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PHYSICS INTERNET RESOURCES
| The following Internet sites relate to the Physics curriculum.
These sites contain resources, lesson plans, pictures, videos,
current science data, and information that may be useful to
you and/or your students. Many of the sites have links to
other sites related to the Physics core. This page will always
be under construction. We hope the links you find here will
be valuable as you search for information that correlates
with the State Core. If you know of any sites that should
be mentioned on this page PLEASE email the URL's to Clint
Stephens. Thanks! |
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Students will understand how to measure, calculate, and describe the motion of an object in terms of position, time, velocity, and acceleration. |
Objective 1: Describe the motion of an object in terms of position, time, and velocity. (Core Indicators)
Objective 2: Analyze the motion of an object in terms of velocity, time, and acceleration. (Core Indicators)
Objective 3: Relate the motion of objects to a frame of reference. (Core Indicators)
Objective 4: Use Newton's first law to explain the motion of an object. (Core Indicators)
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Science language students should use: |
position, time, speed, velocity, acceleration, distance, displacement, rate, instantaneous velocity, average velocity, frame of reference, balanced forces |
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Science Benchmark
Objects in the universe interact with one another by way of forces. Changes in the motion of an object are proportional to the sum of the forces, and inversely proportional to the mass. If one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object always exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object. Whenever a force is applied to an object there is an equal and opposite reaction force.
Any two objects in the universe with mass exert equal and opposite gravitational forces on one another. The electromagnetic force is manifested as an electric force, a magnetic force, or a combination. Any two objects in the universe with a net electric charge exert equal and opposite electric forces on one another. While gravitational forces are always attractive, electromagnetic forces can be either attractive or repulsive.
Friction, tension, compression, spring, gravitational, and normal forces are all common observable forces. The net force on an object is the vector sum of all the forces acting upon the object.
STANDARD II: |
Students will understand the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. |
Objective 1: Analyze forces acting on an object. (Core Indicators)
Objective 2: U sing Newton's second law, relate the force, mass, and acceleration of an object. (Core Indicators)
Objective 3: Explain that forces act in pairs as described by Newton's third law. (Core Indicators)
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Students will understand the factors determining the strength of gravitational and electric forces. |
Objective 1: Relate the strength of the gravitational force to the distance between two objects and the mass of the objects (i.e., Newton's law of universal gravitation). (Core Indicators)
- What is Mass? - from the Qualitative Reasoning Group, Northwestern University. The difference between mass and weight is discussed.
- How Does Gravity Work? - from How Stuff Works. The gravity formula is explained, along with the difference between Newton's gravity & Einstein's gravity.
- Why Gravity Causes Things to Fall - from FearOfPhysics. Has movies of a tennis ball falling from different heights (Empire State Bldg., Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) with a brief explanation of the acceleration of gravity.
- Why do mass and distance affect gravity? - from the Qualitative Reasoning Group, Northwestern University. A nice simple discussion of the topic, along with gravitons and links like is there gravity in space? and how does gravity work in space?
- Is Gravity a Particle or a Wave? - from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. This question is addressed by Kurt Riesselmann, a resident Physicist at the lab.
- Physics of the Pole Vault. Discusses force, mass, and acceleration variables along with potential & kinetic energy & gravity.
- Deep Impact - from NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs. Detailed information, background, and resources about a mission to crash a probe into a comet in July, 2005 and observe the outcome.
Objective 2: Describe the factors that affect the electric force (i.e., Coulomb's law). (Core Indicators)
- Electricity & Static Electricity - from Science Made Simple. A basic discussion of why you can get a balloon to stick to a wall and your hair stands up when you take off a wool hat. Easy activities are included, along with the triboelectric series.
- Charge Interactions - from The Physics Classroom. A nice discussion of how like and unlike charges attract & repel. Links to related animations are here.
- Coulomb's Law - from Texas Tech. An activity that gives a qualitative and quantitative explanation of Coulomb's law.
- Coulomb's Law - from Michigan State University. A brief explanation of the formula, how it relates to gravity, and example problems with solutions.
- Information on electric forces in everyday applications found in both nature and technology:
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Science language students should use: |
force, electric force, electric charge, friction, gravitational force, mass, net force, normal force, weight, vector, vector diagram |
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Science Benchmark
The total energy of the universe is constant; however, the total amount of energy available for useful transformation is almost always decreasing. Energy can be converted from one form to another and move from one system to another. Transformation of energy usually produces heat that spreads to cooler places by radiation, convection, or conduction. Energy can be classified as potential or kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy and includes chemical, gravitational, electrostatic, elastic, and nuclear. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
Moving electric charges produce magnetic forces and moving magnets produce electric forces. The interplay of electric and magnetic forces is the basis for electric motors, generators, and many other modern technologies, including the production of electromagnetic waves. Modern electric generators produce electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Sound and light transfer energy from one location to another as waves. Characteristics of waves include wavelength, amplitude, and frequency. Waves can combine with one another, bend around corners, reflect off surfaces, be absorbed by materials they enter, and change direction when entering a new material. All these effects vary with wavelength. Observable waves include mechanical and electromagnetic waves. Mechanical waves transport energy through a medium. Electromagnetic radiation is differentiated by wavelength or frequency, and includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, and gamma rays. These wavelengths vary from radio waves (the longest) to gamma rays (the shortest). In empty space all electromagnetic waves move at the same speed, the "speed of light."
STANDARD IV: |
Students will understand transfer and conservation of energy. |
Objective 1: Determine kinetic and potential energy in a system. (Core Indicators)
Objective 2: Describe conservation of energy in terms of systems. (Core Indicators)
Objective 3: Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy. (Core Indicators)
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Students will understand the properties and applications of waves. |
Objective 1: Demonstrate an understanding of mechanical waves in terms of general wave properties. (Core Indicators)
- The Anatomy of a Wave - from The Physics Classroom. Differentiates between period, frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of waves. Includes quiz questions for review.
- Behavior of Waves: Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction - from The Physics Classroom.
- Waves, Sound, & Light - from Multimedia Physics Studios. A variety of examples & animations of all types of waves.
- The Speed of a Wave - from The Physics Classroom. Speed, wavelength & frequency of waves is compared.
- Wave Interference - A nice little Shockwave simulator where you can set the initial waveforms and it will show the constructive & destructive interference.
- Why is the sky blue? - from Fermi National Accelerator Lab. This classic question is discussed, along with reflection, refraction, absorption, etc.
- The Doppler Effect - from Ask Dr. Math. The effect is explained and links to additional resources are included.
- Waves & Oscillations - from the University of Glasgow. Discusses energy transmission by waves through a medium.
Objective 2: Describe the nature of electromagnetic radiation and visible light. (Core Indicators)
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Science language students should use: |
energy, potential energy, kinetic energy, law of conservation of energy, wave, mechanical wave, electromagnetic wave, electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, period, reflection, refraction, diffraction, Doppler effect, elastic potential energy, medium, radio wave, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma ray, conduction, convection, radiation |
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| NOTE: The following sites have a large amount
of information, demonstrations and links to general physics
sites.
- Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics - A great site that provides a rating system for the physics in movies (GP - Good Physics in general, PGP - Pretty Good Physics with enough flaws to make it fun, etc.). Also gives critiques and points out errors in many films.
- Physics 2000 - An interactive journey through modern physics.
- EnergyQuest is a fun resource for all of your energy questions. From the California Energy Commission.
- How Stuff Works. If you have never been to this site, you need to explore it. Many questions can be answered here.
- Fear of Physics. Visual Physics animations, homework help, and a physics dictionary make this a great stop.
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab - Inquiring Minds. The Physicists of the lab answer many questions regarding Physics. You can ask your own question - just tell them your age or profession to help them frame their response.
- Heisenberg - Here is some food for thought.
- Energy Information Administration has a multitude of data sources on any energy source in the US. Great for research.
- The
PZone is a great general physics resource, and is a
great resource to point students. The site is very modern,
and has a multimedia theater, and information on just about
any physics subject.
- Simulator of motion, gravity, and friction, along with other cool
java applets.
- The
Internet Pilot to Physics Here you will find a huge
amount of information, demonstrations, and links to other
physics sites.
- Visual
Physics This site implements animated demonstrations
in a user friendly environment to simulate physics problems
in the real world.
- Physics
Demonstrations This site contains many ideas for demonstrations
and labs.
- The
Physics Hypertextbook A collection of physics-related
links organized by topic: mechanics, matter, thermodynamics,
wave phenomena, electricity and magnetism, modern physics,
etc.
- Multimedia
Physics Studio For high school physics students--animations
and explanations of major physics concepts.
- NTNU
Virtual Physics Laboratory
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under Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.
This document may be freely distributed in its entirety for non-profit
purposes provided that the copyright notice is not removed. If you
have questions concerning proper use of this material, or if you
are interested in obtaining permission, contact the Curriculum Section
Reception Desk at 801-538-7698. This document was submitted for
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