Conceptual Physics 12th Edition
Laboratory Manual: Activities · Experiments · Demonstrations · Tech Labs

by Paul G. Hewitt and Dean Baird · © 2014 by Pearson Addison Wesley ISBN 0321940059


PhET-based Tech Labs


The laboratory activities below are based on computer simulations developed by the University of Colorado's Physics Educational Technology Program (PhET). Most are also included in the Conceptual Physics 12th Edition Laboratory Manual: Activities · Experiments · Demonstrations · Tech Labs by Paul G. Hewitt and Dean Baird © 2014 by Pearson Addison Wesley ISBN 0321940059. Click the link to see the lab manual's complete table of contents.

Permission: Instructors are allowed to duplicate the materials here for purposes of classroom instruction.

Instructor's notes are available to instructors via email. Enjoy!

Conceptual Physics 12e
Laboratory Activity Title and Purpose
PhET Simulation
Part One:
Mechanics
Motivating the Moving Man [Graphical Kinematics] at Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: Graphical Kinematics



Tavurvur Volcano Erupts @ Teachers Pay Teachers
This is a video+PhET sim activity that uses a video capturing the beginning of a volcanic eruption to investigate projectile motion, the speed of sound, and adiabatic expansion.


Pushing Things Around [Newton's Second Law] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To investigate the relationship between force and motion using the “Forces and Motion: Basics” PhET simulation.
Force and Motion: Basics
The Laws of Attraction [Universal Gravitation] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To investigate the quantitative nature of gravitational attraction.
Gravity Force Lab
Worlds of Wonder [Orbital Mechanics] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To use a simulation to study the orbital mechanics of a simplified solar system


Crash and Stick [Momentum] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: conservation of momentum



Fire it Up [Energy] at Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: conservation of energy



A Question of Balance [Balanced Torques] at Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To determine and apply the conditions of balance


Part Two:
Properties of Matter
Spring to Another World [Hooke's Law] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To use a simulation of masses and springs to determine force constants, a mass value, and the gravitational acceleration of an unknown planet
Masses and Springs

Pool Cubes: Density [Density] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To rank items by mass, size, density, and to determine a density-based rule for floatation
Density

Pool Cubes: Buoyancy [Buoyancy] Coming Soon
Purpose: To investigate the nature of the buoyant force and to see the role it plays in determining whether or not an object floats
Buoyancy
Part Three:
Heat
Bouncing Off the Walls [Kinetic Theory]
Purpose: To control and observe the behavior of gas particles (atoms or molecules) as modeled in a simulation to investigate properties of gas such as temperature and pressure
Gas Properties
Part Four:
Sound
Water Waves in an Electric Sink [Wave Mechanics] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To observe and control waves in a ripple tank simulation to learn the basics of wave mechanics
Wave Interference

High Quiet Low Loud [Sound Waves] at Teachers Pay Teachers
Amplitude and wavelength in sound waves



The Laws of Repulsion [Coulomb's Law] on Teachers Pay Teachers
Coulomb's law of electrostatic force


Part Five:
Electricity and
Magnetism


Quest for the Coulomb Cup [Electric Forces and Fields]
Purpose: To use a simulation to gain a sense of the vector nature of the electric field and the consequence of the inverse square law that governs electrostatic force by completing a series of game-like challenges
Electric Field Hockey

Greased Lightning [Static Charging and Discharging]
Purpose: To determine the likelihood of getting a “carpet shock” (based on controllable variables), and to avoid or produce such shocks under a series of challenging conditions
John Travoltage

Lectric Plates @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Vary the variables that affect the electric field between charged paltes and see what happens.
Capacitor Lab

Two-Plate Special @ Teachers Pay Teachers
The fundamentals of capacitance.
Capacitor Lab

Batteries and Bulbs [Circuits] at Teachers Pay Teachers
Anatomy of an incandescent bulb and the basics of circuits
Circuit Construction Kit

Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab [Electomagnetic Interaction] @ TPT
Purpose: To manipulate simulated magnets, compasses, and coils to see how magnetic fields interact with electric currents
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Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab
Part Six:
Light
Pixel Peeping [Color Mixing] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To pixels at the phosphor level, and seeing how colors are mixed
Fun With Colors @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Color mixing
Color Vision

The Fringe of Optics [Light Wave Interference] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To construct the mathematical relationship describing interference patterns
Wave Interference
Part Seven:
Atomic and
Nuclear Physics
Shine a Light [The Photoelectric Effect] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: To investigate the nature of the photoelectric effect and determine the work function of an unknown metal
The Photoelectric Effect
Radioactive Speed Dating [Radiometric Dating] @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Purpose: Correctly estimate the age of the various virtual objects (skulls, rocks, etc.) using the principles of radiometric dating
Radioactive Dating Game


This page is maintained solely by Dean Baird.
Please direct inquiries to Dean Baird: dean@phyz.org.