Physics Labs on the Web
1. Bumper Car Lab: Learn about amusement park bumper cars and use the web-based applet to predict the outcome of bumper car collisions.
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/bumpcars.html
2. Collision Lab: Use the web-based applet to experiment with the collision of balls. Vary the mass, collision angle, and speed of the balls. http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/Collision/jarapplet.html
3. Momentum Lab: For this web-based applet you must have Java installed. The object of the game is to propell the Indian across the lake by shooting his bow and arrow. You can change the arrow's weight, the man's weight, and the speed at which he shoots the arrow in the control bars along the bottom of the applet in order to affect the movement of the canoe. When you are ready to shoot an arrow, push "GO!" and the Indian will begin. http://library.thinkquest.org/3042/java/linear_demo.html
4. Newton's Cannon: Use the web-based applet to try to get the cannon ball to circle the earth without crashing back into the earth's surface or hitting the mountain. You may adjust the speed of the projectile. http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/newt/newtmtn.html
5. Pendulum Lab: In the lab you can do 5 hands-on experiments. You can also use the link at the bottom to go to the lab home page to learn more about how pendulums work. http://monet.physik.unibas.ch/~elmer/pendulum/index.html
6. Projectile Motion Lab: Here you can vary the mass of the projectile, the velocity at which it is fired, and the angle of the trajectory. For an added variable you can add or subtract air resistance. http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/ProjectileMotion/jarapplet.html
7. Roller Coaster Lab: This is one of a series of "Amusement Park Physics" web pages. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to design your own roller coaster. You can choose the height of 2 hills, an exit pattern for the first hill, and the shape of a loop to make your roller coaster. http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/
8. Target Practice Lab: Vary the angle of trajectory, mass of the ball, wind speed, and gravity amount. The object is to fire a cannon and hit the bullseye target. http://www.epm.ornl.gov/java/book/applets/Cannon/
The Basics
1. Sir Isaac Newton: This website is located in the UK and has all the information you ever wanted to know about the father of motion physics. http://www.newton.org.uk/
2. Newton's Laws of Motion: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd laws talked about here. http://www.aloha.com/~isaac/3laws/3lmid.htm
3. Newton's Laws of Motion #2: From a website called "The Physics Classroom" is another treatment of Newton's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd laws. http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/newtlaws/newtltoc.html
Learn about .......
4. Pendulums: How do they work? If you vary the length of the string, how does that affect the swing? This web page answers those questions and more. http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/Academy/ROCKET_SCI/ORBMECH/angular_momentum.html
5. Physics Cartoons: There are lots of areas in physics. We are studying what is called, "Newtonian Physics" or the physics of motion. These cartoons highlight concepts in 'motion physics.' http://www.servtech.com/~wkimler/
6. Physics for Beginners: This is an outline of topics in physics for the beginning high school student. Wondering about some term or idea related to physics? This is the place to look it up. http://physics.webplasma.com/physicstoc.html
Tricks & Puzzlers
7. Physics Puzzlers: Check out the question first and see if you can come up with an answer. Then, when you think you've got the answer, click on the "A" to see what high school and university students came up with. Here's an example question: "Suppose your bike has no rear fender. How slowly do you have to ride on a wet road to avoid getting mud on your bottom? " http://star.tau.ac.il/QUIZ/
8. Three Physics Tricks: Check out this web page to stump your friends. Learn 1) The fork-spoon balancing act; 2) A quick 3-D illusion; and, 3) Demonstrating pressure using cups & a balloon. http://www.servtech.com/~wkimler/
9. Weightless Water Trick: From the Amusement Park Physics site, this is a good puzzler. http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/freefall2.html
Exploration & Discovery
10. How Things Work: Louis Bloomfield, professor of physics at the University of Virginia, has set up this site like a radio call-in show where you ask a physics question and the announcer gives you an answer. Check out the archive list of questions below..... such as "What is the function of a magnet in an audio speaker?" http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/HTW/
11. Popular Science Web Site: For all the news of late-breaking inventions and cool things happening in science, check out the PopSci.com website. http://www.popsci.com/
12. Explore Physics with Shockwave Plug-in: You'll need to add the Shockwave plug-in to your web browser in order to enjoy this section. Demonstrations include among others -- air puck, inclined plane, golf range, shoot the monkey, 2D collisions, Free fall lab, Center of mass see-saw torque, moment of inertia, harmonic motion, density, and floating log . http://www.explorescience.com/activities/activity_list.cfm?categoryID=10
13. The Physics of Projectile Motion: Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object projected into the air at an angle. A few examples of this include a soccer ball begin kicked, a baseball being thrown, or an athlete long jumping. Even fireworks and water fountains are examples of projectile motion. In this lesson you will learn the fundamentals of projectile motion. You will be given examples and interesting facts. Finally, you will get to test your knowledge with a game called "Water Balloons!" http://library.thinkquest.org/2779/