Students use next-generation air quality monitors to measure gas-phase pollutants in the …
Students use next-generation air quality monitors to measure gas-phase pollutants in the classroom. They apply the knowledge they gained during the associated lesson—an understanding of the connection between air pollutants and their possible sources. Student teams choose three potential pollutant sources and predict how the monitor’s sensors will respond. Then they evaluate whether or not their predictions were correct, and provide possible explanations for any inaccuracies. This activity serves as a simple introduction to the low-cost air quality monitoring technology that students use throughout the associated activities that follow. Three student handouts are provided.
This is a classroom activity about the forcing mechanisms for the most …
This is a classroom activity about the forcing mechanisms for the most recent cold period: the Little Ice Age (1350-1850). Students receive data about tree ring records, solar activity, and volcanic eruptions during this time period. By comparing and contrasting time intervals when tree growth was at a minimum, solar activity was low, and major volcanic eruptions occurred, they draw conclusions about possible natural causes of climate change and identify factors that may indicate climate change.
This interactive visualization provides a clear, well-documented snapshot of current and projected …
This interactive visualization provides a clear, well-documented snapshot of current and projected values of several climate variables for local areas in California. The climate variables include observed and projected temperatures, projected snowpack, areas vulnerable to flooding due to sea level rise, and projected increase in wildfires. The projected values come from expert sources and well-established climate models.
Loopy dot diagrams uses fruit loops as a manipulative to help students …
Loopy dot diagrams uses fruit loops as a manipulative to help students develop the basic skills for making Lewis dot structures to model covalent bonding.
Students are challenged to design and program Arduino-controlled robots that behave like …
Students are challenged to design and program Arduino-controlled robots that behave like simple versions of the automated guided vehicles engineers design for real-world applications. Using Arduino microcontroller boards, infrared (IR) sensors, servomotors, attachable wheels and plastic containers (for the robot frame), they make "Lunch-Bots." Teams program the robots to meet the project constraints—to follow a line of reflective tape, make turns and stop at a designated spot to deliver a package, such as a sandwich or pizza slice. They read and interpret analog voltages from IR sensors, compare how infrared reflects differently off different materials, and write Arduino programs that use IR sensor inputs to control the servomotors. Through the process, students experience the entire engineering design process. Pre/post-quizzes and coding help documents are provided.
Derivation of the basic MHD model from the Boltzmann equation. Discussion of …
Derivation of the basic MHD model from the Boltzmann equation. Discussion of MHD equilibria in cylindrical, toroidal, and noncircular tokamaks. Use of MHD equilibrium theory in poloidal field design. MHD stability theory including the Energy Principle, interchange instability, ballooning modes, second region of stability, and external kink modes. Emphasis on discovering configurations capable of achieving good confinement at high beta.
This subject deals primarily with equilibrium properties of macroscopic systems, basic thermodynamics, …
This subject deals primarily with equilibrium properties of macroscopic systems, basic thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium of reactions in gas and solution phase, and rates of chemical reactions.
This is an instructor's guide for an experiment to measure electrostatic force, …
This is an instructor's guide for an experiment to measure electrostatic force, using parallel plates made from two washers, insulating perf-board, and aluminum foil. Photos and detailed instructions are provided for experimental setup. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a Java simulation by the same authors on the topic of capacitance. For an Excel spreadsheet developed specifically to accompany this experiment, see link below: MIT Physics 8.02 Open Courseware: Labs
One of a suite of online climate interactive simulations, this Greenhouse Gas …
One of a suite of online climate interactive simulations, this Greenhouse Gas Simulator uses the bathtub model to demonstrate how atmospheric concentrations of CO2 will continue to rise unless they are lowered to match the amount of CO2 that can be removed through natural processes.
Students are given an engineering challenge: A nearby hospital has just installed …
Students are given an engineering challenge: A nearby hospital has just installed a new magnetic resonance imaging facility that has the capacity to make 3D images of the brain and other body parts by exposing patients to a strong magnetic field. The hospital wishes for its entire staff to have a clear understanding of the risks involved in working near a strong magnetic field and a basic understanding of why those risks occur. Your task is to develop a presentation or pamphlet explaining the risks, the physics behind those risks, and the safety precautions to be taken by all staff members. This 10-lesson/4-activity unit was designed to provide hands-on activities to teach end-of-year electricity and magnetism topics to a first-year accelerated or AP physics class. Students learn about and then apply the following science concepts to solve the challenge: magnetic force, magnetic moments and torque, the Biot-Savart law, Ampere's law and Faraday's law. This module is built around the Legacy Cycle, a format that incorporates findings from educational research on how people best learn.
In this activity, students gain first-hand experience with the mechanical advantage of …
In this activity, students gain first-hand experience with the mechanical advantage of pulleys. Students are given the challenge of helping save a whale by moving it from an aquarium back to its natural habitat into the ocean. They set up different pulley systems, compare the theoretical and actual mechanical advantage of each and discuss their recommendations as a class.
Students are introduced to a unique fluid ferrofluids the shape of which …
Students are introduced to a unique fluid ferrofluids the shape of which can be influenced by magnetic fields. This activity supplements traditional magnetism activities and offers comparisons between large-scale materials and nanomaterials.Students are introduced to the concepts of magnetism, surfactants and nanotechnology by relating movie magic to practical science. Students observe ferrofluid properties as a stand-alone fluid and under an imposed magnetic field. They learn about the components of ferrofluids and their functionality as they create shapes using magnetically controlled ferrofluids and create their masterpieces.
A short activity using goldenrod copy paper as an indicator to introduce …
A short activity using goldenrod copy paper as an indicator to introduce neutralization reactions. Students describe what they beleive happens during this reaction.
Students watch video clips from the October Sky and Harry Potter and …
Students watch video clips from the October Sky and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movies to see examples of projectile motion. Then they explore the relationships between displacement, velocity and acceleration, and calculate simple projectile motion. The objective of this activity is to articulate concepts related to force and motion through direct immersive interaction based on "The Science Behind Harry Potter" theme. Students' interest is piqued by the use of popular culture in the classroom.
In this activity, students reinforce their understanding of compound machines by building …
In this activity, students reinforce their understanding of compound machines by building a catapult. This compound machine consists of a lever and a wheel-and-axel. Catapults have been designed by engineers for a variety of purposes from lifting boulders into the air for warfare to human beings for entertainment; the projectiles in this activity are grapes for a magic act. Given the building materials, students design and build their catapult to launch a grape a certain distance.
A magical demonstration where a Pyrex tube vanishes in a beaker of …
A magical demonstration where a Pyrex tube vanishes in a beaker of mineral oil. Useful demonstration to introduce to concept of refraction (and/or partial reflection).
The kids have to use magnetic waves to find all of Mr. …
The kids have to use magnetic waves to find all of Mr. Hart's magnets that Max and Honey hid throughout the yard. Magnetic Fields radiate from the N to the S side of a magnet in a predictable way. By changing the shape of the magnet, these fields change shape.
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