Something that always fascinates me about physics teaching and learning is that the basic concepts are closely interrelated. If you can grasp the concepts of Newton’s laws of motion as applied to the acceleration of objects in one dimension, then this knowledge can be used to evaluate the motion of objects in a variety ofContinue reading “Newton and Coulomb: Fatal Attractions and Fundamental Forces”
Tag Archives: PhET simulations
Educational Evolution in the Sciences
More than 20 years ago I stepped into my first classroom. Before me sat rows and columns of students patiently waiting for me to teach them something. Today when I go to school things look pretty much the same. The science curriculum has changed little over the years and I still need to cover everythingContinue reading “Educational Evolution in the Sciences”
The Upside of Gravity
What can you always depend on, but will always let you down? Gravity! But in fact, gravity will never let you down as a topic of interest for your physics students. That’s why Step by Step Science has created some great new teaching resources on gravity over the summer. Gravitation and satellite motion are conceptsContinue reading “The Upside of Gravity”
Teaching Newton’s Laws of Motion
Along with Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton is probably one of the best known scientists in the world. Everyone knows his name, but few people can state his three laws of motion and even fewer can explain their application in the real world. Did you know Newton first presented his three laws of motion in 1686? ManyContinue reading “Teaching Newton’s Laws of Motion”
Why I Switched to PhET Interactive Simulation Labs
Picture this: It’s Friday afternoon and you have just finished a great week of teaching. Everyone is getting ready to leave, but you are already thinking about Monday. You don’t want to spend the weekend preparing for next week’s classes so you stay until you have the first day of the week planned. Double whammy,Continue reading “Why I Switched to PhET Interactive Simulation Labs”
Step by Step Science 