Vector Addition
Description
  • Describe a vector in your own words
  • Explain a method to add vectors
  • Compare and contrast the component styles
  • Decompose a vector into components
  • Describe what happens to a vector when it is multiplied by a scalar
  • Arrange vectors graphically to represent vector addition or subtraction
Language
English
Resource Type
Publisher
pHET Interactive Simulations
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Michael Dubson (Developer/Lead)
Projectile Motion
Description
  • Determine how each parameter (initial height, initial angle, initial speed, mass, diameter, and altitude) affects the trajectory of an object, with and without air resistance.
  • Predict how varying the initial conditions will affect a projectile’s path, and provide an explanation for the prediction.
  • Estimate where an object will land, given its initial conditions.
  • Determine that the x and y motion of a projectile are independent.
  • Investigate the variables that affect the drag force.
  • Describe the the effect that the drag force has on the velocity and acceleration.
  • Discuss projectile motion using common vocabulary (such as: launch angle, initial speed, initial height, range, time).
Language
English
Resource Type
Publisher
pHET Interactive Simulations
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Amy Rouinfar (lead designer - HTML5)
Electric Field Hockey
Description
  • Determine the variables that affect how charged bodies interact.
  • Predict how charged bodies will interact.
  • Describe the strength and direction of the electric field around a charged body.
  • Use free-body diagrams and vector addition to help explain the interactions.

 

Language
English
Resource Type
Publisher
pHET Interactive Simulations
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Michael Dubson (Developer/Lead)
How many solar panels needed to electrify my home?
Description

This podcast (audio) file explains how electric current can be obtained from the sun through the solar panel using direct illumination of the sun rays

Language
English
Publisher
SOUNDCLOUD
Publication Date
Creator/Author
The Energy Show
Barry Cinnamon
Safety with electricity
Description

Most of us use electricity every day in many different ways so it is important that we understand the dangers, or hazards, associated with electricity and we know how to use it safely.

Language
English
Resource Type
Publisher
Department of Higher Education
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Leigh Kleynhans
Voltage in an electric circuit
Description

When a circuit is connected and complete, charge can move through the circuit. Charge will not move unless there is a reason, a force to drive it around the circuit. Think of it as though charge is at rest and some- thing has to push it along. This means that work needs to be done to make charge move. A force acts on the charges, doing work, to make them move. The force is provided by the battery in the circuit.

Language
English
Resource Type
Publisher
Department of Higher Education
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Leigh Kleynhans
Mechanical advantage of simple machines
Description

In this unit we will learn how these factors can affect the output of a simple machine. We will also learn about the difference between ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) and actual mechanical advantage (AMA), and how to apply your knowledge to calculate the efficiency of various simple machines.

Language
English
Resource Type
Publisher
Department of Higher Education
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Leigh Kleynhans
The Earth's Magnetic Field
Description

The Earth behaves like a giant bar magnet and as such there is a magnetic field present around it. The Earth’s magnetic field is thought to be caused by flowing liquid metals in the outer core of the planet which causes electric currents and a magnetic field.

Language
English
Publisher
Department of Higher Education
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Leigh Kleynhans
The concept of mechanical advantage
Description

The amount of effort saved when using machines is called mechanical advantage (MA). Simple machines use mechanical advantage as a key property to their functionality, helping humans perform tasks that would require more force than a person could produce. We will use the lever as an example of a simple machine to illustrate the concept of mechanical advantage.

Language
English
Publisher
Department of Higher Education
Publication Date
Creator/Author
Leigh Kleynhans