Physics & Chemistry/Physics/General Physics

Build an Earthquake Machine

Earthquakes are awe-inspiring. But the destruction, confusion, and injury associated with them often overshadow important classroom discussion about how these phenomena actually occur. By understanding what causes earthquakes, children can think critically about ways that scientists can work to prevent future damage from natural disasters. In this activity your class will build and explore a […]

The Problem With Superman, and Other Physics Conundrums

Convection Can Be Pretty

Snotty Plots: How Do You Graph a Sneeze?

Squishy Circuits

Balloon Rockets

This lesson and activity is part of the Chemical Educational Foundation’s® award-winning You Be The Chemist® Activity Guides, a free resource for educators and parents who want to introduce students in grades K-8 to chemistry and science concepts in a fun, hands-on manner. Learn more at www.chemed.org   Target Grades: 5-8   Content Areas: Physical Science Activity […]

Physics Secrets for Hula Hooping

Introduction Have you ever spent time spinning a hula hoop around your waist or arm? Could you easily do it, or was it difficult? Have you ever wondered how hula hoops work, or, in other words, what makes them able to spin around a person's waist or arm? It comes down to the physics that […]

How Tails Help a Kite to Fly

Introduction Have you ever tried to build your own kite? Kites have been a source of entertainment for centuries for kids around the world. How do some features of a kite, such as its tail, affect how it flies? In this activity you will have a chance to build your very own kite—a simple sled […]

Lovely Leidenfrost

Target Grades: 8th-12th Content Areas: Chemistry, Physical Science Activity Type: Experiment, Data Analysis NGSS:  HS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4 CCSS: ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3 If a liquid is slowly heated in a pan past its boiling point, it usually steams, eventually evaporating away. The Leidenfrost effect describes a phenomenon where a liquid heated past its boiling point doesn’t evaporate, but rather silently glides on the […]

Lovely Leidenfrost

Target Grades: 8th-12th Content Areas: Chemistry, Physical Science Activity Type: Experiment, Data Analysis NGSS:  HS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4 CCSS: ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3 If a liquid is slowly heated in a pan past its boiling point, it usually steams, eventually evaporating away. The Leidenfrost effect describes a phenomenon where a liquid heated past its boiling point doesn’t evaporate, but rather silently glides on the […]