Dollar Store Single Function Signal Generator
In this activity, students use a solar-powered model, such as the dancing flowers often sold at discount variety stores. They carefully disassemble the plastic housing and attach a sensor to the capacitor, then use probe ware to graph the voltage across the capacitor.
Investigating Phenomena: How Can You Balance an Object?
Carolina Phenomenon Phenomena-driven science! Phenomena are observable, naturally occurring events that are everywhere and spark student questions and investigations. Ask students to observe the DCI-linked phenomenon in the video and complete the attached student sheet prior to remote learning discussions. Observations: Carefully watch the balancing bird video. Gather all the evidence you can from the video, and […]
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 […]
Make the Invisible Visible
Detecting IR Light with a Smart Phone The sun actually sends out more light than the part we see. Just past visible violet light is ultraviolet (UV) light, and just past visible red light is infrared (IR) light. Neither is visible to the human eye. Infrared light does not depend on visible light–IR light can […]
Summer Science Enrichment and Recovery
Are you planning high school summer science opportunities? Carolina offers technique-based activities for students who love lab work. Science enrichment Many students look forward to a summer science camp. A week or more is ideal, but some students just don’t have the time or resources for that kind of science camp experience. Alternatively, students may […]
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 […]
The Conical Pendulum
An Experiment in Circular Motion and Centripetal Acceleration The conical pendulum lab allows students to investigate the physics and mathematics of uniform circular motion. A motorized, plastic plane* is suspended from a thin string and “flies” in a circular path with a constant speed. The plane and the supporting string trace a conical pendulum. Students […]
A Brief Overview of Gravity and Gravitational Force
An introduction to Newton’s Law of Gravitation, specetime geometry, and quantum gravity. Gravity The word gravity has many definitions. As defined by dictionary.com, gravity means “the force of attraction by which terrestrial bodies tend to fall toward the center of the earth,” or “heaviness or weight,” or “serious or critical nature,” among other definitions (Dictionary.com, […]
Derivation of the Kinematics Equation
High school physics courses usually begin with a study of classical mechanics. Early in the course students are introduced to the equations of motion, the kinematics equations. Kinematics Kinematics is the study of the motion of objects without concern for the forces causing the motion. These familiar equations allow students to analyze and predict the […]