Unit 1: Energy of Motion Frames of Reference · Speed and Distance/Time Graphs · Inertia and Net Forces · Energy Transfer via Friction · Mass and Acceleration · Collisions and Newton's Third Law 23 sims
Topic 2
Speed and Distance/Time Graphs
Position Time Graphs
Walk toward and away from a motion sensor and match a position graph.
Animal Motion
Film an animal crossing the savanna and work out its speed.
Constant Velocity Car
Load a toy car with masses and measure how far it goes each second.
The Moving Man
Walk a man back and forth and graph his position and velocity.
Topic 3
Inertia and Net Forces
Topic 4
Energy Transfer via Friction
How Friction Affects Speed
Roll a car down a ramp onto four surfaces and time how far it goes.
Does Friction Create Heat
Rub your hands together and measure how much warmer they get.
Determining How Mass Affects Friction
Load a tray with masses and compare the starting and sliding force.
Kinetic Energy and Stopping Distance
Release a car from different heights and see how far it pushes a box.
Friction
Rub two books together and watch atoms heat up and break off.
Topic 5
Mass and Acceleration
Topic 6
Collisions and Newton's Third Law
Poker Chip Inertia
Slide chips into a stack and count how many get knocked out.
Balloon Rocket
Blow up balloons of different sizes and measure how far they fly.
Bouncing Ball
Drop a ball from different heights and measure the first bounce.
Ramp Collision Lab
Roll one car into another and measure how far the second car goes.
Inertia and Collisions
Tap a rolling lab car and watch what a loose poker chip does.
Crumple Zone Lab
Design crumple zones, seat belts and airbags, then crash test the car.
Newton's 3rd Law: Spring Scale Pull
Pull two spring scales against each other and compare the forces.
Collision Lab
Crash balls of different masses and see momentum conserved.
Unit 2: Gravity & Energy Related to Position Gravitational Potential Energy · Universal Law of Gravity · Gravitational Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy 9 sims
Topic 1
Gravitational Potential Energy
Topic 2
Universal Law of Gravity
Topic 3
Gravitational Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy
Hot Wheels Potential Energy
Pick a release height and see if the car makes it over the hill.
Roller Coaster Physics
Build a toy car coaster that reaches the egg without breaking it.
Coaster Creator
Design hills and loops with enough energy to finish, then stop safely.
Sled Energy and Collisions
Sled a polar bear down a hill into another bear. Where does the energy go?
Energy Skate Park
Change the skater's mass, add friction and graph the energy.
Pendulum Lab
Swing a pendulum and watch potential energy turn into kinetic.
Unit 3: Electricity & Magnetism Magnetism · Electromagnetic Fields 7 sims
Topic 1
Magnetism
Topic 2
Electromagnetic Fields
Circuit Builder
Drag a battery, bulb and wires onto the bench and complete the loop.
Circuit Construction Kit: DC
Build circuits with batteries, bulbs, wires and switches.
Magnets and Electromagnets
Add loops and current to make a stronger electromagnet.
Faraday's Law
Push a magnet through a coil of wire and light a bulb.
Generator
Use running water to spin a magnet and make electricity.
Balloons and Static Electricity
Rub a balloon on a sweater and see its charge pull on a wall.
Unit 4: Waves Transmitting Energy & Information Intro to Wave Properties · Light Waves · Waves & Information Technology 9 sims
Topic 1
Intro to Wave Properties
Topic 2
Light Waves
Bending Light
Aim a laser into water and glass and watch the light bend.
Color Vision
Mix red, green and blue light and see what color the eye sees.
Geometric Optics: Basics
Move lenses and mirrors to bend light and make an image.
Molecules and Light
See what microwaves, infrared and UV light do to molecules.
Topic 3
Waves & Information Technology
Unit 5: Thermal Energy & Heat Flow Energy Transfer and Temperature · Changes in Energy at the Molecular Level · Phase Changes and Energy Transfer 11 sims
Topic 1
Energy Transfer and Temperature
Heat Conduction Lab
Join hot and cold water with a rod and see how fast heat moves through it.
Heating Water
Heat different amounts of water on a hot plate and graph the temperature.
Hot vs Cold Diffusion Lab
Drop dye into hot and cold water and see which mixes faster.
Energy Forms and Changes
Heat and cool iron, brick, water and oil and watch energy flow.
Topic 2
Changes in Energy at the Molecular Level
Topic 3
Phase Changes and Energy Transfer
Freezing Point of Stearic Acid
Let melted stearic acid cool and graph what happens as it freezes.
Phase Changes
Heat or cool water and watch it melt, boil and freeze up close.
Pressure and Phase Changes
Heat it, squeeze it or pump in molecules and watch the phase diagram.
States of Matter
Heat, cool and squeeze molecules and follow the phase diagram.
Unit 6: Chemical Energy & Reactions Molecular Composition · Physical and Chemical Properties · Conservation of Matter · Synthetic vs. Natural 12 sims
Topic 1
Molecular Composition
Topic 2
Physical and Chemical Properties
Density Block Lab
Put blocks of different materials on a balance and find their density.
Flame Test Demo
Heat a salt in a flame and use the color to name the metal.
Density
Find the mass and volume of blocks to work out their density.
Reactions and Rates
Collide molecules and see what makes a reaction speed up.
Topic 3
Conservation of Matter
Rates of Chemical Reactions
Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into warm or cold water and time the fizz.
pH / Endo-Exo Reactions
Test the pH, then mix reactants and see if they give off or take in heat.
Chemical Changes Lab
Mix two substances and look for signs of a chemical change.
Balancing Chemical Equations
Change the numbers in front of each formula so atoms balance.
Reactants, Products and Leftovers
Make sandwiches and molecules and count what is left over.