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Physics of video games lesson

In this lesson students build a simple Pong game in Scratch and consider the physics involved in the game play. They then apply their understanding of force and motion to design their own video game concept. The resource includes links to downloadable lesson plan, websites, videos, apps and an assessment rubric. The lesson ...

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Whimsical Whirligigs

This activity invites students to design and make Whimsical Whirligigs, kinetic contraptions that can be powered by wind, crank, or motor. Students can create wind-powered paper creatures or machines with moving parts. A The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, inspiration and ...

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Stomp Rocket Design Challenge

This resource provides a scaffold for students to complete a design challenge. The design challenge requires students to create a stomp rocket that can travel to a chosen planet in the solar system. The design challenge can also be used to investigate forces and energy. It can be delivered over a number of lessons, or it ...

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Experimentals: Examples of Bernoulli's theorem

Have you ever wondered how a yacht sails into the wind? Watch as the Experimentals team works through practical demonstrations of Bernoulli's theorem. You're in for a few surprises as you learn how gases and liquids change their behavior as they begin to flow.

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experiMENTALS: Levitating balloon

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of levitating a balloon.

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Gravity and the Solar System

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how the movement of planets around the sun is related to gravitational forces. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Gravity

Students use this resource consisting of four slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that gravity is a force of attraction which acts on Earth towards the centre of the planet, and that the size of the force of gravity depends on the mass of each object and the distance between them. There ...

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Electromagnetic Simulation (sk-Intel)

In this resource students explore how an electromagnet works in real life. They can then apply their learning in an electromagnetism game by changing the magnetism of a scrap lifter in a scrap yard and removing various amounts of scrap. The resource demonstrates the connection between the power applied, the number of coils ...

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Pivots and Levers: animation

Students use this resource consisting of one page with a diagram of a lever whose length can be varied. A weight is then applied to the lever and students can see whether the force was sufficient to lift a crate. This demonstrates that forces can cause a lever to turn about a pivot and that the turning effect of a lever ...

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Rotocopters

This resource contains lessons plans containing instructions and teachers' notes for a lesson that can be part of a unit on flight or used as a great motivating activity to foster positive attitudes. The clear and explicit instructions are a good example of a procedural text. The notes also provide a clear explanation of ...

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Calculating Moments

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand the principle of moments and its application to situations involving one pivot. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Experimentals: Do different things fall faster?

Want to find out what happens when you drop a watermelon and an apple from the top of a building? In this clip, Bernie Hobbs and Ruben Meerman, investigate whether the mass of an object influences how fast it falls. Bernie and Ruben ride the 'Giant Drop' at Dreamworld, drop a watermelon and apple from an eighth floor balcony, ...

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Different paper plane designs

How many different paper plane designs are there? Lots! Watch as Dylan Parker, paper plane expert, demonstrates some of his favourites. Notice the way the different shapes and features of the planes cause them to move through the air in different ways. Which one do you like the most? Why not have a go at making something similar?

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Energy skate park: basics

This is an interactive teaching and learning resource that years 7 to 10 secondary school students can use to simulate the motion of a skateboarder descending and ascending on a variety of tracks. Height, speed and energy conservation are visually displayed. The skater's mass and starting height, as well as the drag he ...

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Catalyst: Do heavier things fall faster?

Will a medicine ball or a basketball hit the ground first when dropped at the same time from the same height? In this clip, Catalyst's Dr Derek Muller investigates what influences the speed at which objects fall. Derek challenges some people in a market to make a prediction and explain their thinking, before he finally ...

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Understanding Magnets

In this simulation students select an object made of one of two materials (either iron or aluminium) and use magnets to guide the object through a maze. Engages students while they learn that aluminium is not attracted to magnets but iron is.

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experiMENTALS: Keys on a shoelace

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students to show that keys on a shoelace can do some unexpected things.

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Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Making a mini-rocket

Have you ever seen someone create a rocket using a soft drink bottle? In this clip, Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman attempts to 'supersize science'. You will find out how he made a model rocket and see slow-motion footage of the rocket as it shoots up into the sky.

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experiMENTALS: Gravity defying wheel

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of demonstrating resistance to change in a spinning a bike wheel to observe the principles of a gyroscope.

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Sites2See: Surf safety

A webpage about surfing safety, dangerous waves and rips, and the history and science of surfing. A 'For Kids' section provides games and quizzes for young swimmers and surfers.