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Physics
Amusement Park Physics - The science of physics is what keeps you safe on an amusement park ride. Learn about the "forces behind the fun" on the carousel, the bumper cars, the free-fall rides, and more. You can also design your own roller coaster and have it rated for both safety and fun appeal.
Bridge and Resonance (Multimedia Physics) - Can you imagine that a bridge could collapse because of a thing called resonance? Those of you who are string instrument players know that if you pluck a note on one string, another string matching that note often vibrates slightly too. The first string "talks" to the second string, which "answers." In 1940, the force of the wind got the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Washington) swinging and swaying, and pretty soon the waves of the wind's frequency matched the natural resonance of the structure, and...well, you've got to see it to believe it.
Bubblesphere - You don't need a lot of skills to learn to blow soap bubbles, right? So what is with this guy who calls himself "Professor"? Turns out he really is an expert. At his home page, he reveals the ultimate soap solution for making the most colorful, sturdy bubbles. He explains how to make your own bubble-blowing tools from soup cans and coat hangers (ask your parents for help). You don't even need anything special--he teaches you how to blow bubbles using only your HANDS! But wait, there's more. Check the bubble FAQ, bubble games, and the other wonders of the Bubblesphere.
Build It & Bust It - Engineers figure out how to build bridges that stay up, tunnels that don't collapse, and buildings that rise to the sky without tumbling down. At this site you can try building your own joint and beam structures and then test them for stability. If you have a hard time, just go to the Testing area and load someone else's bridge and apply forces to it. Will it stand up or go falling down, falling down? This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest competition.
Cleco: Fun and Educational Electric Information - Follow the path of electricity from the power plant to town, to your neighborhood, to your house, and finally to your room lights. Learn some very cool facts about electricity, its early history, and important inventors. Be sure to visit the safety zone to discover how to be safe around electricity in the bathroom, kitchen, and outside.
How Things Work - Have you ever questioned some aspect of the science of physics? A professor of physics at the University of Virginia has listed answers to many questions, some of which are part of the basic physics courses he teaches at the university. A guide lists previous questions as well as a place where you can ask a new question. The Search button will help you find if one of the previously asked questions is one you might also pose.
Interactive Physics Modules - Learn all about the properties of matter and the difference between atoms, ions, elements, and molecules. Once you've got all that straight, check the section on Electricity and Magnetism. Watch animations and participate in interactive experiments--rub a balloon across a virtual wool sweater, and then see if you can make it cling to the virtual wall. That's static electricity. There are many other things to try in this engaging resource. But be careful--you might learn something about physics before you know it!
Internet Plasma Physics Education - If you want the latest info on nuclear fusion as an energy source, visit this site, where you'll learn about magnetism, matter, electricity, and lots more. One of the unusual interactive experiences you can try is the Virtual Tokamak. (That's a new word made from the Russian words toroid-kamera-magnit-katushka , meaning "the toroidal chamber and magnetic coil.") Basically, it's a containment device to keep the fusion reaction and the plasma safely buttoned up. That's good, because the plasma is hotter than the core of the sun. (Don't try to build one of these at home!)
Internet Webseum of Holography - Lasers can do some pretty amazing things. Did you know they are used to make interesting 3-D pictures that allow you to "look inside" and see around objects? That's called holography. Although lasers are needed to make a hologram, you don't need a laser to view one. You can view laser shows and holograms right here if you have the right plug-in. If you don't, there are links to get you the free software, so don't worry. Think it's all too complicated? Not at the Holo-kids area, which you can reach by clicking on Kids Page. Learn how to make a shoe-box hologram using those inexpensive laser pointers.
Little Shop of Physics Online - Welcome to the Little Shop of Physics: nothing here will harm you (well, you might want to stay away from that disreputable-looking plant over in the corner!). They have concocted some interesting demonstrations using everyday objects that might amuse you and teach you something about physics. There are optical and auditory illusions plus lots of special effects you can try right on your computer screen. Come closer!
Magnetism - What's the attraction? Magnetism helps us find our way with a compass. It's what makes electric motors run. Did you know it's also responsible for the northern lights--the aurora borealis? Read about the history of magnetism and how it works. Drawings show how magnetic fields are made up of invisible field lines. There are also facts about the contributions of Michael Faraday and James Maxwell to the field of magnetism. May the force be with you!
Miami Museum of Science - The Atoms Family - Start your study of physics with a visit to the Atoms family mansion, a sort of creepy rest home for famous movie monsters. Since their retirements from the silver screen, they have devoted their days to the study of the properties and principles of atoms and matter. When you think about it, their experimentations are not so far-fetched after all. As you might guess, Count Dracula is an expert on light, since vampires must stay out of the sunshine. Visit his library to interact with his "light detection system" of radiometers, and try some off-line experiments with reflections and afterimages. Frankenstein spends his golden years in the lightning lab, where you, too, can discover how to light up a bulb using-lemon power! Others you'll meet include The Mummy (energy), The Phantom (atoms), and The Wolfman (fuel conservation). If you look closely, the Bride of Frankenstein even makes a brief appearance.
Optics for Kids - Why should we care about controlling light, anyway? It's pretty important when you consider how your own eyes work. It's also critical for eyeglasses, binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, even CD players. They all work by controlling light in various ways. Learn about the optics of reflection and refraction right here. There's also a nice section on how lasers work.
Overview of Lasers - How many lasers do you think you encounter in a day? Go to the checkout line at the grocery store: lasers read the prices coded on those zebra-striped labels. Climb into the car and crank up some tunes on the CD player--lasers again. Every CD player has a tiny laser in it to read the digital code on the CD. Visit this site for more close encounters of the laser kind.
Percussion for Kids - Is pure rhythm really music, or is it just a cacophony of noise? If you go to a performance of STOMP, you will see and hear the cast members "play" Zippo lighters, push brooms, trash cans, newspapers, and other common objects. Visit this Web site to see and hear audio from the show and learn more about the science of rhythm. There are also some neat activities, like making a "rain stick" out of paper towel tubes, toothpicks, and lentils.
Physics 2000 - Still more interactive experimentation awaits you at this Web resource. Although it was developed for a college student audience, the Java applets are fun and interesting for all ages. Click in the Einstein's Legacy area to interact with an X-ray machine, a TV screen, and a microwave oven. Find out where the "hot spots" are in the oven by placing virtual marshmallows inside. Kids: be sure you try this one ONLY on the Net, where there's no mess or threat of fire.
Physics Experiments You Can Do at Home - How quickly do you react when someone throws you a ball or when a book drops from a table? Reaction time is one of several home experiments you can try, developed by a University of Wisconsin professor as part of a program he calls Wonders of Physics. Learn about the Doppler effect, take a "random walk," or try a vortex experiment. You'll soon be discovering lots of interesting new things.
Real-Time Experiments - Amazing physics experiments you can do with common household items, things to try right on your computer, and amazing tricks with Shockwave--these things and more are waiting for you, courtesy of the Little Shop of Physics.
Rocket Principles - This isn't exactly rocket science, but then again, this is where it all starts. Read all about Newton's first, second, and third laws of motion and forces and how they relate to rocketry. These basic laws rule all motion, not just rocketry. They explain why a basketball bounces, why a baseball goes so far when you hit it with a bat, and why you go over the handlebars if you run into a tree with your bike (you don't have to try the last one--just take our word for it). Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Rocket Activity Page, where you'll find some cool experiments to help you understand the laws of motion. Our personal favorite is the balloon-powered rocket pinwheel!
Roller Coaster Physics Book by Tony Wayne - As you swoosh around in a roller coaster, you're probably not thinking very much about physics. But it's lucky for you that the designer of the roller coaster thought about physics a lot when he planned the engineering for the ride! A good coaster strikes a balance between thrills, speed, and safety. Find out how the laws of physics can make sure you have fun at the amusement park. There's even a roller coaster design program for your TI-82/83 calculator.
Science Behind a Home Run - Time to grab a bag of peanuts, crank up the radio or TV, and listen to the sweet sound of the baseball bat against the ball as another one flies out of the park. Did you ever wonder how a person holding a narrow wooden bat could hit a baseball so hard that it could fly several hundred feet? It happens every day all across the country during the baseball season, and now you can read how physics and forces make it all happen. Remember the magic words "viscosity" and "density," take a gulp of fresh air, and read on.
Science Lessons by Subject - These experiments cover astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, physical science, and technology. In the latter category kids can conduct research on inline skates vs. roller skates, learn to build a solar hot-dog cooker, and check out many other suggestions. You can also choose to view projects by age group rather than by subject.
Shocking Truth About Electricity - How much do you depend on electricity? It powers your alarm clock, your hair dryer, your TV, and your lights. It may also make your water hot, cook your food, and wash your clothes. Did you ever wonder where electricity comes from? What's the deal with watts, anyway? We know that the news may be electrifying, but it's true: you can make a lightbulb light using lemons as the source of energy. Find out how at this site, created by students for the ThinkQuest Junior competition.
Soap Bubbles - Have you ever noticed that bubbles are always round, no matter what shape the wand you blow through is? Is that because your breath is shaped like a circle as it comes out of your lips? No. A bubble is round because of physical forces you can learn about here. You'll also learn that when a bubble looks gray or black, it is about to pop. Why does it lose its pretty colors? Find out here, and don't miss the Internet Resources section for more good, clean fun.
The Internet Guide to Electronics - Do you know the difference between a parallel electrical circuit and one that is in series? You will within moments ofng this Web page and clicking on Theory. It's a real beginner's guide to the topic and includes many illustrations and clear explanations. There are also some cool calculators for Ohm's law and other topics, plus a guide to multimeter use and a handy chart of schematic symbols.
The Soundry - This site uses wonderful interactive demonstrations to demonstrate how we hear what we hear. Start off with the structure of the ear, move into physics and the characteristics of a sound wave, and learn about the history of recorded sound. Don't miss the applets in the Sound Lab. Create a sound "scene" or movie using only sounds arranged in a particular order. Listen to a few of the samples, such as "Tarzan Has an Accident." You'll get the idea. Other applets include the Doppler effect, harmonics, waves, and beats. In fact, no one could beat this site. The 1998 ThinkQuest Grand Prize winner was created by kids!
Theater of Electricity - Did you ever get zapped by touching a metal doorknob at home? Where'd the electricity come from? Static electricity built up on your shoes as you walked across a carpet. Scientists who need a lot of static electricity for an experiment use a Van de Graaff generator, which makes electricity from a revolving belt inside one of its towers. Read about its history and construction and all about lightning and electricity. You can see the huge original generator, built by Dr. Robert J. Van de Graaff, in the Theater of Electricity at the Museum of Science in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and on this Web site. You probably won't have a generator like this at home, but at this site you'll find some experiments you can do with balloons, paper bunnies, and static electricity!
WaterWorks - Oh, the magic of water fountains. Some are tall, some are wide, others squirt in many directions at once. Discover what makes a fountain work and the forces it takes to make water do its tricks. Pictures of different types of fountains are shown, along with some that were made by students. There are even movies and sounds of the different fountains available. (Caution: The files are big!)
You Can & Levers - The basic principles of levers are explained nicely here by Beakman and Jax. All three classes of levers are shown in easy-to-understand diagrams. Did you know that many household devices are levers? Nail clippers, pliers, nutcrackers, and fly swatters are just a few. After reading this page, see if you can tell to which class of levers each device belongs.
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