Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications

This comprehensive collection of nearly 200 investigations, demonstrations, mini-labs, and other activities uses everyday examples to make physics concepts easy to understand. For quick access, materials are organized into eight units covering Measurement, Motion, Force, Pressure, Energy & Momentum, Waves, Light, and Electromagnetism. Each lesson contains an introduction with common knowledge examples, reproducible pages for students, a "To the Teacher" information section, and a listing of additional applications students can relate to. Over 300 illustrations add interest and supplement instruction. About the Authors.

About the Resource.

UNIT ONE: MEASUREMENT.

Units.

Indirect Measurement.

Scaling.

UNIT TWO: MOTION.

Center of Mass.

Inertia.

Velocity and Acceleration.

Periodic Motion.

UNIT THREE: FORCE.

Force.

Buoyant Force.

Friction.

Torque.

UNIT FOUR: PRESSURE.

Air Pressure.

Vapor Pressure.

Fluid Pressure.

Fluids in Motion.

UNIT FIVE: ENERGY AND MOMENTUM.

Work and Power.

Potential and Kinetic Energy.

Momentum.

Machines.

UNIT SIX: WAVES.

Waves.

Sound.

Transmission of Sound.

Frequency and Wavelength of Sound.

Wave Properties of Sound.

UNIT SEVEN: LIGHT.

Reflection.

Refraction.

Interference and Diffraction.

Polarization.

Optics.

Color.

UNIT EIGHT: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM.

Electrostatics.

Circuits.

Magnetism.

Electromagnetism.

Appendix.

Index of concepts to investigate..

ABOUT THE AUTHORS James Cunningham (Ph.D., Science Education, Syracuse University) is professor of science and computer education and Chair of the Department of Secondary Education at California State University, Northridge. Formerly Chair of the Departments of Science and Mathematics in Washington state high schools, he is author of Teaching Metrics Simplified and co-author of BASIC for Teachers and Authoring Educational Software.

Norman Herr (Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles) is associate professor of science and computer education at California State University, Northridge and served as Chair of the Science Department in a California High School. He has also worked as a chemist, community college science instructor, and consultant for the College Board, and has written many science education articles.

HANDS-ON PHYSICS ACTIVITIES WITH REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS

This comprehensive collection of nearly 200 investigations, demonstrations, mini-labs, and other activities uses everyday examples to make physics concepts easy to understand. It is part of the two-volume PHYSICAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM LIBRARY, which includes Hands-On Physics Activities and Hands-On Chemistry Activities.

For easy use, this resource is organized into the eight units of study listed below. Each unit offers a variety of activities designed to provide interaction between students and their world in a way that encourages scientific reasoning.

• Measurement
• Motion
• Force
• Pressure
• Energy and Momentum
• Waves
• Light
• Electromagnetism

Each easy-to-follow lesson format contains a concise introduction using common knowledge examples... reproducible pages for students...a "To the Teacher" information section...and a separate listing of additional, specific applications that students can relate to.

More than 300 illustrations supplement instruction, add interest, and heighten the learning process. Also included is a handy appendix that contains listings of physical quantities and their units, common conversions, units of pressure, and more.

And as a special help, each lesson provides complete answer keys and enough detailed explanation to ensure success for even the inexperienced science teacher.

You'll find Hands-on Physics Activities can be used to supplement any physical science textbook or as a stand-alone physics program in itself. However you use it, these activities will help you inject new vitality into your curriculum.