Quick and Easy Physics Demos and Labs

1
Quick and Easy Physics Demos and Labs

• PRESENTED BY
• Catherine Charnawskas-Jasionowicz
• and
• Margaret Milligan-Joye

2
Balloon Rockets P3

• Question Why does a released balloon move?
• Materials Balloons, straws, string
• State Objectives
• P3.1A Identify the force(s) acting between
  objects in direct contact or at a distance.
• P3.1d Identify the basic forces in everyday
  interactions
• P3.2A Identify the magnitude and direction of
  everyday forces.
• P3.3A Identify the action and reaction force
  from example of forces in everyday situation.

3
Law of Inertia P3

• Question How does Newtons First Law work and
  what role does Inertia play?
• Materials Aluminum Pie Pan, Scissors, and Marble
• State Objectives
• P3.4A Predict the change in motion of an object
  acted on by several forces.
• P3.4D Identify the force(s) acting on objects
  moving with uniform circular motion.

4
Vector Treasure Hunt P1

• Question Can Vectors be added together in any
  order?
• Materials Index Cards, Meter sticks, large
  space, map
• State Objectives
• P1.1C conduct scientific investigations using
  appropriate tools and techniques.
• P1.1E Describe a reason for a given conclusion
  using evidence from an investigation.
• P1.1g Based on empirical evidence, explain and
  critique the reasoning used to draw a scientific
  conclusion or explanation.

5
Parachute Men P3

• Question How does air resistance affect
  free-fall?
• Materials Parachute men
• State Objectives
• P1.1f Predict what would happen if the
  variables, methods, or timing of an investigation
  were changed.
• P3.1A Identify the forces acting between objects
  in direct contact or at a distance.
• P3.2A Identify the magnitude and direction of
  everyday forces.
• P3.4A Predict the change in motion of an object
  acted on by several forces.

6
Make your Own Density Lab
P1

• Question What affects the density of an object?
• Materials water, beakers, density blocks
• State Objectives
• P1.1C conduct scientific investigations using
  appropriate tools and techniques.
• P1.1E Describe a reason for a given conclusion
  using evidence from an investigation.
• P1.1g Based on empirical evidence, explain and
  critique the reasoning used to draw a scientific
  conclusion or explanation.

7
Egg Toss P4

• Question How far can you throw an egg before it
  breaks?
• Materials raw eggs, garbage bags, nylon rope,
  100 ft tape measure, scissors, tape, safety
  glasses
• State Objectives
• P3.4g Explain how the time of impact can affect
  the net force.
• P4.1B Explain instances of energy transfer by
  waves and objects in everyday activities.
• P4.2A Account for and represent transfer and
  transformation in complex processes
  (interactions)

8
Wheres My Mirror P1 P4

• Question Can you use mirrors to bend light?
• Materials laser pen, small plane mirrors
• State Objectives
• P1.1h Design and conduct a systematic scientific
  investigation that test a hypothesis.
• P1.1f Predict what would happen if the
  variables, methods, or timing of an investigation
  were changed.
• P1.2A Critique whether or not specific questions
  can be answered through scientific
  investigations.
• P4.8A Draw ray diagrams to indicate how light
  reflects off objects or refracts into transparent
  media.
• P4.8B Predict the path of reflected light from
  flat, curved, or rough surfaces.

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Whats a Boomwhacker? P4

• Question What affects sound?
• Materials Boomwhackers (www.arborsci.com)
• State Objectives
• P4.4A Describe specific mechanical waves in
  terms of wavelength, amplitude, frequency, and
  speed.
• P4.5A Identify everyday examples of energy
  transfer by waves and their sources.
• P4.5C Provide evidence to support the claim that
  sound is energy transferred by a wave, not energy
  transferred by particles.

10
Tuning Forks P4

• Question What affects sound?
• Materials Tuning forks, rubber mallets
• State Objectives
• P4.4B Identify everyday examples of transverse
  and compression (longitudinal) waves.
• P4.5C Provide evidence to support the claim that
  sound is energy transferred by a wave, not energy
  transferred by particles.
• P4.5D Explain how waves propagate from vibrating
  sources and why the intensity decreases with the
  square of the distance from a point source.

11
Wave Tanks (on a budget)
P4

• Question How do waves move?
• Materials wave tanks, water, piece of flat
  metal, pencil, wooden blocks, pieces of glass
• State Objectives
• P4.4A Describe specific mechanical waves in
  terms of wavelength, amplitude, frequency, and
  speed.
• P4.4d Demonstrate that frequency and wavelength
  of a wave are inversely proportional in a given
  medium.
• P4.8c Describe how two wave pulses propagated
  from opposite ends of a demonstration spring
  interact as they meet.

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Demos

• Energy Ball
• Newtons Tablecloth Several beakers, flat paper
  towel (or a smooth tablecloth), steady hands ?
• Set-up Stack the beakers on top of the smooth
  paper towel.
• Discussion Why dont the beakers come crashing
  down?

13
Demos

• Laser Light Show
• Pressure versus Temperature

14
Marshmallow Projectiles
P2

• Question How far can you launch a marshmallow?
• Materials PVC pipe, marshmallow, meter stick,
  stop watch
• State Objectives
• P2.1E Describe and classify various motions in a
  plane as one dimensional, two dimensional,
  circular, or periodic.
• P2.1h Identify the changes in speed and
  direction in everyday examples of circular,
  periodic, and projectile motion.
• P2.2g Apply the independence of the vertical and
  horizontal initial velocities to solve projectile
  motion problems.

15
Coffee Filter Lab P2

• Question How do coffee filters fall?
• Materials coffee filters, high spot to drop
  them
• State Objectives
• P3.4A Predict the change in motion of an object
  acted on by several forces.
• P3.4C Solve problems involving force, mass, and
  acceleration in linear motion.
• P2.2A distinguish between the variables of
  distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and
  acceleartion.

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Delivering a Payload
P1 P3

• Question Can you design a device to carry
  pennies?
• Materials balloons, straws, string, pennies,
  index cards, tape, meter stick, scale, calculator
• State Objectives
• P3.1A Identify the force(s) acting between
  objects in direct contact or at a distance.
• P3.1d Identify the basic forces in everyday
  interactions
• P3.2A Identify the magnitude and direction of
  everyday forces.
• P3.3A Identify the action and reaction force
  from example of forces in everyday situation.

17
Egg Drop P3

• Question Can you safely drop an egg?
• Materials computer paper, straws, popsicle
  sticks, string, tape, rubber bands, eggs
• State Objectives
• Note This activity is used at the beginning of
  the year in to introduce students to the
  scientific method, developing a hypothesis, and
  writing in science. It could be modified to work
  directly with objectives in Standard P3 Forces
  and Motion to include more calculations.

18
How Dense are You?

• Question What floats better regular or diet?
• Materials Small tank, regular soda, diet soda,
  water
• State Objectives
• P1.1C conduct scientific investigations using
  appropriate tools and techniques.
• P1.1E Describe a reason for a given conclusion
  using evidence from an investigation.
• P1.2B Identify and critique arguments about
  personal or societal issues based on scientific
  evidence.

19
Physics 500 P1
P2

• Question How does velocity change when your
  movement changes?
• Materials Meterstick, stop watch, tape
• State Objectives
• P2.1A Calculate the average speed of an object
  using the change of position and elapsed time.
• P2.1C Create a line graph using measured values
  of position and elapsed time.
• P2.1g Solve problems involving average speed and
  constant acceleration in one dimension.

20
Color Turbine P4

• Question What happens when we add light?
• Materials black cardboard, blue, red, and green
  foamboard, ziplock baggies, scissors
• State Objectives
• P4.9B Explain how various materials reflect,
  absorb, or transmit light in different ways.

21
Blinkie Eyes P1 P4

• Question Can you make an LED blink?
• Materials 3 V Coin Battery,Paper Clip,2 LED
  lights,1 Pipe Clear,Electrical tape and/or Glue
  Dots,Soldering Wire or Guitar Wire , Wire
  Cutters,Pliers,Scotch Tape (optional)
• State Objectives
• P4.10C Given diagrams of many different possible
  connections of electric circuit elements,
  identify complete circuits, open circuits, and
  short circuits and explain the reasons for the
  classification.

22
Light the Bulb P1 P4

• Question How many ways can you light a bulb?
• Materials batteries (C or D), wire, small bulbs
• State Objectives
• P4.10C Given diagrams of many different possible
  connections of electric circuit elements,
  identify complete circuits, open circuits, and
  short circuits and explain the reasons for the
  classification.

23
Mousetrap and Simple Machines

• Question What can simple machines let us do?
• Materials Mousetrap games
• State Objectives
• Simple Machine objectives are now at the middle
  school level. This activity was used with high
  school students on a day before a break or at the
  end of the year.

24
Rube Goldberg

• Question How difficult can you make a simple
  task?
• Materials Imagination
• State Objectives
• Simple Machine objectives are now at the middle
  school level. This activity was used with high
  school students as an extra credit activity
  towards the end of the term.

25
Demos

• Science Doesnt Suck
• Rotational Momentum

26
Demos

• LED Color Mixer
• Rotational Momentum