Online Resources

Videos - C'mon, you know you love em'

 

Simulations (Physlets) - almost like the real thing!

It used to be that you had to hunt around for good sources for Physics Simulations (Physlets), now there is really one authority that is producing the highest quality simulations (with some exceptions), PhET at University of Colorado at Boulder.

Simulations I like and which may be used in class or at home:

Physics Chemistry
  1. Graphing and Vectors
    1. equation grapher
    2. vector addition
  2. Motion
    1. 1-D motion
    2. Projectile Motion
    3. Circular Motion
  3. Forces
    1. Forces in 1 Dimension
    2. Lunar Lander
  4. Energy, Work, Power
    1. Energy Skate Park
  5. Thermodynamics
    1. States of Matter
    2. Gas Properties
  6. Universal Gravitation
    1. My Solar System
  7. Waves and Sound
    1. waves on a string
    2. Transverse vs Longitudinal
    3. wave interference
    4. Standing wave in a tube
    5. Guitar Tuner
  8. Electricity
    1. Static Electricity
    2. Charges and Fields
    3. Electric Field Hockey
    4. DC Circuit Construction Kit
  9. Electromagnetic Induction
    1. Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab
    2. Radio Waves and Electromagnetic Fields
  10. Light/Quantum
    1. Color Vision
    2. Photelectric Effect

 
  1. States of Matter
  2. Gas Properties
  3. Models of an Atom
  4. Reactions and Rates
  5. pH Scale
  6.  
   

 

 

Links - Full of sciency goodness

Educator Resources - share the love

 

Downloadable Materials
I either helped create or borrowed these from someone. Feel free to modify and use as you see fit!
Working With Student Teachers (.pdf)
Ideas worth considering before taking on a student teacher (created by Anne Watson, Casey O'Hara, Zach Ronneberg)
Student Teacher Expectations, Suggestions and Survey (.doc)
This document is meant to give to student teachers and give them an idea of what to expect, as well as provide some information to you, the mentor teacher.
(created by Anne Watson, Casey O'Hara, Zach Ronneberg)
Lab Wishlist Letter (.doc)
This has been an effective way to gather donations of supplies and money for lab supplies.
Links

WiiMote SmartBoard !!!
Using a $40 Nintendo WiiMote and $5 worth of radioshack parts, you can build a system with 90% the functionality of a $1500 SmartBoard. I spent hours researching and building, and have tried to organize my findings tidily here for you.
-Overview videos (there are other videos of this all over youtube, just search for "wiimote whiteboard")
-Overview page
-WiimoteWhiteboard (Mac Software) to interface with WiiMote
-Jarnal - Open source Java Software that turns your whiteboard into a drawing pad. This is one of the better tools that replicates the functionality of the software provided with actual SmartBoards
-Pen building ideas - The main thing I found with my pen design was to have the LED sticking out the end of a fairly thin and long pen tip so the light is not obstructed by the pen or your hand at all. Similar parts can all be purchased at Radio Shack. I used a 1.2 volt Infrared LED and powered it with a 1.5V AA battery (no resistor, just a push-button switch) and it works quite well.
-Good discussion on educational implementation