Astronomer Carl Sagan discusses the possibility of time travel in this audio-enhanced interview from the NOVAWeb site.
Students build a saltwater circuit, which is an electrical circuit that uses saltwater as part of the circuit. Students investigate the conductivity of saltwater, and develop an understanding of how the amount of salt in a solution impacts how much electrical current flows through the circuit. They learn about one real-world application of a saltwater circuit — as a desalination plant tool to test for the removal of salt from ocean water.
This animation adapted from NASA shows the orbital paths of spacecraft in NASA's Earth Observing Fleet that are a source of wide-scale, primary research about Earth.
Students learn how to determine map distances and areas using the map scale. They get a feel for how much an area represents on the map in relation to the size they are suggesting for their underground caverns to shelter the Alabraska population.
The solar system is BIG, but just how big? It can be difficult to conceptualize just how small planets are compared to the distances between them! In this lesson we’ll be making models to help us understand.
Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.
Technology required for this lesson: .
Use a virtual scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to observe electron behavior in an atomic-scale world. Walk through the principles of this technology step-by-step. First learn how the STM works. Then try it yourself! Use a virtual STM to manipulate individual atoms by scanning for, picking up, and moving electrons. Finally, explore the advantages and disadvantages of the two modes of an STM: the constant-height mode and the constant-current mode.
Learn more about general relativity, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein with information about gravity. [8:31]
Join the Brainiac team as they research how an electric current runs through a person who touches a live electric fence. [5:20]
See how a simple gyroscope begins to behave differently when the inner wheel is spun. [5:01]
Learn about buoyancy and see how it is used by today's architects and engineers when they design ships, submarines and various other floating structures. [7:46]
Watch powerful magnets jump from place to place, roll quickly around circles, spin according to their magnetic poles, and control the movement of other magnets. [3:20]
Learn about electricity, and see how current, amperes, volts, and circuits are related as well as why electrical safety is so important. [5:16]
This video review over the basics of gears including ratio, rotation, mechanical advantage, and more. [10:58]
Learn about magnetic fields with interesting information about north and south magnetic poles, magnetic field lines and compasses. [2:30]
Learn magnet basics and see how to make an electromagnet. [10:27]
This informative video will explore Newton's Three Laws of Motion. Learn how objects move, stay moving, and stop according to these laws. [11:39]
Learn how to measure force, how we use simple machines to make work easier for us, how this is related to gravity, and how pulley systems work. [12:28]
See exactly how scientists create amazing electric trees called Lichtenberg figures. [2:31]
A brief biography about Galileo Galilei, an Italian scientist and inventor who contributed greatly to the fields of physics and astronomy at a time when new ideas and radical thinking were controversial. [2:11]
Use your knowledge of physics concepts like electricity, reflection, magnetism, etc. to complete interactive online puzzles.