high school physics experiments pdf

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High School Physics

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70 Best High School Science Fair Projects in Every Subject

Fire up the Bunsen burners!

The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.

Note: Some of these projects were written as classroom labs but can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom activity into a true scientific method experiment!

To make it easier to find the right high school science fair project idea for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
• Biology and Life Sciences High School Science Fair Projects

Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects

Physics high school science fair projects, engineering high school stem fair projects, biology and life science high school science fair projects.

Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.

Extract DNA from an onion

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.

Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium ADVERTISEMENT

Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Try your own cross-pollination experiments with fast-growing plants like peas or beans.

Make plants move with light

By this age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So high school science fair projects on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.

Test the 5-second rule

We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).

Find out if color affects taste

Just how interlinked are all our senses? Does the sight of food affect how it tastes? Find out with a fun food science fair project like this one!

See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced

Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit , bacillus cereus and rhodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.

Learn more: Antibiotics Project at Home Science Tools

Witness the carbon cycle in action

Experiment with the effects of light on the carbon cycle. Make this science fair project even more interesting by adding some small aquatic animals like snails or fish into the mix.

Learn more: Carbon Cycle at Science Lessons That Rock

Look for cell mitosis in an onion

Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes. Adapt this lab into a high school science fair project by applying the process to other organisms too.

Test the effects of disinfectants

Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.

Learn more: Effectiveness of Antiseptics and Disinfectants at Amy Brown Science

Pit hydroponics against soil

Growing vegetables without soil (hydroponics) is a popular trend, allowing people to garden just about anywhere.

More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects for High School

Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:

• Explore ways to prevent soil erosion.
• What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
• Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
• What’s the best way to prevent mold growth on food for long-term storage?
• Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
• Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water, etc.).
• Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
• Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
• Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
• Devise a way to desalinate seawater and make it safe to drink.

Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry is such a popular topic for high school science fair projects!

Break apart covalent bonds

Break the covalent bond of H 2 O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?

Learn more: Covalent Bonds at Teaching Without Chairs

Measure the calories in various foods

Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.

Detect latent fingerprints

Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!

Learn more: Fingerprints Project at Hub Pages

Use Alka-Seltzer to explore reaction rate

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Easy

Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.

Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ

Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools .

Turn flames into a rainbow

You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.

Discover the size of a mole

The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.

Learn more: How Big Is a Mole? at Amy Brown Science

Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations

This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!

Learn more: Candy Chemistry at Dunigan Science on TpT

Make soap to understand saponification

Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.

Learn more: Saponification at Chemistry Solutions on TpT

Uncover the secrets of evaporation

Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.

Learn more: Evaporation at Science Projects

More Chemistry Science Fair Projects for High School

These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:

• Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
• Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
• Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
• What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
• Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
• How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
• Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
• Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
• What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
• How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?

When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.

Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber

You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool high school science fair projects, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.

Learn more: Vacuum Chamber at Instructables

Put together a mini Tesla coil

Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!

Boil water in a paper cup

Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.

Build a better light bulb

Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb. You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.

Measure the speed of light—with your microwave

Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment. By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven and, in turn, the speed of light.

Generate a Lichtenberg figure

See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.

Learn more: Lichtenberg Figure at Science Notes

Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!

Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation

Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.

Measure the effect of temperature on resistance

This is a popular and classic science fair experiment in physics. You’ll need a few specialized supplies, but they’re pretty easy to find.

Learn more: Temperature and Resistance at Science Project

Launch the best bottle rocket

A basic bottle rocket is pretty easy to build, but it opens the door to lots of different science fair projects. Design a powerful launcher, alter the rocket so it flies higher or farther, or use only recycled materials for your flyer.

More Physics Science Fair Projects for High School

Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.

• Determine the most efficient solar panel design and placement.
• What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
• Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
• What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
• Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
• Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
• What’s the best way to soundproof an area or reduce noise produced by an item?
• Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
• Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
• Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.

Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs, to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science fair projects start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!

Construct a model maglev train

Maglev trains may just be the future of mass transportation. Build a model at home, and explore ways to implement the technology on a wider basis.

Learn more: Maglev Model Train at Supermagnete

Design a more efficient wind turbine

Wind energy is renewable, making it a good solution for the fossil fuel problem. For a smart science fair project, experiment to find the most efficient wind turbine design for a given situation.

Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine

Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.

Learn more: Da Vinci Flying Machine at Student Savvy

Design a heart-rate monitor

Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But do they work any better than one you can build yourself? Get the specialized items you need like the Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.

Race 3D printed cars

3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library. Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)

Learn more: 3D Printed Cars at Instructables

Grow veggies in a hydroponic garden

Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair STEM engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.

Learn more: Hydroponics at Instructables

Grab items with a mechanical claw

Delve into robotics with this engineering project. This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions. Once you’ve built the basic structure, tinker around with the design to improve its strength, accuracy, or other traits.

Learn more: Hydraulic Claw at KiwiCo

Construct a crystal radio

Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch. This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.

Learn more: Crystal Radio at Scitoys.com

Build a burglar alarm

The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.

Learn more: Intruder Alarm at Instructables

Walk across a plastic bottle bridge

Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!

Learn more: TrussFab Structures at Instructables

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High School Physics

Prepare your students for real-world problem solving and open-ended lab experiments. Experienced educators and curriculum specialists have developed each of these lessons, and we have tested them in real classrooms. PocketLab physics lessons cover introductory and advanced topics from one-dimensional motion to electricity and magnetism to simple harmonic motion. Browse all the high school and AP-level physics lessons below or use the filters to search for specific content.

Rolling Resistance Physics Lab

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance is a force that opposes the motion when an object rolls along a surface.There are many examples of objects experiencing rolling resistance: car or bicycle tires on pavement, skateboard wheels on a half pipe ramp, steel wheels on a railroad track, ball bearings in a pulley, bowling balls on a bowling lane, and carts rolling on a dynamics track, just to mention a few. Many factors can affect the magnitude of the forces associated with rolling resistance.

Moment of Inertia Challenge

The Moment of Inertia Challenge

Determinig the moment of inertia about the center of mass mathematically  of an object with complex geometry is not an easy task.  Consider, for example, the empty 3D filament reel shown in Figure 1, an empty 1-kg Polymaker Polylite ™ PLA reel.  With its holes and intricate axle design, the best way to determine the moment-of-inertia about its center of mass is via a laboratory experiment.  Voyager (or PocketLab One) is mounted to the reel for data collection.  

Kinematics of Translational and Rotational Motion

Introduction

Empty 3D filament reels are great devices to use in the physics classroom.  There's a good chance that you and your students could come up with some interesting physics lab investigations using these reels.  Attach Voyager or PocketLab One to the reel as shown in Figure 1, and the possibilities are endless!  This lesson describes a lab in which your students study the kinematics of both translational and rotational motion when the reel rolls down a ramp on its axle.  Students are often surprised when they see the reel speed up upon reaching the floor on which

Moment of Inertia of a 3D Filament Reel About Its CM

Your school can put all of those empty 3D filament reels to good use in the physics classroom.  There's a good chance that you and your students could come up with some interesting physics lab investigations using these reels.  As shown in Figure 1, attach Voyager or PocketLab One to the reel, and the possibilities are endless!  This lesson describes a lab in which your students determine the moment of inertia of an empty 3D filament reel about its center-of-mass.  They will accomplish this using two independent methods.  One method has the reel acting as a p

Unrolling Spool Problem Quantitative Experiment

Think twice before discarding your school's empty 3D filament reels.  There's a good chance that you and your students could come up with some interesting physics lab investigations using these reels.  As shown in Figure 1, attach Voyager or PocketLab One to the reel, and the possibilities are endless!  This lesson describes a quantititive experiment that your students can perform in a study of the classic "unrolling spool problem".

Periodic Motion of an Empty 3D Filament Reel

Don't discard your school's empty 3D filament reels.  There's a good chance that you and your students could come up with some interesting physics lab investigations using these reels.  Attach Voyager or PocketLab One to the reel and the possibilities are endless!  This lesson describes a unique experiment in which periodic motion is investigated using an empty 3D filament reel.  Depending on the teacher's goals and amount of detail in the analysis of collected data, this lab could be used from the 4th grade through high school.  The

NGSS Seismic Basketball Challenge

The NGSS Seismic Basketball Challenge

This NGSS seismic basketball challenge fits well in the study of motion for high school physics students.  Here is a statement describing the challenge:

Place PocketLab Voyager on a wood floor with accelerometer data being captured. Drop a basketball onto the floor near Voyager and let it bounce several times, being careful to not let it hit Voyager.  From the recorded accelerometer data, determine the original height from which the basketball was released.  

Intelino / Voyager Lab: "Floor-it" Acceleration/Max Speed

The purpose of this lesson is to challenge your students to design an experiment for which data from PocketLab Voyager is used to determine the "floor-it" acceleration and maximum speed of the intelino smart train engine.  Required data should be obtained in a single run of data collection by the PocketLab app.  Figure 1 shows a picture of Voyager attached to the top of an intelino smart engine.  Designed for all ages, intelino is intuitive with its app, has built-in sensors to provide an interactive experience for the user, and is easily programmed with colo

intelino / Voyager Lab: Stopping Distance vs. Speed

Have you ever been told not to follow too close to the driver ahead of you?  To keep a safe distance?  To abide by the "3-second rule"?  To keep a distance of at least one car length for every ten miles per hour of speed?  These questions all deal with the issue of stopping distance versus speed in order to avoid crashes.  A great way to investigate the relationship between stopping distance and speed is to interface Voyager with an " intelino® smart train ".   Designed for all ages, intelino is intuitive with its app, has bui

intelino / PocketLab: Velocity vs. Impulse to Stop

While driving at 40 mph, you see a red stop light ahead.  You press your brakes for several seconds, gradually coming to a stop.  A little later on the same road at 40 mph, you approach another light, this time green.  While approaching this light, it suddenly changes to yellow.  You make a split-second decision to put on your brakes to avoid going through a red light.  With the brakes applied quite hard, you quickly stop, waking up your sleeping friend in the front passenger seat.

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Advanced physics 1 lab manual.

The following is a complete list of lab activities from PASCO's Advanced Physics 1 Lab Manual. Each lab has three versions available for download: a structured lab, a student designed lab, and a guided inquiry lab. You may preview and download these editable student handouts or export them using the chalkboard icon. These activities include AP/IB-alignment details, SPARKvue and Capstone data files, and Teacher Resources that can be accessed by creating or signing in to a PASCO educator account.

Grade Level: Advanced Placement

Subject: Physics

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Sign In to your PASCO account to access teacher files and sample data.

01) Graphing Motion

Students measure the position and velocity of a cart on a track to determine the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration versus time graphs.

02) Newton's Second Law

Students use a Smart Cart to determine the relationship between a system’s mass, acceleration, and the net force being applied to the system.

03) Atwood's Machine

Students use a photogate and pulley system to determine the mathematical relationship between the acceleration of an Atwood’s machine, the difference between its two masses, and the sum of those two masses.

04) Coefficients of Friction

Students use a Smart Cart to determine the static and kinetic friction coefficients between two contacting surfaces.

05) Two-Dimensional Motion: Projectiles

Students use a photogate and mini launcher to measure the variables that affect the two-dimensional motion of a projectile launched horizontally, and then use those variables to accurately predict and test the projectile's horizontal range.

06) Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to explore how the kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and total mechanical energy of a cart/earth system changes as the cart rolls down an inclined track.

07) Work and Kinetic Energy

Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in kinetic energy of an object experiencing a non-zero net force and the work done by that net force on the object, and then use their data to establish a measurement-based relationship between work and kinetic energy.

08) Conservation of Momentum

Students use two Smart Carts and a dynamics system to demonstrate that linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in an elastic collision, and linear momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not conserved in an inelastic collision.

09) Momentum and Impulse

Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in momentum of a cart undergoing a collision and the impulse imparted to the cart to change its momentum, and then use their data to establish a measurement-based relationship between change in momentum and impulse.

10) Rotational Dynamics

Students use a rotary motion sensor to determine the mathematical relationship between torque, rotational inertia, and angular acceleration of a rotating object.

11) Rotational Statics

Students use the Smart Cart force sensor and tension protractors to demonstrate that the sum of the forces acting on an object in static translational equilibrium is equal to zero, and the sum of the torques acting on an object in static rotational equilibrium is equal to zero.

12) Periodic Motion: Mass and Spring

Students use a Smart Cart to determine the physical properties of a vertical mass and spring system that affect its period of oscillation, and then use their data to support a mathematical model relating period, mass, and spring constant.

13) Simple Pendulum

Students use a photogate and pendulum to determine the physical properties of a simple pendulum that affect its period, and then use their data to support a mathematical model relating period to pendulum arm length.

14) Resonance and Standing Waves

Students use a resonance air column, tuning forks, and the principles of resonance and standing waves for a pipe with one closed end to experimentally determine a value for the speed of sound in air.

15) DC Circuits

Students use a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and an AC/DC electronics laboratory to construct simple resistor circuits with resistors in series or in parallel, or both (with at most one parallel loop of resistors), to demonstrate the validity of Kirchhoff's loop rule (conservation of energy), and Kirchhoff’s junction rule (conservation of charge).

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Experiment Features

Teacher files, sparkvue files, pasco capstone files, wireless sensors, pasport sensors, scienceworkshop sensors.

Many lab activities can be conducted with our Wireless , PASPORT , or even ScienceWorkshop sensors and equipment. For assistance with substituting compatible instruments, contact PASCO Technical Support . We're here to help.

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Science Projects > Science Fair Projects > Physics Science Fair Projects  

Physics Science Fair Projects

Physics is the basis for chemistry (the interaction of atoms and molecules). Most branches of engineering are applied physics. That’s why physics science fair projects make good impressions on judges.

– For tips on performing your experiment and presenting your project, see our free science fair guide.

– Browse our Science Fair Supplies category for more project ideas.

Electricity & Magnetism :

• Experiment with static electricity . How can you create it? How you can reduce it? What substances or objects are the best conductors of static electricity? Do conditions like humidity and temperature increase or decrease static electricity?
• Make electromagnets with different strengths; compare their magnetic fields using iron filings to find what effect they have on a compass needle and how strong their attraction is (e.g., which one can pick up the most paperclips?).
• Make a voltaic cell and research which household electrolytes are most effective for producing electricity. How well does a carbon rod instead of a metal rod work as a positive electrode?
• Can you use a magnet to find traces of iron in food, dollar bills, and other household materials?
• Make a crystal radio . What indoor and outdoor materials (such as metal poles, a window, etc.) make the best antennas for your radio? Under what conditions, such as temperature, cloud cover, and humidity, does your radio pick up the clearest signals?
• What types of liquid can conduct electricity ? Can electricity be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen?
• Experiment with how magnetic and electric fields can make a magnet fall in slow motion . How could this principle be applied to real-world technology, like braking systems on roller coasters?
• Explore maglev technology (magnetic levitation).

Force & Motion :

• What are the best shapes for paper airplanes? The best material for propellers ?
• Experiment with thrust and aerodynamic design while launching a rocket .
• Design an experiment using a rocket car powered by a balloon.
• Create an experiment showing how well (or poorly) different structures or materials withstand pressure.
• How do different brands of plastic wrap compare when stretched with equal force? How do different brands of duct or clear tape compare in strength and stickiness? Can you identify what factors cause one to perform better than another?
• What type of flooring (carpet, wood, tile, linoleum, etc.) creates the most or the least friction? (Younger kids might test this by rolling a ball or toy truck over different surfaces. Older kids can use a spring scale to measure the force of friction. )
• Use toy cars or a dynamic cart to test what impact increased mass has on velocity. What are the resulting velocities after a moving and unmoving object collide? What about two moving objects in same or different directions?
• What type of pulley provides the highest mechanical advantage for a particular job?
• What types of metal conduct heat the fastest? Do some conduct heat more evenly than others? What types of materials are good insulators?
• Experiment with how much more energy is needed to catapult a heavier object the same distance as a lighter object. Create a similar experiment with a bow and arrow.
• Explore centripetal force by designing and building a mini roller coaster and demonstrating the physics behind it.
• How does the efficiency of an incandescent bulb compare to a fluorescent? What about LED? How much heat energy do they produce?
• Compare the effectiveness of different types of insulation. Which keeps out the most heat or cold?

Alternative Energy :

• How could you use a solar cell to recharge a battery? (You’ll need to use a diode and set up a circuit.) How does a solar cell compare to a battery with the same voltage?
•  How would you use solar energy most effectively in your home or school?
• What time of day tends to be best for charging a solar cell?
• How does the angle of incidence of light affect the energy output of a solar cell? Use a digital multimeter to measure how much voltage is being produced by the solar cell.
• What types of blades work best to produce electricity using a wind turbine ?
• Can you create an effective water turbine design? How would you connect it to a generator to produce electricity?
• Can you test/simulate the environmental effects of producing electricity from steam in geothermal areas?
• Can different substances (such as vinegar or salt) be used in electrolysis to make hydrogen production more cost-effective?
• Does increasing the number of electrodes make the process of electrolysis less time consuming or more cost effective?
• Can different alternative energy sources be used in combination to produce the energy to power a home?

Visit our science fair project ideas page for ideas in other categories, and check out our Physics Kits for High School for even more fun!

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The High School Physics Workbook: A Needed Instructional Device

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Nurmukhammad Rakhmatov

The Student’s Solutions Manual provides solutions to select Problems & Exercises from Openstax College Physics. The purpose of this manual and of the Problems & Exercises is to build problem-­‐solving skills that are critical to understanding and applying the principles of physics.

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This paper presents a brief modern physics teaching proposal for high school students, with a view to the importance of the use of experiments and simulations. With this is expected to facilitate the teaching and learning of students with respect to modern physics subject, which is not very well seen in high school, is of great importance to the education of the student. I also hope that this work will serve as an aid for teachers in order to view and teaching of modern physics in secondary level schools. Abstract-This paper presents a brief modern physics teaching proposal for high school students, with a view to the importance of the use of experiments and simulations. With this is expected to facilitate the teaching and learning of students with respect to modern physics subject, which is not very well seen in high school, is of great importance to the education of the student. I also hope that this work will serve as an aid for teachers in order to view and teaching of modern physics in secondary level schools.

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Welcome to Physics , an OpenStax resource. This textbook was written to increase student access to high-quality learning materials, maintaining highest standards of academic rigor at little to no cost.

About OpenStax

OpenStax is a nonprofit based at Rice University, and it’s our mission to improve student access to education. Our first openly licensed college textbook was published in 2012 and our library has since scaled to over 25 books for college and AP ® courses used by hundreds of thousands of students. OpenStax Tutor, our low-cost personalized learning tool, is being used in college courses throughout the country. Through our partnerships with philanthropic foundations and our alliance with other educational resource organizations, OpenStax is breaking down the most common barriers to learning and empowering students and instructors to succeed.

About OpenStax resources

Customization.

Physics is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY) license, which means that you can distribute, remix, and build upon the content, as long as you provide attribution to OpenStax and its content contributors.

Because our books are openly licensed, you are free to use the entire book or pick and choose the sections that are most relevant to the needs of your course. Feel free to remix the content by assigning your students certain chapters and sections in your syllabus, in the order that you prefer. You can even provide a direct link in your syllabus to the sections in the web view of your book.

Instructors also have the option of creating a customized version of their OpenStax book. The custom version can be made available to students in low-cost print or digital form through their campus bookstore. Visit your book page on OpenStax.org for more information.

Art Attribution in Physics

In Physics , most art contains attribution to its title, creator or rights holder, host platform, and license within the caption. For art that is openly licensed, anyone may reuse the art as long as they provide the same attribution to its original source. Some art has been provided through permissions and should only be used with the attribution or limitations provided in the credit.

All OpenStax textbooks undergo a rigorous review process. However, like any professional-grade textbook, errors sometimes occur. The good part is, since our books are web-based, we can make updates periodically. If you have a correction to suggest, submit it through our errata reporting tool. We will review your suggestion and make necessary changes.

You can access this textbook for free in web view or PDF through OpenStax.org, and for a low cost in print.

About Physics

This instructional material was initially created through a Texas Education Agency (TEA) initiative to provide high-quality open-source instructional materials to districts free of charge. Funds were allocated by the 84th Texas Legislature (2015) for the creation of state-developed, open-source instructional materials with the request that advanced secondary courses supporting the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics should be prioritized.

Physics covers the scope and sequence requirements of a typical one-year physics course. The text provides comprehensive coverage of physical concepts, quantitative examples and skills, and interesting applications. High School Physics has been designed to meet and exceed the requirements of the relevant Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS ), while allowing significant flexibility for instructors.

Qualified and experienced Texas faculty were involved throughout the development process, and the textbooks were reviewed extensively to ensure effectiveness and usability in each course. Reviewers considered each resource’s clarity, accuracy, student support, assessment rigor and appropriateness, alignment to TEKS, and overall quality. Their invaluable suggestions provided the basis for continually improved material and helped to certify that the books are ready for use. The writers and reviewers also considered common course issues, effective teaching strategies, and student engagement to provide instructors and students with useful, supportive content and drive effective learning experiences.

Coverage and scope

Physics presents physical laws, research, concepts, and skills in a logical and engaging progression that should be familiar to most physics faculty. The textbook begins with a general introduction to physics and scientific processes, which is followed by several chapters on motion and Newton’s laws. After mechanics, the students will move through thermodynamics, waves and sound, and light and optics. Electricity and magnetism and nuclear physics complete the textbook.

• Chapter 1: What Is Physics?
• Chapter 2: Motion in One Dimension
• Chapter 3: Acceleration
• Chapter 4: Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Chapter 5: Motion in Two Dimensions
• Chapter 6: Circular and Rotational Motion
• Chapter 7: Newton’s Law of Gravitation
• Chapter 8: Momentum
• Chapter 9: Work, Energy, and Simple Machines
• Chapter 10: Special Relativity
• Chapter 11: Thermal Energy, Heat, and Work
• Chapter 12: Thermodynamics
• Chapter 13: Waves and Their Properties
• Chapter 14: Sound
• Chapter 15: Light
• Chapter 16: Mirrors and Lenses
• Chapter 17: Diffraction and Interference
• Chapter 18: Static Electricity
• Chapter 19: Electrical Circuits
• Chapter 20: Magnetism
• Chapter 21: The Quantum Nature of Light
• Chapter 22: The Atom
• Chapter 23: Particle Physics

Flexibility

Like any OpenStax content, this textbook can be modified as needed for use by the instructor depending on the needs of the students in the course. Each set of materials created by OpenStax is organized into units and chapters and can be used like a traditional textbook as the entire syllabus for each course. The materials can also be accessed in smaller chunks for more focused use with a single student or an entire class. Instructors are welcome to download and assign the PDF version of the textbook through a learning management system or can use their LMS to link students to specific chapters and sections of the book relevant to the concept being studied. The entire textbook will be available during the fall of 2020 in an editable Google document, and until then instructors are welcome to copy and paste content from the textbook to modify as needed prior to instruction.

Student-centered focus

Physics uses a friendly voice and exciting examples that appeal to a high school audience. The Chapter Openers, for example, include thought-provoking photographs and introductions that connect the content to experiences relevant to student’s lives. The writing in our program has been developed with universal design in mind to ensure students of all different backgrounds are reached. Content can be accessed through engaging text, informative visuals, hands-on activities, and online simulations. This diversity of learning media presents a wealth of reinforcement opportunities that allow students to review material in a new and fresh way.

• Snap Labs : Give students the opportunity to experience physics through hands-on activities. The labs can be completed quickly and rely primarily on readily available materials so that students can do them at home as they read.
• Worked Examples : Promote both analytical and conceptual skills. In each example, the scenario/application is first introduced, followed by a description of the Strategy used to solve the problem that emphasizes the concepts involved. These are followed by a fully worked mathematical solution and a discussion of the results.
• Fun in Physics : Features physics applications in various entertainment industries.
• Work in Physics : Students can explore careers in physics as well as other careers that routinely employ physics.
• Boundless Physics : Reveal frontiers in physical knowledge and descriptions of cutting-edge discoveries in physics.
• Links to Physics : Highlight connections of physics to other disciplines.
• Watch Physics : Support student’s understanding of conceptual and computational skills using videos from Khan Academy.
• Virtual Physics : Provide inquiry and discovery-based learning by providing a virtual “sandbox” where students can experiment with simulated physics scenarios and equipment using the University of Colorado-developed PhET simulations.
• Tips for Success : Offer students advice on how to approach content or problems.
• Grasp Checks : Formative assessments that review the comprehension of concepts and skills addressed through reading features, interactive features, and snap labs.
• Practice Problems : Challenge students to apply concepts and skills they have seen in a Worked Example to solve a problem.
• Check Your Understanding : Conceptual questions that, together with the practice problems, provide formative assessment on key topics in each section.
• Performance Tasks : Challenge students to apply the content and skills they have learned to find a solution to a practical situation.
• Test Prep : Helps prepare students to successfully respond to the format and rigor of standardized tests. The test prep includes multiple choice, short answer, and extended response items.

Answers to Questions in the Book

Answers to Review and Test Prep questions are provided in the Instructor Answer Guide. Select answers to Review and Test Prep questions are provided in the Student Solution Guide. The Grasp Check, Practice Problem, and Check Your Understanding answers are not provided because they are primarily for self-review and discussion.

Additional resources

Student and instructor resources.

We’ve compiled additional resources for both students and instructors, including Getting Started Guides, PowerPoint slides, and an instructor answer guide. Instructor resources require a verified instructor account, which you can apply for when you log in or create your account on OpenStax.org. Take advantage of these resources to supplement your OpenStax book.

Partner resources

OpenStax Partners are our allies in the mission to make high-quality learning materials affordable and accessible to students and instructors everywhere. Their tools integrate seamlessly with our OpenStax titles at a low cost. To access the partner resources for your text, visit your book page on OpenStax.org.

About the Authors

Senior contributing authors.

Paul Peter Urone , California State University, Sacramento Roger Hinrichs , State University of New York, College at Oswego

Contributing Authors

Fatih Gozuacik (Director of Technology and Education) holds master’s degrees in physics and atomic physics from Texas A&M Commerce and Sakarya University in Turkey. In addition to teaching AP® and College Physics, he has been a mentor for the Physics Bowl and the Science Olympiad, and has served as a college counselor for junior and senior students. Fatih was named the 2015 STEM teacher of the year by Educate Texas.

Denise Pattison (East Chambers ISD) was born and raised in Lumberton, Texas. She graduated from Lamar University - Beaumont in 2004 with a degree in science and has taught Physics, Pre AP® Physics, and IPC Physics. She loves teaching because it offers the opportunity to make a difference in a person’s life.

Catherine Tabor (Northwest Early High School) holds Bachelors degrees in Mathematics and Physics, a Master’s degree in Physics, and is working towards a PhD in Computer Science. She has taught for over twenty years, holding positions at a number of high schools in El Paso and colleges including Evergreen State and UT El Paso. At Northwest Early HS, she teaches Astronomy, AP® Physics, and AP® Computer Science.

• Bryan Callow, Lindenwold High School, Lindenwold, NJ
• John Boehringer, Prosper High School, Prosper, TX
• Wade Green, Stony Point High School, Round Rock, TX
• Susan Vogel, Rockwall-Heath High School, Heath TX
• Stan Hutto, Southwest Christian School, TX
• Richard Lines, Garland High School, Garland, TX
• Penny McCool, San Antonio ISD, Raise Up Texas Coach
• Loren Lykins, Science Department Chairman—Carlisle Independent School District, TX
• Janie Horn, Cleveland High School, Magnolia, TX
• Sean Oshman, Garland Independent School District, TX
• Cort Gillen, Cypress Ranch High School, TX

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute Texas Education Agency (TEA). The original material is available at: https://www.texasgateway.org/book/tea-physics . Changes were made to the original material, including updates to art, structure, and other content updates.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction

• Authors: Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Physics
• Publication date: Mar 26, 2020
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/preface

© Jun 7, 2024 Texas Education Agency (TEA). The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.