Popsicle Stick Catapult

Chain Reaction Machines

Chain Reactions Part 2

Energy and Amusement Parks

Read about amusement park rides and physics. (advanced)

Light travels in waves too!

Check out this online wave simulator.

Bonus Sound Resources

 

Sound and Waves Resources

You can read about sound and waves using the following resources:

1. DKFindout -- Sound
2. Physics for Kids -- Waves
3. Physics for Kids -- Wave Properties
4. Physics for Kids -- Sound
5. Gen Genius Wave Properties Reading

Bill Nye The Science Guy Energy

Roller Coasters and Energy

Kinetic vs Potential Energy

 Now read about potential and kinetic energy:

1. Read a brief summary of potential and kinetic energy.
2. Read about potential energy.
3. Read about kinetic energy.

Now check out this Design Squad video from PBS Kids.

Waves -- Light and Sound

Light and sound both travel in waves.  How are they similar?  How are they different?  What can you learn from these two videos?


Read about light and waves.

Physics of light and sound for kids.

Bonus Activities About Sound and Waves

What else can you learn about sound and waves?  Try out a few of these activities and take notes about what you learned.

Try out this online oscilloscope.  Use these questions to guide you.

1. Sounds that are a mix of pitches make messy waves. Can you find a sound that makes a simple wave? (Try whistling.)
2. What happens to the oscilloscope picture when you make a sound louder or softer?
3. What happens when you make a sound higher or lower?

What is the highest and lowest pitch that you can hear?

• The video starts with a tone so low you probably can't hear it. Keep listening.
• When you do you start hearing the hum? Notice when it gets so high you can't hear it anymore.
• While you're listening, watch the waves. They change with the pitch — from long wavelengths to short.

Video: Singing Roads

• The pitch of a sound — how high or low it is — depends on the vibration that made the sound. The quicker the vibration goes back and forth, the higher the sound.
• On this singing road, the vibrations of a car play a tune. Bumps in the road called rumble strips make the car vibrate.
• Which set of rumble strips plays the higher note?

Now Hear This! The sound designed to drive teenagers away.

• What can you learn by reading about this?

Nat Geo Kids:  The Science of Sound Playlist

• This is a list of 13 videos about sound.  Each one will play immediately after the last one.

How Quiet Can You Be?

Sound Part 2 (4th grade)

Physics - Waves - Introduction

What is Sound? video

Waves for Kids. video

Read about waves:

1. Physics for Kids: Waves
2. Wave (physics) Facts for Kids
3. Basics of Sound

Three States of Matter & Mass vs Weight

Energy -- Potential & Kinetic

Bill Nye Energy - TeacherTube


Read about the different types of energy.
This page explains kinetic energy.
Check out Physics 4 Kids.

Weight vs. Mass -- What is the difference?

What is the difference between weight and mass?  Can you explain it to me in your own words?  Try to be detailed and specific.  Please watch the video and read about the difference.

Physics for kids:  Mass & Weight
Math Is Fun (Wait a minute I thought this was a science lesson...)
Mass vs. Weight
NASA video -- Mass vs. Weight