The Physics Teacher’s Toolbox

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@JRowing 

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Stories

http://www.earthangelmine.com/home.html

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https://spark.iop.org/stories-physics

Simulations

https://phet.colorado.edu/

https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/

Calculator

https://www.geogebra.org/

Practical demos

A book cover with colorful hands Description automatically generatedNew Resourceful Physics Teacher book cover

https://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/

https://www.cleapss.org.uk/

Reference:

https://www.lightandmatter.com/

https://spark.iop.org/practical-physics

https://www.talkphysics.org/

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/physics-revision/

https://www.bpho.org.uk/

https://isaacphysics.org/

Social Networks

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Basic Equipment

Straws

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Diagram of a glass with a liquid in it and a diagram of a glass with a liquid in it Description automatically generatedDiagram of a glass with a liquid in it and a diagram of a glass with a liquid in it Description automatically generated

Rope

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A diagram of a path Description automatically generated6 (a.a.). Logitudinal and Transverse Waves - Andres Robotics and Science

A diagram of waves in a black background Description automatically generatedRope and strobe: Transverse standing waves, motor driven. | Lecture Demonstrations

Transverse pulses: Boundary conditions

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-3/Boundary-Behavior

Toys

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A blue and red round object with faces drawn on it Description automatically generatedUser-uploaded image: PXL_20201127_142721892+1.jpg

https://www.livescience.com/33614-the-cool-physics-of-7-toys.html

Magnets

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Coins/Money

See above!

Also: https://www.notion.so/jrowing/Money-Talks-99d450f138274ea799b5517db5dfc033

Lightgate/Sensors/Mobile Phone

BeeSpi V light gate

https://phyphox.org/

Lego

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https://www.qmul.ac.uk/spa/outreach/in-school/teacher-resources/lego-physics/

A person sitting at a table with a model of a building Description automatically generatedA person sitting at a table with a model of a building Description automatically generated

A hand holding a small toy Description automatically generatedA Physics Student Built a Lego Model of the World’s Most Powerful Particle Accelerator

https://physicsworld.com/a/the-lego-large-hadron-collider/

Pencil:

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Mug and string

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmk2bz8j71g7d85/PXL_20201114_093945046.mp4?dl=0

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Confidence

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Games and space fillers:

Mystery

http://passionatelycurioussci.weebly.com/1/post/2020/07/patterns-in-science-inquiry-cubes.html

Nim

A group of matches on a table Description automatically generatedNim Game | hanno-rein.de

Fermi

The classic Fermi problem, generally attributed to Fermi, is 

How many piano tuners are there in Chicago?” 

A typical solution to this problem would involve multiplying together a series of estimates that would yield the correct answer if the estimates were correct. For example, we might make the following assumptions: 

1. There are approximately 5,000,000 people living in Chicago. 

2. On average, there are two persons in each household in Chicago. 

3. Roughly one household in twenty has a piano that is tuned regularly. 

4. Pianos that are tuned regularly are tuned on average about once per year. 

5. It takes a piano tuner about two hours to tune a piano, including travel time. 6. Each piano tuner works eight hours in a day, five days in a week, and 50 weeks in a year. 

From these assumptions we can compute that the number of piano tunings in a single year in Chicago is: (5,000,000 persons in Chicago) / (2 persons/household) × (1 piano/20 households) × (1 piano tuning per piano per year) = 125,000 piano tunings per year in Chicago. And we can similarly calculate that the average piano tuner performs: (50 weeks/year)×(5 days/week)×(8 hours/day)×(1 piano tuning per 2 hours per piano tuner) = 1000 piano tunings per year per piano tuner. Dividing gives: (125,000 piano tuning per year in Chicago) / (1000 piano tunings per year per piano tuner) = 125 piano tuners in Chicago.

Resources and references for more toys:

Physics Toy Store

physicstoys.blogspot.com · 18 min

Where did you get all these things?” This question is often asked in the comments of my IG posts.

How do jumping popper toys work?

ox.ac.uk · 2 min

In a series of videos launching The Mathematical Observer, a new YouTube channel showcasing the research performed in the Oxford Mathematics Observatory, Oxford Mathematician Michael Gomez (in collaboration with and ) investigates the science behind the jumping popper toy.

Toys from Trash

arvindguptatoys.com · 1 min

The best thing a child can do with a toy is break it !”

International Toys in Space

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 3 min

What better way to engage your students than using toys to teach the laws of science! Students play the roles of engineers and scientists as they examine the characteristics of toys and games in the classroom and compare the results with the behavior of the same toys in space.

Physics with Toys

members.tripod.com · 13 min

One of the more difficult aspects of teaching physics is helping students develop an appreciation for physics applications. Students often end up memorizing equations and methods, and mindlessly performing the required labs.

How to make DIY ramp walker physics toys

thekidshouldseethis.com · 2 min

Built to take measured steps with swinging or rocking legs, ramp walkers are physics toys that use gravity to slowly waddle their way down ramps. Ramp walker toys have been around since the late 1800s, first made from cast iron, then wood, and then mass-produced in plastic during the 1950s and 60s.

9 Fun and Interesting Physics-Based Toys

Review Geek · 5 min

There are plenty of toys for both kids and adults that use physics in fun and interesting ways. You’ve got the classics like marble runs and perpetual motion tricks, but also some more unique ones like mini steam engines and roller coasters.

Physics of the mechanical toy Gee-Haw Whammy Diddle

Nature Publishing Group · 27 min

Gee-Haw Whammy Diddle is a seemingly simple mechanical toy consisting of a wooden stick and a second stick that is made up of a series of notches with a propeller at its end. When the wooden stick is pulled over the notches, the propeller starts to rotate.

Physics and Toys

dydaktyka.fizyka.umk.pl

Using toys to teach physics

live.iop-pp01.agh.sleek.net · 4 min

The essence of science is asking your own questions and being so interested in knowing the answers that you are willing to work hard and, if necessary, for a long time to pursue them. Scientists find joy in the asking of questions as well as in the finding of answers.

Physics with bath toys? Only with Plui from Moluk!

tobyandroo.com · 1 min

Oh come on! How could you not think this is cool!? Plui are the next generation of water and bath toys, combining fun, imagination and learning. The rainballs and rain cloud turn your child into a little rain maker and encourage them to learn the basic principles of physics.

Journal list menu

John Wiley & Sons

June 06 Issue 6

pdst.ie

Deduction, Computation, Experiment

Springer · 1 min

What is a proof for? What is the characteristic use of a proof as a computation, as opposed to its use as an experiment? What is the relationship between mathematical procedures and natural processes? The essays collected in this volume address such questions from different points of view and will

The Physics of Toys — Fondulac District Library | East Peoria, IL

fondulaclibrary.org

reference request - Mathematical toys? - Mathematics Stack Exchange

math.stackexchange.com

Toying with physics

europhysicsnews.org

Physics Toys, Tricks and Teasers

lockhaven.edu · 23 min

The Frugal Physicist’s Demo Collection, by Donald E. Simanek Fun projects you can build from everyday materials at small expense. The web has many sites featuring easy-to-make physics toys, and many books of them may be purchased.

The physics of toys: The Physics Teacher: Vol 20, No 6

aapt.scitation.org

All physicsfun toys

physicsfunshop.com · 1 min

For the price of a vinyl LP you can own the amazing artwork of Tristan Duke. This album by Jack White is damn good as well (I also got the digital download with the vinyl purchase).

Educational Physics Toys

real-world-physics-problems.com · 3 min

Physics toys allow one to see first hand the different principles of physics in action. They are an easy and inexpensive way to visualize certain concepts which would otherwise be difficult to grasp. I’m going to list some physics toys below which are both fun to use and interesting to observe.

Exploring the physics behind toys.

msnucleus.org · 4 min

Understanding physics is actually a two fold educational process. In addition to developing an accurate conceptual background, students need to apply concepts to solve problems.

Science Toys

real-world-physics-problems.com · 5 min

Science toys help kids become interested in science, while also being a source of entertainment. They can plant the seeds for future scientific exploration and even a career in the sciences.

Physics and Toys: Fun for Everyone

aps.org · 6 min

By Raymond C. Turner All too often when the word physics is mentioned, people have a very negative reaction. Fortunately, the basic principles of physics can often be demonstrated, as well as made fun, by using ordinary children’s toys.

(PDF) Toys in physics lectures and demonstrations - A brief review

ResearchGate

https://www.innovativeteachingideas.com/blog/an-excellent-collection-of-fermi-problems-for-your-class