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Teaching About Kinematics

Basic principles of motion are defined and a variety of activities provided for students from physical science to AP Physics. Materials may be used as suggested in the sequence outlined in the introduction.

1. Introduction to Teaching about Kinematics

   "...the whole burden of philosophy seems to consist in this: from the phenomena of motions to infer the forces of nature, and then from these forces to deduce other phenomena..." - Isaac Newton

2. Making a One-Second Timer

   For this activity, you are challenged to use simple inexpensive materials to construct a pendulum that takes one second to make a complete cycle.

   Related Materials:

   • One Minute Timer
   • Pendula on Parade
   • Galileo and the Pendulum

3. Where Am I?

   There are several methods for locating a point in space. In this activity, you will locate a point in two dimensions using the rectangular coordinate system used in navigation.

   Related Materials:

   • Assessment on graphing motion