a site for teachers | a PowerPoint show | Adobe Acrobat document | a Word document sound | video format | interactive | a quiz | lesson plan | to print
Standard
1Force and Motion
Level 1
distinguish between speed and velocity, given a scenario.
Speed and Velocity - This Physics Classroom tutorial helps students distinguish between speed and velocity. An animation and two practice problems are included. Follow that lesson with the Acceleration tutorial. Two animations and two practice problems are included with the acceleration tutorial.
Mass, Force and Acceleration - Watch as you fill out the chart to see how mass, force, and acceleration are related. When you are done, see if you can write a rule.
distinguish between mass and weight, given examples using SI units.
Your Weight on Other Worlds - This Exploratorium site gets your students' attention by showing that their weight will vary with different gravitational attraction (you will not believe what you would weigh on a Neutron star!). Then, a very good presentation of the difference between weight and mass is given.
weight and mass converter - [this link opens on a new page] After your students use this converter, perhaps you could discuss if it is appropriate to perform this type of conversion.
Mass vs. Weight - Two-thirds of the way down this page you will find a discussion of mass vs weight accompanied by practice questions
identify simple machines, given illustrations.
Simple Machines Activities: - explore the House to check understanding of this standard, then move to the Tool Shed to begin exploring compound machines ( E-Heads)
Simple Machines - An excellent overview from the Franklin Institute On-Line
Lever - attach a new mass piece or put it to another place with pressed mouse button
Move Our Principal - [this link opens on a new page] learn about the six simple machines then use their knowledge to assist their principal. (Author - Sandi King)
Pulley - Investigate mechanical advantage of a pulley with this interactive java applet
Pulley System - (raise or lower the load with the mouse) If you click on the mouse button, a spring balance will appear showing the tension in the string.
Inclined Plane - This Java applet demonstrates a motion on an inclined plane with constant velocity and the corresponding forces.
Rube Goldberg Machines - a simple machines PowerPoint show by Matt Aufman and Steve Case, University of Mississippi [23 slides]
Level 2
interpret distance-time graphs for velocity or velocity-time graphs for acceleration.
Kinematic Equations and Graphs (use of velocity-time graphs to describe the motion of objects) Six practice problems are provided, each requires the student to construct a velocity-time graph. Answers, including graphs, are provided.
Ball and Ramp Simulation - see the results of a change in initial velocity, ramp height, displacement, even gravity
calculate velocity, given distance and time; acceleration, given velocity and time; force, given mass and acceleration; work, given force and distance; or power, given work and time, using the provided formulas card.
Describing Motion with Equations - There are three components of this tutorial from the Physics Classroom; The Kinematic Equations, Kinematic Equations & Problem-Solving, and Kinematic Equations & Free Fall. These are followed by Sample Problems & Solutions
Recognizing Forces - The purpose of this activity is to practice an understanding of the various types of forces
choose the correct illustration that relates the effects of gravity on the motion of falling bodies, ocean tides or satellites.
Describing Motion with Equations - There are three components of this tutorial from the Physics Classroom; The Kinematic Equations, Kinematic Equations & Problem-Solving, and Kinematic Equations & Free Fall. These are followed by Sample Problems & Solutions
Projectile Motion - experiment with projectile motion by firing various objects out of a cannon
Projectile Motion Simulator - change a number of variables, projectiles include piano, pumpkin, Buick and others
Projectile Tutorial - You can do experimentation to discover concepts or you can check your problem-solving progress. Follow the directions below the picture depending on which one you want to do.
Level 3
recognize the simple machines found in a compound machine, given an illustration.
Simple Machines Activities - use the House as a review and then use the Tool Shed to check understanding of this standard
choose the correct scenario that illustrates the law of conservation of momentum.
recognize symbols for common elements (H, He, Li, …) or formulas for common compounds (i.e. H 2O, NaCl, CO 2, HCl, Fe 2O 3, C 6H 12O 6, NaOH), given a list.
40 Element Symbols - [these quizzes open on a new page] Learn the symbols for forty of the most common chemical elements. (three Quia quizzes): Matching | Flash Cards | Concentration
Chemical Elements and their Symbols - [these quizzes open on a new page] Learn the elements and their symbols (four Quia quizzes): Matching | Concentration | Flash Cards | Word Search
predict the behavior of an object in water, given its density.
Level
3
identify the atomic number, atomic mass, number of protons, number of neutrons, and number of electrons in an atom of a given element, using the periodic table.
ChemicalElements.com has a nice table with Internet links to sites about the elements.
Periodic Table - This common chemistry tool is presented as a PowerPoint show with web links to pages about each element. Invisible buttons are used on slide 2. (There are 109 invisible buttons on one slide.) Take a look!
identify the reactants and /or products in a chemical reaction, given a chemical equation.
Matter and Change - [this link opens on a new page] Who wants to be a millionaire? A better question is: Who wants to get an "A" on the Chapter 1 Chemistry Test? (a Quia quiz)
identify a substance as acidic, basic, or neutral, given its pH.
Acid/Bases and pH Indicators - [this link opens in a new window] pH scale information and acid/base characteristics. (a Quia quiz)
Level 2
select the reaction that is endothermic or exothermic, given the temperature change during the reaction.
Electromagnetic Wave - This animation (java applet) shows an electromagnetic wave, namely a plane polarized wave, which propagates in positive x direction.
Create standing waves with this excellent java applet. Change parameters or step the animation forward slowly while viewing the component waves to investigate interference. To isolate wave reflection, you might want to view the reflection of a single pulse.
Electromagnetic Spectrum - In this applet, you can click on the wavelength/frequency scale and change the wavelength and frequency by dragging the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Holding the shift key down while pressing the left or right arrow keys changes the wavelength by a factor of 10.
determine the temperature scale used, given the boiling and/or freezing point of water.
Thermodynamic Equilibrium - an applet designed to simulate the diffusion process which occurs when gases of different temperatures are mixed (seven experiments can be performed with this applet)
compare and contrast the four kinds of wave interactions (reflection, diffraction, refraction, and interference).
Standing Wave - Explanation by Superposition with the Reflected Wave
Explore standing waves created by waves moving in opposite direction (no reflection) with this java applet
Create standing waves (with reflection at a boundary) with this excellent java applet. Change parameters or step the animation forward slowly while viewing the component waves to investigate interference. To isolate wave reflection, you might want to view the reflection of a single pulse.
Reflection and Refraction of Light Waves [Huygens' Principle] - This applet is a tutorial which explains the reflection and the refraction of waves by the principle of Huygens.
Refraction of Light - The applet shows the reflected and the refracted ray and calculates the corresponding angles. Students can change the incident angle and the media.
Standing Wave - Explanation by Superposition with the Reflected Wave
calculate voltage, given resistance and current in a series circuit, given the formulas.
Ohm’s Law - This applet shows a simple circuit containing one resistor. In addition there is a voltmeter (parallel to the resistor) and an ammeter (in series with the resistor)
Simple AC Circuits - This Java applet shows a simple circuit consisting of an alternating voltage source and, depending on the selected radio button, a resistor (without inductivity), a capacitor or an ideal coil (without resistance).
distinguish between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, given a scenario.
select the statement that best describes the law of conservation of energy.
Motion Madness - [these quizzes open on a new page] Vocabulary words dealing with motion and energy (four Quia quizzes) Matching | Concentration | Flash Cards | Word Search
Roller Coaster WebQuest -
the differences between potential and kinetic energy, and how different variables affect roller coaster design
Level
3
calculate the amount of heat gained or lost by a substance, given the formula
Thermodynamic Equilibrium - an applet designed to simulate the diffusion process which occurs when gases of different temperatures are mixed (seven experiments can be performed with this applet)