Bringing physics to life in order to create engaging sessions for students is a challenge faced by many teachers around the globe.
Thanks to the technology that is helping teachers to create engaging sessions and keep the sleepy heads awake and engaged throughout!
For all you physics teachers I’ve jotted down a list of Apps, Blogs, YouTube channels and Pinterest Boards that you must check to add more to their collection of favorites.
Take a look!
Apps That Will Help You & Students Inside and Outside the Classroom
For Android
1) Brian Cox Wonders Compilation
Get through a 3D universe and discover everything like solar system, galaxies, from anything to everything. The groundbreaking Wonders app for Android brings together Professor Brian Cox’s Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe books with the award-winning TV series produced by the BBC into a single interactive experience. The content in this app is very highly detailed, featuring many high-resolution textures to produce the real-time 3D scenes. This requires at least 2GB RAM 1.5 GHz on your device.
Simple Rockets, focuses on the principles of orbital physics and astrodynamics by allowing students to build rockets. Users connect parts together and launch them, learning how they behave in space. Students already interested in rockets and space will find this app fascinating, while also learning about physics principles they may never have considered.
The app covers some of the main topics of the subject namely, mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics with sub topics defining concepts clearly. With hands on this app user can understand physics easily and fast with core concept tutorials, formulas calculator and quizzes. The app features a comprehensive list of formulas for the physics topics.
This free app with an easy interface covers most of physics formulas along with description and images. The app is a perfect fit for the students of any grade and even university students may find the app very useful because it covers most of the topics that come under the subject.
Get all the definitions in a proper systematic manner. The app is very helpful as it gives concise information on all the topics. The app covers all major and minor topics under the subject.
For iOS
1) The Elements by Theodore Gray
The app is based on the best selling book, The Element by Theodore Gray. The app is rich and engaging dealing in periodic tables taking user to the universe one could not imagine. Starting off with an illustrated periodic table, users can tap on each element to see an object composed of it, such as a crystal, toy or sculpture. The app also reveals vital facts about the element, including how humans have used that substance throughout history. Lavish illustrations, fun facts and the latest information from Wolfram Alpha are combined into a richly interactive app that more than justifies its price.
2) Gravity HD
The free version of this app features seven levels of physics to explore and the paid option offers 93 more! Puzzles focus on gravity and offer hints by Isaac Newton himself (or the app version of him). Users can create their own puzzle levels in the upgraded version of this app, and teachers may find that the problem solving and creativity involved in that task serves as the best demonstration of student retention of their knowledge!
Users of this app have the opportunity to design complex structures (treehouses? Ferris wheels?) with the parts that are provided. The goal of this physics-based game is to create the strongest structure for the cheapest price. Students can check the strain on the structure and detonate explosives on their structure as well, a wide range of activities that ought to appeal to even the not interested students.
Using a personally designed monster avatar, users of this app can build some very cool contraptions out of several different types of building materials using the 68 different parts provided. Students can then operate the creative contraption in real time, seeing firsthand how it works. In addition to this building mode, students can solve special “missions” that require creative problem solving and can be solved using multiple solutions. The creativity of this app is sure to tap into students’ curiosity, and the problem solving skills used will help them practice a facet of their physics education that is not always utilized.
Bobo, the app’s friendly robot companion, helps 4-12 year old users explore a virtual science museum in this app. Science students can explore 20+ in-depth topics, from lasers to lightning, and participate in hands-on, interactive experiments. Teachers will find this app an excellent addition to free-time activities or a good way to explore a topic with students.
YouTube Channels: Get All The Amazing Videos!
Get the coolest videos in the field of physics and astronomy. With more than 4500000 subscribers the channel is a big hit. Follow on twitter @periodicvideos
Curious to know about the beginning and ideas about the end of this world? Ever caught yourself pondering about all the metaphysical stuff?
This is the official video channel of Physics World, the world’s leading physics magazine. The channel may help you discover answers to all your questions. It features interviews with leading physicists and key spokespeople from the physics community, along with special video reports from major international research facilities.
3) Dr. PhysicsA
Get knowledge about basic physics, algebra and calculus. The channel features series of physics videos that will help you to understand the basics of the subjects covered. Get to know about:
— A Level Physics Revision
— Atomic Physics
— Electricity & Magnetism
— Particle Physics
— Thermodynamics
— Nuclear Physics
— Classical Mechanics
— Special & General Relativity
— Cosmology
— Quantum Mechanics
Get access to all the cool science videos that you will love to integrate in your classrooms. Physics explained at the simplest. Follow on twitter @minutephysics.
They will make you Love Physics. This channel contains the complete series;
Physics I: Classical Mechanics,
Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism and
Physics III: Vibrations and Waves lectures as presented by Walter Lewin.
Pinterest Boards That You Must Follow
1) Physics by Dr. Stefan Gruenwald
Get all the awesome physics resources by the scientist himself. Follow him on twitter @sgruenwald.
2) Awesome Physics Resources
This board consists of more than 20 members so the pins updated are vast and covers all the topics that move around physics.
Get awesome information related to all the physics. Chronotography * Fluid Dynamics * Magnetism * Cymatics * Spectra * Sound * Light * Electricity* and more!
4) Physics Lessons by Getting Nerdy
Get access to Physics lessons, activities, and teaching resources for middle and high school grade students 6-12. Follow the community on twitter @getting_nerdy
5) -Physics- by Science-A-Lot
Get your hands on amazing resources of physics by by Jean-Claude Ménard, amateur philosopher and theorist.
Blogs To Discover A Little More
With a philosophy that students learn best when they are actively engaged in physics through activities such as reading, discussing, experimenting, and solving problems, Physics Teacher Frank Noschese started this blog to give reflections on teaching physics. Know about topics like whether Khan Academy is effective at teaching physics, applying Angry Birds in physics lessons, the idea of pseudo teaching and more. Follow him on twitter @fnoschese.
Kirk Robbins shares helpful resources and tools for science teachers including reports, useful websites, and online tools. His blog will provide you with insights on transformational science education. Follow him on twitter @science_4_all.
Dan Fullerton provides a resource for teachers with details of his successes and failures, technology guides, and physics book reviews. The site is designed for easy integration with physics modeling strategies, standards based grading (SBG), mastery learning, and “alternate pathway” programs which support students who, for various reasons, aren’t able to fit into the standard classroom educational model.
Follow him on twitter @aplusphysics.
At Quantum Progress, Atlanta physics teacher John Burk relives a childhood tradition at Physics Teacher Camp, promotes blogging as a tool for professional development, and ponders why physics buildings never win campus beauty contests. Follow him on twitter @occam98.
At Pedagogue Padawan, Geoff Schmit shares innovative ideas for using Sudoku to teach Circuit Analysis, Angry Birds as a lesson in holography, and wiki spaces as a tool for science projects. Follow him on twitter @gcschmit.
Here you will get ideas by Andy Rundquist for teaching physics, fun science experiments that you can do with your students and interesting physics problems to satisfy your curiosity levels. Follow him on twitter @arundquist.
A physics blog sharing student work, anecdotes from the classroom, thoughts on student assessment, and ideas for teaching complex physics lessons. Follow on twitter @deltagphys.
Doug Smith authors this physics education blog that discusses topics like whether to use iPads in the classroom, the myths of merit pay, and scientific literacy. Follow him on twitter @bcphysics.
Don’t forget to check “6 Great Tools to Teach Physics”. Are you aware of any other resources that will help physics teachers out there? Share with us in the comment box below!
