Students will better their fingerspelling skills by making a short story with their lab mates. In the main activity, students will play a game, while learning about physical descriptions and additional information about a person.
To understand how fossils are formed, students model the process of fossilization by making fossils using small toy figures and melted chocolate. They extend their knowledge to the many ways that engineers aid in the study of fossils, including the development of tools and technologies for determining the physical and chemical properties of fossilized organisms, and how those properties tell a story of our changing world.
Students explore electromagnetism and engineering concepts using optimization techniques to design an efficient magnetic launcher. Groups start by algebraically solving the equations of motion for the velocity at the time when a projectile leaves a launcher. Then they test three different launchers, in which the number of coils used is different, measuring the range and comparing the three designs. Based on these observations, students record similarities and differences and hypothesize on the underling physics. They are introduced to Faraday's law and Lenz's law to explain the physics behind the launcher. Students brainstorm how these principals might be applied to real-world engineering problems.
Organisms interact with the living and nonliving features within their environment which creates a cause and
effect relationship among populations in the ecosystem. Individual survival and population sizes depend on
factors, such as predation, availability of resources, and parameters of the physical environment (light,
temperature, space for shelter and reproduction). Additionally, organism interaction serves the purpose to
obtain matter and energy. Organisms obtain energy through photosynthesis or consuming other organisms in a
complex set of relationships within a particular food web. These complex food webs serve as a basis for
understanding the dynamic interdependence among organisms and the physical environment.
This activity continues the idea as to why objects sink or float using the mathematical formula density equals mass divided by volume.
This geologic map shows Tertiary and Quaternary rock formations, volcanic and surficial deposits, faults, contacts, and other geologic features in Yellowstone National Park. The map is freely downloadable as a PDF file.
The size and complexity of the oceans present a considerable challenge to those who want to mimic the movement of ocean water and understand ocean dynamics. Join Scripps Oceanography physical oceanographer Paola Cessi as she describes how a new age of supercomputers is allowing ocean modelers to begin investigating how the deep ocean responds to changes in the surface temperature and fresh water inputs from the highest latitudes of our Planet. (56 minutes)
Discusses a wide variety of processes and materials from the viewpoint of their fundamental physical and chemical properties. Specific topics: cold welding, adhesive bonding, diffusion bonding, soldering, brazing, flames, arcs, high-energy density heat sources, solidification, cracking resistance, shielding methods, and electric contacts. Emphasis on underlying science of a given process rather than a detailed description of the technique or equipment.
This course meets with the first half of 3.371J in the Fall Term.
Students learn how orbits are created by a force pulling toward the center in this Moveable Museum unit, in which they build a paper model of a Space Shuttle. This activity simulates an object in orbit. A paper Space Shuttle is swung in a circle on a string. The string provides a pull toward the center of the orbit, simulating the force of gravity. The four-page PDF guide includes suggested background readings for educators, activity notes, and step-by-step directions with suggested discussion questions for older students.
Most orbiting bodies follow a path that is an ellipse. In this activity, students construct 2 ellipses, and examine and measure them to determine some of their fundamental properties. The exercise helps learners make comparisons to planetary orbit eccentricities, and includes guidelines for constructing a scale model of Haley's comet.
SSAC Physical Volcanology module. Students build a spreadsheet for an iterative calculation to find volume of bubbles and hence porosity, permeability and gas escape as a function of depth.
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Explore the role of polarity in the strength of intermolecular attractions. While all molecules are attracted to each other, some attractions are stronger than others. Non-polar molecules are attracted through a London dispersion attraction; polar molecules are attracted through both the London dispersion force and the stronger dipole-dipole attraction. The force of attractions between molecules has consequences for their interactions in physical, chemical and biological applications.
SSAC Physical Volcanology module. Students build a spreadsheet to examine and apply the Mogi model for horizontal and vertical surface displacement vs. depth and pressure conditions in the magma chamber.
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This is an inquiry-based activity in which students will need to work together as a class to solve the following problem: they must construct a "boat" entirely out of modeling clay that is capable of supporting 150 grams of cargo without sinking.
This is an exploratory activity where students in small groups discover the relationship between the force of resistance, the force of effort, and placement of the fulcrum in a first class lever.
What is speed? And how do we calculate it?
In this lab activity, students independently test Newton's ideas on the nature of motion. Students focus on how they would design a procedure to test Newton's hypothesis and then communicate that idea to others.
Laboratory activity on springs and simple harmonic motion that encourages creative development of experiments and clear presentation of quantitative results in the form of a memo.
Through class discussion and think-pair-share questions, this activity helps students come to understand the difference between emf and potential difference in electrical circuits. These concepts are broached within the context of internal resistance of batteries.
Instantaneous speed and velocity looks at really small displacements over really small periods of time. Created by David SantoPietro.