This article describes a lesson rooted in "tinkering," an approach to learning that encourages the use of authentic, hands-on experience to develop an understanding of content and physical materials. There were several desired outcomes for this lesson. First, the authors felt that tinkering was an appropriate approach to investigating…

"Problem-Based Learning in the Physical Science Classroom, K-12" will help your students truly understand concepts such as motion, energy, and magnetism in true-to-life contexts. The book offers a comprehensive description of why, how, and when to implement problem-based learning (PBL) in your curriculum. Its 14 developmentally…

Students use the relationship between the speed of a ball and the time that a player has to react to it to understand uniform motion problems. Includes activity sheets. (Author/NB)

Learning through play is as natural and important for young children as breathing. With this book, parents and teachers can create toys that help children become more confident, develop their intellect, and encourage play and exploration--all with materials easily found at the local hardware store or home center. Written by two experienced family…

Perturbation theory is presented as an invaluable tool for solving a majority of physically interesting problems involving both macroscopic and microscopic objects. Its use in Newtonian mechanics is emphasized.. The method is illustrated with three examples. (KR)

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)

A procedure for estimating the speed and distance of plane, assuming the speed of sound and the velocity of the plane are constant, is described. (KR)

A procedure for measuring the speed of light using the assumption that the frequency of light remains unchanged as it moves from one medium to another is presented. A laser with a known wavelength and frequency in air was used as a light source. (KR)

Using a physical picture, an expression for the maximum possible transverse velocity and orientation required for that by a linear emitter in special theory of relativity has been derived. A differential calculus method is also used to derive the expression. (Author/KR)

Marbles were successfully used to help primary students develop concepts of motion. Marble-unit activities began with shaking and rattling inference bags and predicting by listening just how many marbles were in each bag. Students made qualitative and quantitative observations of the marbles, manipulated marbles with a partner, and observed…

Presents a few examples of not-so-traditional problems that can be very helpful in teaching some particular concepts or approaches in physics. Problem sets include vector addition and vector components, reference frames, and choosing the right approximations. (JRH)

Activities in which students determine the half-life of a substance using M&Ms, solve a crime using chromatography, and calculate the speed of a toy car are presented. The activities include the topic, an introduction, the time needed, a list of materials, safety precautions, procedure, analysis questions, and teacher's notes. (KR)

Provides six problems to help students understand new concepts of force using situations they already understand concerning velocity, acceleration, and momentum. (MVL)

Provides a method of solving vector and force problems that is less complicated for the learner. Gives several examples concerning projectiles and inclined planes. (MVL)

Describes the graphing calculator as a new graphical approach to standard physics problems. Presents a collision problem to illustrate its use. (JRH)