number on violin strings in a simulated practice. Understand sound waves and standing waves in sound.

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Understand the concept of rotational inertia [moment of inertia) by analyzing the motion of a circus tightrope walker using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:07]

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Understand the dynamics of rotating objects in the context of a spinning yo-yo using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:29]

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Find out about the source of heat from the Earth's core. (Published 19 July 2011)

This activity is a hands on investigation in which students will construct, and launch a trebuchet.

This video lesson explores Newton's Third Law of Motion through examination of several real world examples of this law in action, including that of a donkey cart - a site common in the streets of Pakistan. Students will understand that forces act on objects even if the objects appear to be static and that certain conditions - gravity in particular - affect how two objects interact. [32:59]

Students explore the physics utilized by engineers in designing today's roller coasters, including potential and kinetic energy, friction, and gravity. First, students learn that all true roller coasters are completely driven by the force of gravity and that the conversion between potential and kinetic energy is essential to all roller coasters. Second, they also consider the role of friction in slowing down cars in roller coasters. Finally, they examine the acceleration of roller coaster cars as they travel around the track. During the associated activity, the students design, build, and analyze a roller coaster for marbles out of foam tubing.

This activity is an investigation where students use tools to determine how the length of a sound source affects its pitch.

Watch the rubber bands vibrate on homemade guitars in this video segment adapted from ZOOM as cast members talk about pitch and demonstrate how to make a cereal box instrument.

This video segment, adapted from ZOOM, explores the different sounds that a simple drinking straw can produce when you cut the straw and blow into it.

This video segment, adapted from ZOOM, demonstrates how to use a drinking straw and a bottle full of water to make low- and high-pitched sounds.

This activity is a classroom investigation where the students create, in size and distance, a solar system model in proportion to a selected sphere representing the earth.

In this lesson, students will create and launch planets in Visceral Science to explore where planets come from, and what keeps them in orbit!

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Augmented Reality.

In Visceral Science, students are able to create planets and place them in orbit around stars. In this lesson, students will be able to explore how planetary orbits work and the role that gravity plays by exploring with gravity wells.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: .

This video segment adapted from A Science Odyssey uses animation and archival footage to provide an overview of the theory of plate tectonics.

This video segment adapted from NOVA uses animation to show the relationship between the movement of a tectonic plate and whether volcanoes on the Hawaiian Islands are active or dormant.

In this hands-on science lesson, the students will observe (and eat!) cooked popcorn and uncooked popcorn. The students will understand why popcorn pops. The students will weigh cooked and uncooked popcorn to understand why cooked popcorn weighs more.

SSAC Physical Volcanology module. Students build a spreadsheet for an iterative calculation to find volume of bubbles and hence porosity, permeability and gas escape as a function of depth.

Students investigate the accuracy of sundials and the discrepancy that lies between "real time" and "clock time." They track the position of the sun during the course of a relatively short period of time as they make a shadow plot, a horizontal sundial, and a diptych sundial. (The activity may be abridged to include only one or two of the different sundials, instead of all three.)