Physics Resources for Teaching

Recommended Virtual Lab

Name	Masses and Springs
Overview	In this virtual lab, students have a chance to investigate the relationships that are involved with the mass and spring system in relation to: energy, forces, and simple harmonic motion. For more information see MERLOT material description for Masses and Springs.
Grade Levels	Middle school, High school
Recommended Lesson Plans	Tips for teachers are included on the Masses and Springs Website
Other Lesson Plans
Engaging Students where English is a Second Language	Translated versions are available in Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Slovak
Applicable CA Standards	1. Newton's laws predict the motion of most objects. c. how to apply the law F=ma to solve one-dimensional motion problems involving constant forces (Newton's Second Law). Conservation of Energy and Momentum a. how to calculate kinetic energy using the formula E=(1/2)mv2. b. how to calculate changes in gravitational potential energy near the Earth using the formula (change in potential energy) =mgh (change in the elevation). c. how to solve problems involving conservation of energy in simple systems such as falling objects. h.* how to solve problems involving conservation of energy in simple systems with various sources of potential energy, such as capacitors and springs.
Assessment Rubrics	Assessments are included with the individual lesson plans on the Masses and Springs website
How to Use this Lab
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Comments from Fellow Teachers	MERLOT comments for Masses and Springs
Add Your Comments and Rate It	Use the "Write a comment" link on the right hand side of the MERLOT Material Detail for Masses and Springs.
Add your lesson plans to the collection	Use the "Create a learning exercise" link on the right hand side of the MERLOT Material Detail for Masses and Springs.

Free Virtual CourseWare:

Physics and Astronomy Pathway Provided by ComPADRE at AAPT: American Association of Physics Teachers Through a partnership of authors and organizations ComPADRE acts as a steward for the educational resources used by broad communities in Physics and astronomy by creating and sustaining a network of collections that provide learning resources and interactive learning environments. ComPADRE resources positively influence Physics and astronomy students and their teachers in both individual and collaborative settings.

Pathway to Multimedia Resources for the Classroom Provided by Teachers' Domain at WGBH Teachers' Domain offers multimedia resources incorporating sound educational practices and provides teachers with media-rich resources that go beyond static textbook presentations. Classroom-ready resources include video clips, interactive activities, and images from educational public television shows such as NOVA, ZOOM, and A Science Odyssey. Curricula are aligned and referenced online to state standards in Science content. Registration is required.

Middle School Portal Provided by Digital Library Projects at The Ohio State University The NSDL Middle School Portal provides access to selected online resources for instruction and professional development from the National Science Digital Library. Subject pathways in Mathematics, Science, and Technology present topic lists that take an in-depth look at teachable concepts in Science, Math, or Technology. Features include lively text and graphics along with background for teachers, interactive online activities, data analyses, and links to related topics.