Physics Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 10)

Push and Pull

Lesson Plan Grade: Kindergarten

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Your kindergarten students are used to moving objects. They throw balls, play with toy cars, and sweep the floor, but how much do they think about these actions? In this fun, hands-on lesson, you will use a game (rolling balls) to explore how pushing and pulling affects an object's motion. This lesson can be expanded with a second lesson exploring how objects can push each other, and how weight influences motion. Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

K-PS2-1. Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.

Rubber Bands for Energy

STEM Activity

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If you've ever been shot with a rubber band then you know it has energy in it—enough energy to smack you in the arm and cause a sting! But have you ever wondered what the relationship is between a stretched rubber band at rest and the energy it holds? The energy the rubber band has stored is related to the distance the rubber band will fly after being released. So can you guess one way to test how much energy a stretched rubber band contains? Read more

Rubbing Up Against Static Electricity

STEM Activity

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Have you ever wondered why rubbing a balloon or a blanket—or even a winter hat—on your head makes your hair stand up? The effect is due to static electricity, but how is the static electricity made, and why does it make your hair stand on end? Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charge in an object. Sometimes static electricity can suddenly discharge, such as when a bolt of lightning flashes through the sky. Other times, static electricity can cause objects to cling… Read more

Satellite Collision Detection: A Hands-On Coding Experience

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever wondered what would happen if two satellites crashed into each other in space? While space may seem empty, Earth’s orbit is actually crowded with satellites and debris. In this project, you’ll step into the role of a space engineer, using real satellite data to model orbits, track their movement, and predict potential collisions. You’ll explore how gravity and speed affect a satellite’s movement and learn how scientists use simple math and code to prevent… Read more

See Air Currents with Shadowgraphs and Schlieren Images

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever wondered what the air currents look like around a candle? What about cold air flowing around an ice cube, or warm air rising from your hand? What about when you sneeze? We are surrounded by air currents all the time, but these subtle movements are completely invisible to the human eye. In this science project, you will take advantage of small changes in air density to make air currents visible in regular photographs and videos, using techniques called shadowgraphy and schlieren… Read more

Simple Harmonic Motion in a Spring-Mass System

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Many things in nature are periodic: the seasons of the year, the phases of the moon, the vibration of a violin string, and the beating of the human heart. In each of these cases, the events occur in repeated cycles, or periods. In this project, you will investigate the periodic motion of a spring, using a mini Slinky®. You can also measure the motion of your spring using a smartphone equipped with a sensor app. Basic physics will then allow you to determine the Hooke's Law spring constant.… Read more

Sound and Vibrations 1: Rubber Band Guitar

Lesson Plan Grade: 1st

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24 reviews

Young students know that they can hear sounds, but do they know what causes sounds? In this lesson they will learn that sounds are caused by vibrations, and they will build a fun musical instrument of their own. In the Sound and Vibrations 2: Make Sprinkles Dance, students will learn that sounds can also cause vibrations. Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

1-PS4-1. Plan and conduct investigations to provide evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate.

Study Kinetic Energy with a Rube Goldberg Machine

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

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Rube Goldberg machines—machines that complete a simple task in a convoluted way—are intriguing, artistic, and fun! In this lesson, students will design and build such a machine themselves and use the concept of kinetic energy in the process. Before students start designing, they will do an experiment that explores how kinetic energy depends on the mass and the speed of the moving object. With a clear understanding of this concept, students then tackle the engineering design… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-PS3-1. Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object.
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

Sunset Colors in a Glass

STEM Activity

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71 reviews

Have you ever watched a sunset and wondered why the sky suddenly changes from blue to orange and red? Even during the day, the sky can have multiple colors ranging from bright blue to grey or white. Where do these colors come from? In this activity you will find out, and simulate your own sunset in a glass! Ready to let the sun go down? Read more

The Physics of Artificial Gravity

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

How can we make space stations with artificial gravity a reality? In this science project, you will explore the physics of creating artificial gravity with circular motion. Read more

Physics Projects, Lessons, Activities (289 results)

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