Quick and Easy Physics

Demos and Labs

PRESENTED BY:
Catherine Charnawskas-Jasionowicz
and
Margaret Milligan-Joye
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Demos
Laser Light Show

Pressure versus Temperature

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Demos
Science Doesnt Suck

Rotational Momentum
Demos
LED Color Mixer

Rotational Momentum