Hands-on Physics
The Little Shop of Physics at Colorado State is not horrorific at all...
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The Little Shop of Physics at Colorado State is not horrorific at all. It contains 60 experiments which use hand-on materials and computers. Students can explore their "blind spot", for instance.
At INEL is a single physics application--the physics of seatbelts. It will impress your students with the power of cars.
Unsolved mysteries of physics, attacked by Stephen Hawking, can be found at WNET.
Atomic physics also includes bio-chemistry. The site is in both English and francais.
Even without prior study, some students harbor a "Fear" of Physics. This site can dispel some confusion anyway, such as why satellites don't fall to the earth and how seesaws work.
BasketMath, interactive basketball in both English and Spanish, will motivate most students.
More than 2000 years ago the Greek scientist Eratosthenes first measured the circumference of the earth with an ingenious technique requiring only sticks, shadows and a little mathematics. In Spring 2005 in celebration of Einstein's announcement of relativity students at separate high schools can collaborate to recreate this experiment. Vist the World Year of Physics (click on teachers) to register your class. This experiment will be on the largest scale ever conducted!
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Such a combination of hands-on and computer activity is just beginning to appear. It is a more realistic approach to learning than either approach alone. Doubtlessly, part of the momentum for such a synthesis derives from the home-schooling movement.
