Physics for Fun

Provide students with a state of the art physics lab without leaving your classroom!

This Emmy Award-winning program is designed for grades four-eight, but can be adapted for older and younger students. Physics for Fun units can be used in science kits, to complement another science curriculum, or as self-contained teaching units.

Each Physics for Fun unit includes:

• an activity guide - each guide presents ten topics with easy to follow lessons and high-interest activities using inexpensive and readily available materials. There is a criterion-referenced test for each unit.
• a DVD - University of Colorado professors with Channel 4’s Larry Green are featured in three-minute segments showing real life laboratory demonstrations that further develop concepts addressed in the 10 lessons of the activity guide.

Units include:

• The Convection Connection: Thermal Dynamics - density, heat, air pressure, buoyancy, convection, convection in the atmosphere, convection in the oceans, convection in the sun and Earth’s mantle. The Convection Connection received second place in the Best Children's Program category of the Colorado Broadcasters Association 2000 Television Awards. Features Dr. Michael Dubson, physics, Dr. Alexandra Weaver, CIRES and Larry Green, KCNC.
• Electricity - charge, static, atoms, lightning, electrical circuits, conductors and insulators, electrical energy, using electricity, energy conservation/electromagnetism, and electricity quiz game/superconductor. Features Dr. John Taylor, physics and Larry Green, KCNC.
• Force and Motion - inertia, friction, gravity, action and reaction, rocket propulsion, force and time, momentum, air pressure, Bernoulli’s principle, disturbing forces. Features Dr. John Taylor, physics and Larry Green, KCNC.
• Light - reflection/What is light?, mirrors, periscopes/curved surfaces, refraction, lenses, light is energy/speed of light, dispersion and scattering, color, pinhole camera/holograms, fiber optics/total internal reflection. Features Dr. Kristina Johnson, electrical engineering and Larry Green, KCNC.
• Sound - vibrations, hearing, medium, sound travel, speed of sound, stringed instruments, ear harps/pitch, sound words/the doppler shift, wind instruments, grand finale/sound sensations. Features Dr. John Taylor, physics and Larry Green, KCNC.

Physics for Fun was developed by Science Discovery, faculty from the physics and electrical engineering departments of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), and University Communications in partnership with KCNC (Channel 4 News). The DVD segments were originally aired on Channel 4 news. Teachers from Boulder Valley schools piloted the program in their classrooms.

Cost is $20.00 per unit or $80 for all five units. A nonrefundable deposit of $5 for single DVDs and $10 for multiple DVDs is required.

Limited VHS also available.

For more information or to order, call 303-492-8640 or e-mail sfcu@colorado.edu.