physics – Lee Trampleasure's Blog

June 4, 2019

Newton’s Three Laws

A humorous take on Newton’s Three Laws.

Physics Comments: 0

February 15, 2019

Testing the Constant Velocity Model in high school physics: The “Buggy Lab”

Using buggy collisions for summative assessment for constant velocity.

Physics Comment: 1

July 26, 2015

Bouncing Ball Lab Introduces Models and Foreshadows Future Physics Concepts

I use this lab as an introduction to my physics class at all levels: First year and AP. The goal of the lab is to introduce students to the role of physics in making predictions, and for me to see where they have strengths and weaknesses in lab procedures and data analysis.

Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 9

July 21, 2009

Target shoot: Ball on ramp, conservation of energy

Many physics teachers do a “target shoot” lab for conservation of energy. The basics of the lab is that students roll a ball down a curved ramp and predict where it will land. By calculating the change in gravitational energy from the top to the bottom of the ramp (“Phase A” in the sketch), students can use this as the...

Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comment: 1

April 20, 2009

Ball in water on elevator: Buoyancy

OK. Float a ball in a beaker of water in an elevator. The ball floats because the buoyant force of the water displaced by the ball is equal to the weight of the water. Now, accelerate the elevator upward. What happens to the ball? Does it: Sink lower, rise higher, or stay the same? Here’s my video with the answer:...

Physics/Science Education Comments: 0

January 29, 2009

New NorCal/Nevada American Association of Physics Teachers web site

One of my new tasks for 2009 is Web Weaver for the Northern California/Nevade American Association of Physics Teachers. Today we launched a re-designed web site, powered by WordPress, my favorite Content Management System (CMS). Visit ncnaapt.org. If you don’t see a menu on the right side, the new server location probably hasn’t made it to your corner of the...

Science Education Comments: 0

December 1, 2008

Great physics cartoon

Egg drop contest One of the classic physics projects is an egg drop contest. Students develop an apparatus to hold an egg that will be dropped from the second or third floor (depending on how high the teacher can get easily). This cartoon is a great twist on that, and maybe a reason to use only unfertilized eggs…