Ring and Disc Demonstration
The ring and disc investigation is a classic physics demonstration designed to introduce the concepts of rotational inertia, rotational motion, and rolling motion. Both the disc and the ring have the same diameter, width, and mass. When simultaneously released from rest at the same point on an inclined plane, the disc accelerates faster, reaching the […]
A Model of Interacting Fields
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 30 mins Activity: 30-45 mins Physical Science, Physics Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Data Observations Analysis Resources Kit Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Data Observations Analysis Resources Kit Introduction This activity is a […]
Earth’s Gravitational Field
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 30 mins Physical Science, Earth and Space Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Looking at Earth’s gravitational field […]
Newton’s Laws, Friction, and Hovercraft
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 60 mins Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 30 mins Physical Science 6-12 Middle/High School Total Time: 60 minutes [ Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 30 mins ] Subject: Physical Science Grade: Middle and High School Overview Students can engineer a simple hovercraft that illustrates Newton’s laws of motion and […]
The Physics of Vision
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 30 mins Prep: 10 mins | Activity: 20 mins Physical Science 8-12 Middle/High School Total Time: 30 minutes [ Prep: 10 mins | Activity: 20 mins ] Subject: Physical Science Grade: Middle and High School Overview Understanding vision requires a knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology. This activity emphasizes […]
A Model for Heat Capacity of Metals
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 60-70 mins Prep: 15 mins | Activity: 45-55 mins Physical Science | Chemistry 9-12 High School Overview This simple activity models how kinetic energy is transformed into heat or thermal energy on the particle level. Additionally, by comparing data for 3 different metals—aluminum, copper, and lead—students construct a model […]
Newton’s Law of Cooling
Newton’s law of cooling states that the rate at which an object cools is proportional to the difference in temperature between the object and the object’s surroundings. Simply put, a glass of hot water will cool down faster in a cold room than in a hot room. This simple principle is relatively easy to prove, and the experiment has repeatable and reproducible results.
Hydrogen Spectrum Activity
Objective To observe hydrogen’s emission spectrum and to verify that the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom accounts for the line positions in hydrogen’s emission spectrum. Introduction Bohr’s model of the atom explains hydrogen’s spectrum but does not satisfactorily explain atoms that have more than 1 electron and proton and is, therefore, not the currently […]
Egg Vacuum Activity
If you are looking for an attention-getting demonstration of the gas laws for physical science students at any grade level, this is it. Basic equipment includes a hard-boiled egg, an Erlenmeyer flask, and burning piece of paper. Materials needed Erlenmeyer Flask, 1 L, narrow mouth Egg, hard-boiled, shell removed Paper Lighter Tongs Safety Goggles Gloves […]
Optics of the Human Eye
Background Geometric optics explains how optical devices (such as lenses and mirrors) create images by considering that light travels in rays, which are straight lines emanating from a light source or reflected from an object. A ray diagram is a useful tool in geometric optics; it describes images formed by lenses or mirrors. A ray […]