INSIDE THE KIT
5 Hands-On Activities
Activity 1: Make a Straw Rocket
Build and launch your own straw rocket while exploring how thrust, air resistance, gravity, and nose-cone shape affect its flight. You’ll be introduced to free-body diagrams and start thinking like a rocket scientist as you test and improve your design.
Materials: straws, paper, tape, scissors
Activity 2: Build a Periscope
Build a working periscope and discover how mirrors can be used to redirect light and create useful optical instruments. Along the way, you’ll explore reflection, ray diagrams, and the fundamentals of optics.
Materials: 2 mirror stickers, periscope template, cardstock, scissors, tape
Activity 3: Make a Pan Flute
Turn ordinary straws into a working pan flute while investigating how the length of an air column affects pitch. You’ll explore the fundamental physics of sound while creating an instrument you can play.
Materials: 8 straws, centimeter ruler, scissors, tape
Activity 4: Create Circuit Art
Design and build a simple circuit that lights up, then turn it into your own piece of art. This activity combines creativity with the fundamentals of electric circuits and teaches how electricity flows through a complete circuit.
Materials: 3 LEDs, 8–10 inches of copper tape, button battery, paper, scissors
Activity 5: Build an Electric Motor
Build your own working electric motor and discover how electricity and magnetism work together to create motion. You’ll explore how electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy while seeing electromagnetic forces in action.
Materials: 1 AAA battery, 4 magnets, paperclips, 12 inches of wire
Other Resources
PhysiXplore Physics Handbook
- Detailed instructions for every experiment
- Lab-report guide and templates
- Materials lists and experiment guidance
Simistry Online Simulations
- QR Code/Link that leads to online simulations
- Step-by-step instructions for using the simulations
- Guidance for connecting simulations to each experiment
- Interactive simulations to reinforce each concept
Printable Materials
- Printable experiment guides
- Lab-report templates
- Physics learning resources
- Additional online activities and simulations
Interested in Getting the Kit?
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