Motion Web Links

 

Our writers recommended these independent websites as background information and content supplements for Motion lessons.

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Pushes and Pulls

This interactive website designed for younger students demonstrates the effect of different strengths of pushes and pulls on an object.( http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/pushes_pulls.shtml  )
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Friction Explorer

Students explore what happens when they vary the force of a push on a sliding object on this interactive website. ( http://www.seed.slb.com/labcontent.aspx?id=17210&terms=friction+explorer )
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Friction

Students explore how different surfaces (vinyl, wood, carpet, and ice) effect friction. ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/friction.shtml )

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Forces and Movement

An interactive track on which younger children can explore how mass, strength of force, and slope affect the motion of an object ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/6_7/forces_movement.shtml )
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FETCH! Move it or Luge It!

This fun, interactive game challenges students to apply their knowledge of pushes and friction to propel a luge down the track. The goal of this game is to have the fastest time. ( http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/luge/game.html )

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Design a Roller Coaster

On this website, students build a conceptual roller coaster using the physics concepts that are used to design real coasters such as the height of the first hill, the shape of the first hill, the exit path, the height of the second hill, and the loop. This reading level at this site is more appropriate for upper elementary students. ( http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster/ )

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DESIGNit  BUILDit  FIDGIT

This fun, interactive site challenges children to use physics and engineering principles to create paths that little Fidgit creatures can bounce and roll through to get to their destination. ( http://pbskids.org/designsquad/games/fidgit/index.html  )

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Curious George: The Ball Wall

In this short video, sponsored by PBS kids, children design a wall to stop the motion of a rolling ball. It is an excellent tool to show how simple problem solving develops through trial and error. ( http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/video/video_pop.html?clip=interstitials/122A&title=The%20Ball%20Wall&ar=16:9&bandwidth=_hi&filetype=wmv )
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Digger and the Gang: Stuck on the Tracks

This wonderful, interactive website challenges children to make a roller coaster car move by applying a push or a pull, or by changing the surface of the track to overcome friction. ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/digger/7_9entry/7.shtml )

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Physics4Kids: Friction

The Physics4Kids web site has a section on Motion, including a page that talks about friction in straightforward terms. ( http://www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_friction.html )

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Amusement Park Physics

How do physics laws affect amusement park ride design? On this website, students will have a chance to find out by designing their own roller coaster. They can also experiment with bumper car collisions. (http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/)

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Roller Coaster Simulation

This simulator is designed for people who want to design their own thrilling coaster and educators who want to use a cool activity to simulate the application of physics by using an exciting interactive tool and access to a wonderful reference source. (http://www.funderstanding.com/coaster)

 

Friction  - BBC – Bitesize: Science  activity

How does friction affect the distance an object will travel on a surface? Find out on this interactive website. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/physical_processes/friction/play.shtml)

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Forces in action – BBC – Bitesize: Science  activity

How does changing the gradient affect the car’s speed? Find out on this interactive website. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/physical_processes/forces_action/play.shtml)

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Laws of Motion – Kids Science Videos, Games and Lessons that Make Learning Fun and Easy

This website offers a variety of video clips about different aspects of motion. (http://www.neok12.com/Laws-of-Motion.htm)

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Forces in 1 Dimension – Force, Motion, Friction

Children can explore the forces at work when they try to push a filing cabinet on this interactive website. Charts show the forces, position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time. (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-1d)

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Friction – Thermodynamics, Heat, Temperature

Children learn how friction causes a material to heat up and melt on this interactive website. (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/friction)

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Projectile Motion – Gravity, Velocity, Air Resistance

On this website, children learn about projectile motion by firing various objects out of a cannon. Children set the angle, initial speed, and mass and can even add air resistance. They can make a game out of this simulation by trying to hit a target. (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion)

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The Ramp

Children explore forces, energy and work as they push household objects up and down a ramp on this interactive website.  The can lower and raise the ramp to see how the angle of inclination affects the parallel forces acting on the file cabinet. (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/the-ramp)

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Forces in Action – Motion & Resistance

On this website, children learn about forces in action as they experiment how gradients, weights, motion and resistance affect the movement of various objects with this fun science activity. (http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/forcesinaction.html)

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Friction

Children learn about friction as they experiment with how the movement of vehicles responds to different surfaces and levels of resistance in this great friction game. Children discover which surface slows a vehicle down more – vinyl, wood, carpet or ice. They try and get the car to the end of the track by putting the principles and fun science information you learn about kinetic friction into action. (http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/friction.html)

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Matter and Motion:  Roller Coaster Design

Where do you feel the most g’s on a roller coaster? In this video clip, children can observe the use of a measuring device called an accelerometer to find out which part of simulator roller coaster gave the participants the most g-forces. (http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/rollercoasterdesign.html)

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Matter and Motion – Waterslides

Children learn more about the motion associated with soggy, waterslide thrill rides on the video clip found on this website. (http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/waterslides.html)