Physics Experiments

Students will use measurement tools accurately, measure circumference and diameter, linearize graphs, and analyze data using a Four-Step Analysis.

In this lesson, students will make precise measurements using the Vernier calipers, analyze data graphically, and determine density using measurements and graphs.

In this lesson, students will collect, organize, graph, and analyze motion data to develop mathematical models and make predictions.

In this lesson, students will interpret motion graphs, determine an object’s direction and velocity, predict future motion, and sketch motion over time.

In this lesson, students will learn to distinguish between average and instantaneous velocity, identify acceleration from changing velocity, and compare motion on flat surface, uphill surface, and downhill surfaces.

In this lesson, students will collect and analyze motion data to create graphs, determine acceleration, and develop the equations of motion through graphical analysis.

In this lesson, students will use Cartesian and polar coordinate systems to represent displacement vectors.  They will then measure and calculate the magnitude and direction of displacement, and determine the horizontal and vertical components of a displacement vector using mathematical and graphical methods. Students will be able to apply these skills to analyze motion and solve two-dimensional vector problems.

Students will investigate two-dimensional projectile motion using mini launchers. Through hands-on experimentation, they will recognize that projectile motion consists of independent horizontal and vertical components. Students will collect and analyze data to demonstrate that the horizontal motion remains independent of the vertical motion. They will apply this understanding to predict, measure, and explain the paths of projectiles and use their observations to solve problems involving two-dimensional motion.

In this lesson, students will use mini launchers to investigate how the launch angle affects the motion and range of a projectile. By changing the launch angle while keeping other variables constant, students will collect data on the horizontal distance traveled and use graphing software to create and analyze a Range vs. Angle graph. They will identify patterns in the data, interpret the relationship between launch angle and range, and use the graph to make evidence-based conclusions. Students will also make predictions about how far a projectile will travel at different launch angles, test those predictions through experimentation, and evaluate the accuracy of their results. 

In this lesson, students will explore how forces affect the motion of objects by identifying and analyzing balanced and unbalanced forces. They will distinguish between contact forces, such as friction and normal force, and non-contact forces, such as gravity and magnetic forces. Students will represent the forces acting on an object by creating accurate free-body diagrams and use these diagrams to determine whether the net force is balanced or unbalanced. Through observations, discussions, and problem-solving activities, students will predict how balanced and unbalanced forces influence an object's motion, reinforcing the relationship between net force and changes in velocity.

In this lesson, students will investigate how multiple forces combine to produce a single resultant force and how an equilibrant force can be used to restore a system to equilibrium. They will apply vector addition using both graphical and component methods, utilizing trigonometric functions to resolve forces into their horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components. Students will calculate the magnitude and direction of resultant and equilibrant forces and then validate their theoretical results through hands-on experimentation with a force table. 

In this lesson, students will investigate how balanced and unbalanced forces affect the motion of stationary and moving objects. Using carts, they will explore Newton's three laws of motion by examining force interactions, including action-reaction force pairs between carts of similar and different masses. Students will collect and analyze motion data by creating Force, Velocity, and Acceleration vs. Time graphs, construct free-body diagrams to represent the forces acting on a system, and use both graphical evidence and free-body diagrams to explain how net force influences motion. Through data analysis, students will demonstrate the direct relationship between force and acceleration as described by Newton's Second Law.

In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between normal force and frictional force by collecting and analyzing experimental data. They will calculate the coefficient of friction for different surface materials and compare how surface properties affect friction. Students will use their findings to explain patterns in the data, connect friction to force and motion, and explore real-world applications such as vehicle traction, sports equipment, and industrial machinery. 

In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between work, energy, and power through mathematical analysis and hands-on activities. They will calculate the work done in lifting an object and calculate the work done on an object by applying the work equation.  Then students can verify the Work-Energy Theorem by comparing the work performed to the resulting change in kinetic energy. Students will also calculate the power required to lift a mass and explore how power depends on the rate at which work is completed. Through problem-solving and data analysis, students will develop a deeper understanding of the connections between work, energy, and power.

In this lesson, students will investigate the behavior of springs by collecting force and motion data using force sensors and motion sensors. By applying a Four-Step Analysis, they will determine the mathematical relationship between the restoring force of a spring and the distance it is stretched. Students will calculate the work done to stretch the spring by analyzing the area under a Force vs. Distance graph and apply the principle of conservation of energy to relate this work to the spring's elastic potential energy. They will also create, linearize, and analyze graphs of work and energy data to determine the mathematical relationship between elastic potential energy and spring displacement. 

In this lesson, students will investigate the conservation and transformation of mechanical energy using a cart rolling down an incline. They will measure the cart's mass, velocity, and height to calculate its kinetic, potential, and total mechanical energy at different points along its path. Students will create graphs to illustrate how gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy while total mechanical energy remains nearly constant. 

In this lesson, students will investigate the principles of momentum and collisions through data collection and analysis. They will explore how changes in mass and velocity affect an object's momentum. Students will analyze collisions between objects to distinguish between elastic and inelastic collisions by examining changes in velocity. Using experimental data, they will determine whether momentum and kinetic energy are conserved during different types of collisions, 

In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between momentum and impulse through data collection and analysis. They will calculate the momentum of an object using its mass and velocity, then use graphing tools to determine the impulse of a collision by finding the area under a Force vs. Time graph. Finally, students will compare the measured impulse with the calculated change in momentum to verify the Impulse-Momentum Theorem.

In this lesson, students will investigate hydrostatic pressure and explore how the pressure within a fluid changes with depth. They will analyze the relationship between fluid depth, pressure, and the forces exerted by fluids on submerged objects. Students will apply mathematical models to solve problems involving pressure and force, using their understanding of fluid behavior to explain real-world examples of hydrostatic pressure in everyday situations and engineering applications.

In this lesson, students will investigate buoyant forces and Archimedes’ principle by measuring the apparent weight of an object as it is submerged at different depths in a column of water. They will identify the forces acting on an object in a static fluid and create free-body diagrams to represent the relationship between gravitational force, buoyant force, and other forces in the system. Students will analyze their observations to explain how fluid density affects buoyant force and how Archimedes’ principle describes the relationship between an object’s density and its ability to float or sink. 

In this lesson, students will investigate the motion of objects traveling in circular paths by collecting and analyzing data to develop mathematical, graphical, and conceptual models of circular motion. Students will use free-body diagrams to identify the forces acting on an object and determine the net force responsible for its circular motion. They will apply mathematical models to calculate unknown quantities, make predictions about an object's motion, and compare their predictions with experimental results to deepen their understanding of centripetal motion.

In this lesson, students will use video analysis and computer simulations to investigate the law of universal gravitation. They will explore how gravitational force depends on the masses of two objects and the distance between them, then derive and apply the mathematical relationship that describes this interaction. Using experimental measurements, students will determine the universal gravitational constant, G, and solve problems involving gravitational force, mass, and distance.

In this lesson, students will investigate Coulomb’s law by exploring how electric charges interact. They will identify the variables that affect electrostatic force, analyze how changes in the distance between charges influence the force, and distinguish between attractive and repulsive interactions based on the signs of the charges. Students will use mathematical models to explain the relationship between charge, distance, and electrostatic force.

In this lesson, students will explore the fundamentals of electric circuits through hands-on investigations using the Pasco modular kits. They will build and compare open and closed circuits to observe how electricity flows, examine the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance, and analyze how changes to each variable affect circuit performance. Students will also investigate electromagnetic induction and compare batteries connected in series and parallel, observing how different configurations influence the behavior and efficiency of electrical circuits. 

n this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance as described by Ohm's Law through hands-on experimentation. They will use the resistor color code chart to identify resistor values, collect and analyze voltage and current data from circuits containing different resistors, and create graphical representations of voltage-current relationships. Students will apply Ohm's Law to solve problems, make predictions about circuit behavior, and interpret how changes in resistance affect the flow of electric current.  It is strongly suggested that 6.2 Intro to Circuits lesson is completed prior to this lesson.

In this lesson, students will investigate the behavior of series and parallel circuits through hands-on circuit construction and testing using the Pasco modular kits. They will use Ohm's Law and experimental data to explain how the arrangement of circuit components affects current, voltage, and resistance. Students will compare the characteristics of series and parallel circuits, including how removing a component impacts each type of circuit.  Students should complete 6.2 Intro to Circuits and 6.3 Ohm's Law prior to attempting this lab.

In this lesson, students will investigate electrical power and energy in circuits. They will calculate the power of circuit components using the relationship between energy and time, then analyze Energy vs. Time and Power vs. Time graphs to interpret the behavior of electrical devices. Students will compare the energy supplied by a battery to the energy used by circuit components to demonstrate the conservation of energy in electrical circuits. In order to successfully complete this lesson, students should have already worked through 6.2 Intro to Circuits, 6.3 Ohm's Law, and 6.4 Series and Parallel Circuits.

In this lesson, students will investigate the fundamental properties and behavior of waves. They will compare transverse and compressional waves, explore how amplitude affects a wave, and examine constructive and destructive interference. Students will also identify the characteristic properties used to describe waves, including wavelength, frequency, and amplitude, and determine the relationship between wavelength and frequency. 

In this lesson, students will investigate standing waves on a vibrating string and explore the relationships among wavelength, frequency, and wave speed. They will identify and explain the formation of nodes and antinodes, determine the wavelength of standing waves at different frequencies, and calculate wave speed using mathematical models.

In this lesson, students will investigate the properties and behaviors of sound waves through experimentation and data analysis. They will use computer simulation data and the wave equation to calculate the speed of sound in air and analyze how changes in air temperature affect the speed of sound. They will also explore the Doppler effect and explain how the relative motion between a sound source and observer causes an apparent change in pitch. 

In this lesson, students will investigate the fundamental behaviors and properties of light, including reflection, refraction, diffraction, and total internal reflection. They will compare different types of mirrors and lenses, analyze the images they produce, and use the mirror/lens equation to predict image locations. Students will explore real-world applications of light phenomena, such as fiber optics, and investigate how white light can be separated into its visible colors and how red, green, and blue light combine to produce other colors. They will also examine the relationship between light intensity and distance using the inverse square law and compare the characteristics of different types of electromagnetic radiation.