What's NEW at The Physics Classroom?
We've been at this task of providing students, teachers, and classrooms high-quality, ready-to-use resources for a long time. And we are as passionate about it now as we were 25 years ago when we started. We are always working on something new. But it is such a big website that the new additions often get nested deep inside of a section and are never noticed for months or even years after being published. So we're aiming to fix that problem with this page of announcements. Visit this page to find out about our most recent additions. And check back often in anticipation of finding new surprises.
September, 2021
September 6, 2021
Task Tracker Directions for Minds On Physics
We completed and uploaded more directions for teh use of Task Tracker with Minds On Phyics. We now have a Student Use page with a downloadable and distributable PDF and a thorougly written page on Previewing and Customizing a Mission.
September 3, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules
Whew! What a week! We've done a lot of documentation on how to use our Task Tracker tool with Minds On Physics.
Check it out. And there's more to come.
September 1, 2021
Task Tracker Payment Portal
We officially launched Minds On Physics. Our payment portal came out. Subscribers now purchase a specified number of seats and then use them to provide their classes acces to either Concept Builders or Minds On Physics. (And the exciting part, is next year this time there should be a third feature. Spoiler alert!)
August, 2021
August 28, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Refraction and Lenses)
A load of edits have been made to a variety of missions, including: Mission KC3, KG3, NL1, NL4, VP1, VP5, VP6, FD2, FD5, MC6, MC8, CG3, SE1, SE2, SE5, SE6, SE7, SE8, and LC5. With the exception of Mission LC9, we believe the program is "complete" and ready for public use. The payment portal should be out this coming week. Those wishing for early access can contact Tom.
August 23, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Refraction and Lenses)
The Refraction and Lenses module of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules has been uploaded. All MOP modules have been uploaded. We are still testing and making edits.
August 15, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Reflection and Mirrors)
The Reflection and Mirrors module of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules has been uploaded. This is the 14th of 15 total missions. That means we're about done!
August 12, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Light Waves and Color)
The Light Waves and Color module of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules has been uploaded. Eight of the nine missions are complete. The ninth will be completed soon. We are nearing the end of the project.
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Electric Circuits)
The Electric Circuits missions of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules have been uploaded. This includes 12 missions in the second of our two electricity modules. Our eight Mechanics and our two electricity modules are now complete.
August 11, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Sound Waves and Music)
The Sound Waves and Music missions of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules have been uploaded. This includes 11 missions in the second of our three Waves, Sound, and Light modules.
August 10, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Wave Motion)
The Wave Motion missions of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules have been uploaded. This includes 8 missions in the first of our three Waves, Sound, and Light modules.
August 7, 2021
iOS Functionality Restored for Simulations and Concept Builders
At some point during the summer, our Concept Builders and simulations in the Physics Interactives section lost functionality. That has been restored. You can now enjoy these great interactive tools on your iPhone or iPad.
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Electrostatics)
The Static Electricity missions of the Minds On Physics Internet Modules have been uploaded. This includes 12 missions in the first of our two electricity modules.
August 6, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Mechanics)
The interactive missions for the Mechanics section of Minds On Physics has been uploaded. We are still making modifications and edits but the resource is ready to use. This is both a free and a paid resource. Our payment portal is still under construction.
June, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules
It will at times seem as though not much is happening on the site. Nothing could be further from the truth, During times of infrequent uploads, the truth is that we are building something humongous behind the scenes. That something is Minds On Physics. We have been making some uploads, but the real
meat and potatoes is still being built and tested and refined. While you wait for completion, go visit the
Minds On Physics Internet Modules section and get acquainted with the next BIG thing. We are making great progress and we are still expecting to have it completed during the month of August. Approximately 80% or more should be done by August 1.
May, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Electric Circuits)
We continue to work on the site structure for the HTML5 version of our Minds On Physics Internet Modules. Electric Circuits was completed today. The site structure will eventually hold the interactive content and the exhaustive amount of Help pages that support students while completing the tasks.
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Static Electricity)
The HTML5 version of our Minds On Physics Internet Modules continues to take shape. We have uploaded the site structure and Help pages for the Static Electricity module.
April, 2021
Minds On Physics Internet Modules (Version 5)
We have begun the HTML5 re-make of our Minds On Physics program. This long awaited project will replace our App and Legacy version. This is a humongous project and will occupy most our time for the better part of the next four months. Check out how its shaping up and come back frequently to view more.
Physics Video Tutorial: Convex Mirrors -The Mathematics of Curved Mirrors
This video discusses the use of the mirror equation and magnification ratio to solve Physics word problems. Includes four example problems.
Physics Video Tutorial: Convex Mirrors - Ray Diagrams and Image Characteristics
This video describes how to draw and interpret ray diagrams for convex mirrors. Short. Snappy. Instructive. Worth the time.
Physics Video Tutorial: Convex Mirrors - Reflection of Light and Image Formation
We are nearing the completion of our Video Tutorial series on Reflection and Mirrors. This video describes how light reflects off convex mirrors and how this leads to the formation of virtual images.
Physics Video Tutorial: Image Characeristics for Concave Mirrors
The LOST Art of Image Description is used to explain how the characteristics of images is dependent upon the object location.
Physics Video Tutorial: Concave Mirrors - Ray Diagrams
This 7-minute video demonstrates and explains how to construct ray diagrams for concave mirrors. Five examples are provided.
Physics Video Tutorial: Concave Mirrors - Light Reflection and Image Formation
This short video describes how images are formed for concave mirrors. The distinction between real and virtual images is discussed. And the L•O•S•T Art of Image Description is introduced.
Physics Video Tutorial: Introduction to Curved Mirrors
The anatomy of curved mirrors (center of curvature, focal point, etc.) is discussed and the patterns by which light reflects is illustrated.
March, 2021
Physics Video Tutorial: The Six Foot Person Problem
What portion of a plane mirror would a six-foot tall person need to view their entire image? Find out with this short video from our Reflection and Mirrors series.
Physics Video Tutorial: Ray Diagrams for Plane Mirrors
This 6-minute video from our Reflection and Mirrors series explains what a ray diagram is and demonstrates how to construct them for point objects and arrow objects. Examples and applications of ray diagramming are discussed.
Physics Video Tutorial: Plane Mirror Image Characteristics
This short video from our Reflection and Mirrors series describes and elaborates on he characteristics of plane mirror images.
Physics Video Tutorial: Plane Mirror Image Formation
This 7-minute video explains what an image is and why it is formed using a variety of animations and diagrams.
Physics Video Tutorial: Specular vs. Diffuse Reflection
This 6-minute video describes the difference between specular and diffuse reflection in terms of their cause, explanation, and resulting effects.
Physics Video Tutorial: The Law of Reflection
Our Video Tutorial on the law of reflection has been completed. Short. Simple. Logical. Thorough. Worth checking out.
Physics Video Tutorial: Light and Sight
This is the first video of our Reflection and Mirrors video tutorial. The video lays the foundation for understanding how and why images are formed.
Physics Interactives: Balance It!
There's nothing like a good interactive challenge to liven up a lesson plan. And this Balance It! activity is perfect for such a role. Adaptable to a wide variety of classrooms, this 20-level challenge will get your students thinking in terms of force components.
Physics Video Tutorial: Modified Atwood's Machine Problems
This Modified Atwood's Machine Problems video tutorial completes our short Video Tutorial Collection on Forces in Two Dimensions.
Physics Video Tutorial: Atwood's Machine Problems
This Atwood's Machine Problems video tutorial outlines a strategy for solving an often troublesome two-body problem. The strategy is demonstrated in an example problem.
Physics Video Tutorial: Two-Body Problems
This Two-Body Problems video tutorial outlines a strategy for solving a two-body problem. The strategy is demonstrated in two example problems.
Physics Video Tutorial: Inclined Planes
This fourth video in our Forces in Two Dimensions Video Tutorial Series discusses the physics of inclined planes. The video explains how to identify forces and construct the free-body diagram, how to resolve the gravity force into components, and how to determine the net force and acceleration.
Physics Video Tutorial: Equilibrium
This is our third video in our Forces In Two Dimensions Video Tutorial collection. We have four planned. We hope to be done in March or April. This video discusses the concept of equilibrium and demonstrates how to conduct a force analysis for an object with angled forces.
Concept Builders: Equilibrium
Our Equilibrium Concept Builder will provide great training for thinking in terms of components. Learners add two forces to the given force vectors in order to establish an equilibrium.
Concept Builders: Solve It! - Inclined Planes
We are building up our Forces in Two Dimensions section of Concept Builders. This Concept Builder focuses on the mathematical relationships associated with the forces exerted on objects that accelerate along inclined planes.
Physics Video Tutorial: Net Force Problems Revisited
This is our second video in our Forces In Two Dimensions Video Tutorial collection. We have four planned. We hope to be done in March or April. This video looks at situations in which an angled force causes a horizontal acceleration.
Concept Builders: Solve It! (with Vectors and Fnet = m•a)
This is our second Concept Builder in our recently launched Forces in Two Dimensions section. Students must analyze a situation in which a force acts at an angle to the horizontal to accelerate an object across a horizontal surface.
Physics Video Tutorial: Adding and Resolving Forces
We have officially begun the creation of our Forces in Two Dimensions Video Tutorial. This is the first video, covering the topic of adding and resolving force vectors. We have four planned. We hope to be done in March or April.
Concept Builders, The Equilibrium Concept
Relying on graphical representations, tabular data, and particle diagrams, this Concept Builder hilights the features that characterize the the condition of chemical equilibrium. A true exercise in thinking and sense-making.
February, 2021
Concept Builders, Equilibrium ICE Table
This is one of our more elaborate Concept Builders. It provides great training on how to use an ICE Table to solve for K.
Concept Builders, Equilibrium Calculations
We're showing more love to our Chemistry-teaching colleagues with a Concept Builder involving calculations using an equilibrium constant expression.
Concept Builders, Chemistry, Molar Mass
We're showing love to our Chemistry-teaching colleagues with this Concept Builder on the calculation of molar mass. (Don't miss the Out of This World activity!)
Concept Builders, Work and Energy, Energy Analysis 2
This Concept Builder challenges students to conduct an energy analysis fo situations in which mechanical energy is transformed into non-mechanical forms. Its a great follow-up to
Energy Analysis 1.
Concept Builders, Work and Energy, Energy Analysis 1
This Concept Builder challenges students to conduct an energy analysis, identifying values of KE and PE at as many as 5 locations along a motion path.
Physics Video Tutorial: Solving Difficult Electric Field Problems
This is our final video in our Static Electricity Video Tutorial Series. This video steps through the solution to four difficult electric field problems.
Concept Builders, Vectors and Projectiles, Projectile Mathematics
This skill-building activity includes three distinct levels of difficulty. Students complete a table of values focusing on the relationships between the various projectile parameters.
Concept Builders, Static Electricity, Triboelectric Charging
Many have complained about the drag-and-drop functionality of some Concept Builders does not work. While going full-screen is the immediate cure, we have been gradually eliminating all such functions. Drag-and-drop has now been removed from the Triboelectric Charging Concpt Builder.
Physics Video Tutorial: Lesson Notes for Momentum and Collisions Videos
We just completed the Lesson Notes for our six Momentum and Collisions Video Tutorial lessons. These were originally left undone in the interest of time and have just now been completed.
Physics Video Tutorial: Lesson Notes for Projectile Videos
We sometimes take short cuts and omit the completion of less essential tools. When creating our Projectile Video Tutorials, we postponed the completion of the accompanying Lesson Notes. We just completed the Lesson Notes for our six Projectile Video Tutorial lessons.
Physics Video Tutorial: Electric Field Lines
This is our 14th video of 15 planned videos on static electricity. This video explains what electric field lines are and how to draw them..
Physics Video Tutorial: Coulomb's Law and Force Analysis
This short video steps through the solution to four difficulty problems involving Coulomb's Law and a force analysis of an electrostatic phenomenon.
Physics Video Tutorial: Electric Field Intensity
This short video discusses the mathematics of electric field intensity.
Physics Video Tutorial: Electric Field Concept
This short video explains the concept of an electric field and lays the ground work for an upcoming video on the mathematics of electric field intensity.
January, 2021
Concept Builder: Impulse-Momentum Change Table
Help your students get in the groove of using the impulse-momentum change theorem to analyze the changes in momentum of an object acted upon by an external force for a given amount of time.
Task Tracker for Concept Builders
We indexed all the Questions in Concept Builders using the existing topic structure. Now logged in teachers with an active subscription can access all the Question pages from one location.
Visit the Main Page.
Concept Builder: Frequency and Period
Studying vibrational motion or waves soon? Here is a NEW Concept Builder on the concepts of frequency and period.
Video Tutorial: Proportional Reasoning with Coulomb's Law
This is our second video of three on the topic of Coulomb's Law and its varied applications.
Video Tutorial: Coulomb's Law
This is our first video of three on the topic of Coulomb's Law and its varied applications.
Concept Builder: Conductors and Insulators
This Concept Builder hones in on student understanding of conductors and insulators. It's a great follow-up to the two videos immediately below.
Video Tutorial: Grounding
A video on electrical grounding was completed and uploaded to our Static Electricity Video Tutorial.
Video Tutorial: Charging By Conduction
If you're starting the topic of static electricity anytime soon, you may be able to take advantage of this video and others in the series.
Video Tutorial: Charging By Induction
Our Video Tutorial mirrors our written Tutorial. With this video, we are closing in on the completion of Lesson 2 of our Static Electricity Chapter.
Video Tutorial: Triboelectric Charging
The first video of the new year is out. Many more electrostatics videos are planned for the months of January and February. Keep checking in.
December, 2020
Video Tutorial: Polarization
The fourth video in our Static Electricity series has been completed. There's many more to come in January, 2021.
Concept Builder: Case Studies - Electric Power
This newest Concept Builder brings the total to 10 for the Electric Circuits topic.
Physics Interactives: Equivalent Resistance
This skill-building exercise is composed of 18 difficulty levels associated with determining the equivalent resistance of 2 - 5 resistors arranged in series, in parallel, or in combination. It's a great complement to our DC Circuit Builder simulation.
Physics Interactives: Hit the Target
We think this will be popular. It's like our Turd the Target sim ... without a storyline, without drama, and (especially) without turds. #JustGoodCleanPhun
Concept Builder: Series vs. Parallel Circuits
This is a great tool for all classes. There are three distinct levels of difficulty.
Concept Builder: Electric Field
This is a powerful tool ... expecially suited for AP Physics 1, Honors Physics, and IB Physics.
Concept Builders: Free-Body Diagrams for Inclined Planes
We enjoyed making this one. Hope you enjoy using it.
The Review Session - added Inline Ads
Of course nobody likes ads. But let's face the facts: making a website isn't free and somebody has to pay the bills. Better them than you. Right?
Video Tutorial: Condctors vs. Insulators
Making more progress on our collection of Static Electricity video tutorials.
Concept Builder: Getting the Hang of Charge
We needed this one. It's a big improvement upon our Charge Interactions Concept Builder.
Video Tutorial: Charge Interactions
Our second video in our Static Electricity collection.
Video Tutorial: Charged and Uncharged Objects
This was our first video in the Static Electricity chapter of our growing Video Tutorial section.
Concept Builder: Net Force and Acceleration Ranking Tasks (bug fix)
This Concept Builder has been around for a while. But the drag and drop didn't work on all devices unless the CB was used in full-screen mode. So we replaced the drag-and-drop interactivity with a more reliable one.
Video Tutorial on Momentum and Collisions
We completed the last two videos of our Momentum and Collisions section of our Physics Video Tutorial in early December.
Physics Classroom Tutorial - fixed Wolfram Alpha Widgets
We have approximately 60 interactive widgets (from Wolfram Alpha) embedded in the pages of our Tutorial. They were not displaying. The issue has been fixed and they now display properly. They are a welcome addition to the Tutorial.