An exploration of position, velocity,
and acceleration.

Learning Objectives Include

• Describe motion in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration
• Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities
• Use kinematic equations to determine acceleration
• Interpret position vs time data plots and position vs time-squared data plots
• Use graphical methods to determine acceleration

Students explore motion, forces, and Newton's laws.

Learning Objectives Include

• Describe motion in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration
• Apply and interpret Newton's laws of motion
• Apply free-body diagrams to determine net force
• Use Newton's second law to determine coefficients of static and kinetic friction
• Interpret and use velocity vs time data plots

Students explore potential energy, kinetic energy, and conservation of energy.

Learning Objectives Include

• Define energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy
• Discuss the different types of potential energy
• Explain the law of conservation of energy
• Contrast mechanical energy and total energy
• Apply conservation of energy principles to solve problems
• Determine spring constants
• Determine coefficients of restitution
• Interpret and use energy vs time data plots

An exploration of one-dimensional
elastic and inelastic collisions.

Learning Objectives Include

• Define momentum and the law of conservation of momentum
• Apply conservation of energy principles to determine velocity
• Use graphical methods to determine velocities
• Apply conservation of momentum principles to collisions
• Explore elastic and inelastic collisions

Students explore temperature, internal energy, and heat transfer.

Learning Objectives Include

• Define temperature, internal energy, and heat transfer
• Discuss and explain thermal equilibrium
• Compare and contrast different methods of heat transfer
• Determine heat transfer
• Calculate specific heat capacity
• Interpret and use temperature vs time data plots

Explore Faraday's law and determine magnetic field strength.

Learning Objectives Include

• Define magnetism, current, voltage, and resistance
• Define electromagnetic induction
• Explore electromagnetic induction experimentally
• Apply Lenz's law in an experimental situation
• Apply Faraday's law in an experimental situation
• Collect data and produce graphical content
• Use graphical methods to extract parameters
• Determine magnetic field strength

Students explore image formation, magnification, lens and mirror equations.

Learning Objectives Include

• Discuss converging and diverging lenses
• Discuss converging and diverging mirrors
• Define and determine focal distances
• Explore real image formation by lenses and mirrors
• Measure object and image distances
• Define and calculate magnification
• Calculate focal distances of a lenses and mirrors

Students explore atoms, isotopes, elements, types of radiation, and half-life.

Learning Objectives Include

• Define atom, isotope, and element
• List and discuss the components of atoms
• Describe radioactive decay
• Identify types of radiation
• Describe the concept of radioactive half-life
• Determine radioactive half-life
• Interpret and use decay rate vs time data plots