High School Physics Projects

High school physics projects are something that every teenager who takes physics can expect. There will be numerous projects both inside the lab classroom setting and projects as take home work. There may even be physics projects for science fairs, presentations and other larger scale events. Physics projects can help teenagers understand not only how physics works on the page but how it can be a part of everyday life. Whether you are looking to find out about a few projects you might do in class or are looking for an idea for your science fair, keep reading to learn about high school physics projects that make physics feel real.

At the most basic level, physics is the study of matter. It focuses on how matter moves with energy, motion and force. More advanced levels of physics work with the smallest of sub atomic particles and their reactions to one another. More simplistically, physics is the exploration of what makes a ball bounce. Physics is generally broken down into two parts: theoretical physics (dealing primarily with advanced concepts and intangible ideas) and experimental physics (which is what most high school studies focus on). As a natural science, it is something that you may actually view and experiment with. However, this is not usually taught in middle school science as they are difficult concepts to grasp.

Many common physics projects include studying energy, motion, heat and temperature, friction and lubrication, light, sound or force.

• Acceleration: Acceleration is the increased rate of velocity in respect to time at which something moves. A great way to test this is to combine a round object (like a ball) with different slopes. You can start by placing the ball on the flattest slope (such as a table) and increase the slope and see how the ball moves more quickly the larger the slope. More advanced students can work on finding the formulas at which this occurs.
• Comets: Using this tutorial from Practicalphysics.com, students can work on creating comets in the classroom!
• Light refraction: Using a flashlight and a kitchen sink, students can test how light refracts at different levels of water. Students will add or remove more water from the sink and see how the light refraction changes at these levels.
• Heat conduction: Students can gather different types of coins, pieces of fabric and other materials to see which can hold heat best by recording the temperature of each after a set amount of time.
• Gravity: Another simple experiment is the affect of weight on gravity. From a controlled height, students can work together to drop items and capture the time they take to hit the ground. Students can then create formulas to guess the rate at which weight influences gravity.
• Friction: Using different screws and plugs, students can experiment with how lubrication helps friction.
• At Phys.unsw.edu.au, students can find a collection of inexpensive and interesting physics experiments to conduct on their own, in class or with their friends.
• Using an aluminum can, water, a hot plate, tongs and cold water, students can experiment with condensation and steam. Place a small amount of water in the empty can and heat it for 20 seconds. Observe the steam that comes out. Quickly move the can spout side down into the cold water. Observe what happens to the can.
• Visit Sprott.physics.wisc.edu for quick experiments in classroom settings to show how physics works.

Many high school students may get frustrated with physics as it involves a good deal of mathematics. However, physics projects can help make the discipline leap off of the page and into real life situations. Making physics come to life can also help students understand the concepts behind the formulas themselves.

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