Along-standing energy lab involves dropping bouncy balls and measuring their rebound heights on successive bounces. The lab demonstrates a situation in which the mechanical energy of a system is not conserved. Although students enjoyed the lab, the author wanted to deepen their thinking about energy, including the connections to motion, with a new…

In our science for non-science majors course "21st Century Physics," we investigate modern "Hubble plots" (plots of velocity versus distance for deep space objects) in order to discuss the Big Bang, dark matter, and dark energy. There are two potential challenges that our students face when encountering these topics for the…

Teaches data interpretation using the example of world running records for men and women. Explains different ways of plotting data. (YDS)

Using a computer and thermistor probes, students analyze graphs of temperature versus time. The experiment demonstrates phase changes in water, which can lead to a broader interpretation of matter, its properties, and the laws of thermodynamics. (Author/AIM)

Explores strategies in the situation of a runner trying to evade a tackler on a football field. Enables the student to test intuitive strategies in a familiar situation using simple graphical and numerical methods or direct experimentation. (JRH)

Described is how the crumpling of paper balls exhibits the concept of a topological dimension similar to fractals. The mass of the crumpled paper ball is found to be proportional to its diameter raised to a nonintegral power. (KR)

An exercise which relates particle scattering and the calculation of cross-sections to answer the following question--"Do you get wetter by walking or running through the rain?"--is described. The calculations used to answer the question are provided. (KR)

Presents a simple experiment that allows students to determine a slope from a series of measurements rather than from a given equation in which students measure heights and widths for a set of paper rectangles, all with the same width. Students calculate areas and plot area versus height from the data. (Author/ASK)

Presents an activity in which students draw the decay curve for a medical radioisotope and determine its half-life. (MKR)

This book is designed to be a quick and easy resource for anyone teaching physics for the first time. Written after extensive research, this book is filled with reliable labs, demos and activities that work well in the classroom. Also included are lesson plans, diagrams, and teacher notes for every activity. The book is not the end--it is just a…

Described is a situation where students are allowed to enlist the aid of a computer graphing program to produce graphs for their lab reports. (KR)

Discusses the use of logarithm and reciprocal graphs in the college physics classroom. Provides examples, such as electrical conductivity, reliability function in the Weibull model, and the Clausius-Clapeyron equation for latent heat of vaporation. Shows graphs with weighting of points. (YP)

Describes an activity to determine whether the length of the yellow (warning) signal of a traffic light provides adequate time to stop or pass through the intersection. Discusses the necessary equations, mathematics, and subsequent graphs. (MVL)

Suggests an alternate way to determine the fractal dimension of bread by means of a dimensionally correct graphical analysis. (WRM)

Introduces an activity that focuses on Hooke's law to implement and furnish applications of linear equations and graphing in a physical situation. (KHR)