Search Results

Explore the effects of gravity on a slowly falling object: a parachute you make out of plastic bags, string and stones.

In this activity, learners discover that some things only stand up while they are spinning.

Build a catapult that transforms the potential energy of a twisted rubber band into kinetic energy. Experiment with design variations so that you can hit a target with a projectile.

In this activity, learners experiment and collect data during a simulation of the fluid shifts experienced by astronauts' bodies in microgravity.

In this activity, learners use simple materials and basic tools to construct a special toy to explore pendulums. As the head of the toy bobs one way, the eyeballs bob the other way.

In this activity about magnetism (page 15 of the PDF), learners will explore how opposite and similar magnetic poles affect a swinging (pendulum) magnet.

In this hands-on activity, learners use an assortment of (mainly household) items to complete Rube Goldberg-type challenges.

In this activity, learners make bridges using an oil-based modeling clay (plasticene). The instructions include discussion questions for both before and after bridge building.

Listen to the beat of gravity. By taking two strings with weights tied to them at different, yet uniform intervals, you can hear the uniformity (and rhythm) of gravity's accelerating pull.

This fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity lets learners experiment with marbles and weights to discover some basics about gravity and black holes.

Investigate how force and thrust work to propel rockets into outer space. Build a rocket: a blown-up balloon taped to a drinking straw threaded through some string.

In this quick activity (located on page 2 of the PDF under GPS: Balloon Fiesta Activity), learners will see the effects of convection and understand what makes hot air balloons rise.

In this activity, learners explore how engineering has developed various means to remove impurities from water.

In this activity, learners build a stuffed-animal zip line. Learners hold a cord against a wall, hook a cute stuffed animal onto it, let the animal slide down, and records its travel time.

In this twist on a classic design challenge, learners will try to stop a bouncy ball from bouncing as they explore how to control the fall of an object.

The goal of this activity is to build a miniature bobsled that is either the fastest or the slowest. Learners use recycled materials to design, build, and test their bobsled on a bobsled track.

In this physics activity, learners will build their own parachutes out of tissue paper. They will explore the effects of weight, height, and design on the parachutes' speed and stability.

In this activity about center of gravity (page 23 of PDF), learners investigate how the body adjusts to the force of gravity to remain balanced.

In this activity, learners will use simple materials to explore centripetal force and variables by swinging a cup of water without having the water spill out.

In this physics activity, learners experiment with pulleys and find that they can decrease the effort needed when using a pulley to lift or move different loads.