Most people think friction is what happens when two things are rubbed together. But there's so much more! Friction is a force that resists motion. Yet, without friction, motion would be impossible. Students will learn more about this natural force and the attempts made at controlling it in the world. Includes a hands-on activity and graphic…

Why does light behave the way it does? How does it travel from its source to the objects it illuminates and then to human eyes? Students will learn about waves, including the concepts of reflection, absorption, refraction and how light is related to the colors that can be seen. With a hands-on activity and real-life examples, these concepts are…

Up, up and away! A hot air balloon, an airplane and even the space shuttle all defy the force of gravity, but they all do it in different ways. Children will learn about the basic concepts that make flight possible. With clear demonstrations and a hands-on project, students will be able to understand more easily the basic concepts behind various…

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy from place to place. All waves have amplitude, wavelength and frequency regardless of whether they are mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves or waves in the ocean! Students will learn more about the role waves play in everyday life and why understanding them is so important. With fun demonstrations and…

Forces are all around. Without them, there would be no movement. In fact, Sir Isaac Newton theorized that a force called inertia actually works to keep things exactly as they are at any given moment! Students will learn about Newton's laws and about how forces affect many aspects of life. With clear demonstrations and a unique hands-on activity,…

Most people know that the flip of a switch will power up toys, appliances and lights with electricity and enable them to work. But why? What is it about electricity that makes it so powerful and so dangerous? Students will learn the basic concepts of positive and negative charges, current flow and open/closed circuits, and discover why getting a…

A door closes. A horn beeps. A crowd roars. Sound waves travel outward in all directions from the source. They can all be heard, but how? Did they travel directly to the ears? Perhaps they bounced off another object first or traveled through a different medium, changing speed along the way. Students learn how sound waves travel and about their…

Most people know what magnets do. Sometimes they stick together, sometimes they push apart and sometimes they don't do anything at all. But why do magnets act the way they do? Students will learn about the role of atoms in magnetism and why certain substances are magnetic while others are not. They will also discover some of the many ways…

All matter possesses certain properties--mass, weight, volume and density. But what happens to these properties when the matter changes form? How does wood become ash when it burns? And how does ice cream change when it melts? Students will learn the difference between chemical and physical changes in this excellent introduction to the changes of…

Sound. Light. Heat. Even earthquakes! They all travel in waves. Waves are a transfer of energy and understanding them allows us to better understand the world around us. Discover the two ways in which waves move, and learn about the characteristics of waves; wavelength, amplitude and frequency. Students learn about the common characteristics of…

For thousands of years, humans dreamed of flying--but it isn't as easy as birds make it look. Students will learn about lift, gravity, thrust and drag--the forces that are used to get tons of steel off the ground and carry people thousands of miles before landing safely. They will also discover the role atoms and air pressure play in this amazing…

Why does a magnet stick to the fridge but not to the wooden cabinets? This question will be answered as viewers discover what makes something "magnetic." Young students learn about positive and negative forces, the North and South Poles, and the basic concepts of why opposites attract. Children find out more about what magnets are used…

The world contains a limited number of elements--the purest form of matter. But when these elements are combined, the possibilities are limitless! Water, carbon dioxide and salt are just a few examples of how elements can be combined to form entirely new substances. Many of these combinations occur naturally, while others are man-made. Students…

Everything in the universe consists of matter. So how can the differences between various types of matter be distinguished? Besides color, shape and size, there are more detailed properties that are used to define matter. Mass, weight, volume and density are all related to tell a great deal about an object or substance. Students will learn about…

Motion allows things to get done, to communicate and to travel. But is motion controlled? Students will learn about the universal laws that apply to motion, the forces that cause it and how it is related to balance. They will also discover why motion occurs when forces are out of control and learn more about this interesting concept by viewing…