Physics & Chemistry

Figure out how things work. Learn about electricity, magnets, and matter.

Resources in this category:

Amusement Park Physics
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/

How do the laws of physics affect amusement park ride design? Learn about the science that makes your favorite ride work.

Atoms Family
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/index.html

Let Dracula, Frankenstein, the Phantom and others introduce you to ideas in chemistry and physics. You can learn about electricity, atoms, energy and more. This site also gives ideas for experiments that you can do at home or online.

Baseball: The Game and Beyond
http://library.thinkquest.org/11902/

"Have you ever wondered why a curveball curves, or how ERA is calculated?" This site helps you answer these baseball and physics behind baseball questions. At this site there is a Baseball and Physics Dictionary for you to look up the meaning of terms such as force, frequency, hopping fastball, and many more. You can also discuss baseball with others by using the Baseball Discussion Board.

Carbon is 4 Ever
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005377/

"Your name is Bond...Carbon Bond. Through a series of spy files and missions, you must gather information and learn about Carbon and its compounds. Report immediately to Headquarters."

Chem4Kids
http://www.chem4kids.com/index.html

Explore the world of chemistry at this site. Learn about the periodic table of the elements, chemical reactions, atoms and more. This searchable site even teaches you how math is used in chemistry.

Chemistry.org/kids
http://acswebcontent.acs.org/kids/index.html

Make chemistry fun! Discover cool chemistry articles, activities, and games for kids. Many of these items are also available in Spanish. The site also includes resources for parents and teachers.

Color Our World (NIEHS Kids' Pages)
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/color.htm

Learn all about color while having fun! You can choose to color on-line with magic crayons (you need a Java Enabled browser), or you can print pictures to color later!

Crayola Color Corner
http://www.crayola.com/colorcensus/

At this site, you can learn all about color, take quizzes on color, find ideas for crafts to make, print out pages to color, send colorful electronic cards, and learn about the Crayola Factory at Two Rivers Landing. Most activities require free registration.

Demonstrations and Experiments in Polymer Science
http://www.pslc.ws/

Offers step-by-step layouts of simple demonstrations about polymer science, possibly suitable for science fair projects, for four age groups: Grades K-4, Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12, and college age.

Dr. E's Energy Lab
http://www.eere.energy.gov/kids/

Learn about different types of energy, such as geothermal, solar, and wind energy on this interactive website! The site can also help you learn about renewable energy, alternative fuels, and gives you tips on how to use less energy.

Edheads - Simple Machines Activities
http://edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm

Ever wonder about simple machines? This website has activities to show how and why simple machines in the house and in the tool shed work. You can also learn about the meaning of words such as lever, pulley, simple machine, and more by looking at the Simple Machines Glossary on the site.

Edinformatics Math and Science Activities
http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/math_science.htm

This site contains a variety of information and exercises in science and math for middle and high school students. Includes information and exercises on topics such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and mathematics. This site also contains animated information in the form of Java Applets.

Electrical Safety World
http://www.smud.org/safety/world/index.html

What is electricity? And how can you be safe around it? Learn all about electricity and find out why birds can sit on power lines without getting shocked at this site created by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Electricity and Magnetism
http://ippex.pppl.gov/interactive/electricity/

This site introduces you to "many of the basic concepts involved with Electricity and Magnetism. We will introduce you to static charge, moving charge, voltage, resistance, and current. Magnetism and how it relates to electricity will also be presented."

Electronics for Kids
http://users.stargate.net/~eit/kidspage.htm

Did you ever wonder about how electricity works? Here are some science experiments dealing with electricity. Ask adults for help.

Energy Matters
http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/?tqskip1=1

This site describes the history, types, and uses of energy. Play a game in which you try to deal with an energy shortage.

Energy Quest
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/

By moving the mouse over items in the room on this site, you can find different places to go to learn about energy. There are Puzzles and Games to play to learn about energy; an Energy Time Machine to teach you about historical energy events; Super Scientists you can learn about who were energy pioneers; and Energy Links to other internet resources on energy.

Eric Weisstein's World of Science
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/

The best resources for Math and Science on the Internet. Links to comprehensive sites on Math, Physics, Chemistry and Astronomy and the Biographies of famous scientists.

Exploratorium Skateboard Science
http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding/index.html

This site has information about the physics of skateboard tricks, but it also has other information about skateboarding. There's a glossary of skateboarding terms and an article about the design of skateboards.

From Windmills to Whirligigs
http://www.smm.org/sln/vollis/

Make unique science and art connections to wind by touring Vollis's yard of windmills and whirligigs. Learn how to create your own whirligigs. Find other wind resources on the Internet.

Hanging Ten
http://www.exploratorium.edu/theworld/surfing/index.html

Find out how rain, wind, and tides affect surfing. Learn about the physics of surfing.

How Things Work: Explaining the Physics of Everyday Life
http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/

Questions to Dr. Lou Bloomfield on matters related to physics: the study of science and matter, including the study of heat, light, electricity, mechanics and sound.

Jefferson Lab: Student Zone
http://education.jlab.org/indexpages/index.html

If you need information about, or just want to explore math and the physical sciences, this is the place for you! At this site from the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, you can learn "All About Atoms," take the Jefferson Lab virtual tour, find a glossary of science terms, and much more. You can also test your math and science skills by playing online games.

Jumping Into Science
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0201/articles...

This site describes the science of ski jumping. Learn about how gravity, drag, aerodynamics, friction, lift, air pressure, and wind tunnels affect a ski jumper’s performance. Although not updated, the information is factual.

Kid's Corner - The Mystery of Antimatter
http://livefromcern.web.cern.ch/livefromcern/antimatter/kids...

Discover what antimatter and matter are and what happens when they meet. You will learn about three types of particles (electrons, protons, and neutrons) and what physicists call annihilation.

NASA Glenn Learning Technologies Project
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/index.html

This website provides teachers and students with aerospace technology resources through lessons and activities, free simulations, student videoconferencing, a glossary of related terms, and educator workshops.

Optics for Kids: Science and Engineering
http://www.opticalres.com/kidoptx.html

How does light travel? How do lenses and lasers work? This site is all about how light works, and how we control and use it. Learn about the professionals who study light and about the kinds of things that these experts are trying to find out.

The Periodic Table of Comic Books
http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/

Learn the Periodic Table of Elements from your favorite comic book characters! When you click on an element in the table, this site tells you every comic book that uses that element.

Physics Van
http://van.hep.uiuc.edu/

Watch physics demonstrations by students at the University of Illinois as they show "science as fun and worthwhile for people who wonder about why the world acts the way it does".

Roofus' Solar and Efficient Neighborhood
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/kids/roofus/

Learn how to conserve energy by checking out Roofus' energy-smart house and by playing games in his backyard.

Sheppard Software - Online Games and More
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm

Learn about world continents, countries and oceans at this fun website. Free web games also include vocabulary, United States geography, chemistry and trivia. Fun, educational games for all levels!

The Skinny On the Color of Snow
http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon971003/skinny...

"Why is snow white to start with? Why are glaciers blue? And how does melted snow shake off every scrap of whiteness?" Good questions. Find good answers at this site.

The SDA Kids Corner
http://www.sdahq.org/sdakids/

Learn all about the history, chemistry, and manufacturing of soaps and detergents. You can also read up on how to recycle plastic cleaning product bottles, and learn more about why, when, and how people wash their hands to stay clean and healthy.

The Soundry: The Physics of Sound
http://library.thinkquest.org/19537/Physics.html

The Soundry describes and demonstrates how the ear perceives sound. It defines sound, describes its properties, and includes other facts about the physics of sound. It has an Interactive Sound Lab that demonstrates how sound works.

Theater of Electricity
http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/toe.html

Learn all about electricity, the Van de Graaff Generator, tesla coils, Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment, and making your hair stand on end!

The World of Measurement
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/we...

This site has information about units of measurement for upper elementary students. Learn about measurements for length, mass, temperature, time, and volume.