Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for good online resources for basic beginning physics, high school-ish level. In particular, just for today, I'm looking for a good definition and explanation of the different types of energy (kinetic vs potential etc). I know all this stuff, but I want ds to have a chance to read up on it himself rather than listening to me explain it to him. DS would much rather see a picture or watch a video than read a textbook or long explanation.

2nd question - how do you find good science websites (or other educational websites) when your child has an area of interest without spending a ton of time and also knowing that you're giving them a good resource? Things were so much easier back in the dark ages when I was a kid and the only answer for a parent was "look it up in the encyclopedia!". IS there a good online encyclopedia we should think about subscribing too? Is there a preferred search engine for students in their teens? And for younger students too? Is there a best place(s) to go for videos?

Thanks for any suggestions!

polarbear

Here is my current Pinterest collection of science websites. I still have to go dump my old bookmarks into it-- this is just what I've gleaned from others on that site recently. There are some links there that I haven't had time to go through yet but are hubs for other sites, which may contain some early high school level material, and Khan Academy of course has some good science content.
http://pinterest.com/iucounu/education-science-computer-and-video/

There exist short videos by the Canadian Broadcasting Company, sort of like a geeky Schoolhouse Rock without the music. They are all on YouTube-- here is the first one, which links to the second, etc.



DeeDee

ETA: I also recently downloaded an app for iPad called Science360-- a curated collection of science videos. I haven't had time to play with it enough yet to say whether we like it, but it's from the National Science Foundation, so presumably not awful...

The Cartoon Guide to Physics might be of interest, and so might the physics materials at The Hippocampus.

Hi Polarbear.

My husband teaches physics at the university level, and frequently teaches a course called Conceptual Physics. You might try searching that phrase on the internet for resources. It is the ideas or concepts of physics, but not heavy on the math. He usually teaches three different introductory classes: Conceptual Physics (for the humanity majors), Physics for the Pre-Med students (which is algebra based), and Physics for Engineers (which is Calculus based). I'm sure you can find resources on the web that fall into one of those categories.

You might try Khan Academy. They have a large section of physics videos. I can't remember how much math they use. The other resource I can think of, off the top of my head, is a collection of videos called Standard Deviants. I heard about them on this board several years ago. It is not an on-line resource, but it is not hard to find these videos at the library or cheaply on Amazon. They have wonderful physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, etc. They are a bit silly and wacky, but my son loved them when he was about 8 years old. He learned a great deal of physics and chemistry from watching those videos. I found a few snippets on YouTube, so you can check them out to see if you like their style. I think my son liked the Chemistry (3 volumes) better than the Physics, though. That may be because the Physics is heavy on the math and equations.

My hubby also recommends the PhET web site for the Univ. of Colorado at Boulder. Here is a link:
Energy Skate Park Simulation

Hope that helps! If you can post more info about the level of math you are interested in, then I can look for other resources that might be a better fit.

Wow!!! Thanks so much for all the amazing and wonderful resources - I'll be checking out links this morning

Thanks so much - y'all rock!

polarbear

I'll list non-profit or commercial-free sources. I evaluate resources based on who is providing the digital content/source and their motive and what it entails and who is it aimed for. I view it as research/digital library skills, but then again I have a library degree (not a physics degree!) .

http://watchknowlearn.org/default.aspx - provides free educational videos for ages 3-18. They're indexed and categorized by age, topic. By contrast to Khan Academy, they may not be as good in advanced or aimed at higher levels of physics.

http://www.goodsitesforkids.org/ - is aimed at kids and is comprehensive. If you use the enter physics in the Google search engine under list of topics, you'll get the links specific to it.

http://librarianchick.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Main_Page - has a section on science for free or open source materials, classes, etc. - aimed at kids and teens.

http://sourceforge.net/ - find, publish, or create open software for free - has a section on physics under their science/engineering side list.

http://www.opensourcephysics.org/ - open source physics. This one might be aimed at college students though and goes into various fields of physics.

Sorry I'm a little behind on this. I'm new to the board and am still kind of trying to catch up. One of the best resources I know of is hyperphysics. I don't know the URL off the top of my head, but it's easy to find on google. My advisor from grad school is the one who used to maintain it - brilliant guy, but I think he may be retired now. It just covers the basics in almost any subject in physics, without going into so much detail that it becomes tedious and confusing. (And as a bonus, you may get to see videos of some of the lab work I did while I was there. ). I also used to teach high school physics - so feel free to PM me if you need anything at all!

For younger kids, try the following website for physics games:

http://www.phyfun.com/

Have fun!

this is a book, but i think "Thinking Physics" is outstanding, by maybe David Epstein?

Coo, thanks MathWonk and Solaris for that recommendation - looks great.

I used to have a lovely physics textbook (distinguished by being relatively short* and not wasting any words) but right now I can't for the life of me remember enough details to find it, and I don't have it any more as I lent it out and never got it back... Will edit later if I can.

*no pun intended

Since I posted, OER Commons has recently been released and has a lot of physics resources (http://www.oercommons.org) from lectures, coursework, textbooks, games, interactive stuff, Khan videos, etc. You can limit the search by age, subject, or advanced search.

Tons of open educational resources on OER Commons from kindergarten to graduate school - including PHeT physic simulations from the University of Colorado Boulder (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new).

I used to read the World Book encyclopedia for fun when I was a kid. If I saw a recent set at a yard sale for say $100 I might buy it.

Encyclopedia Brittanica is now only online and costs $70 annually.

The best search engine for teens may just be Google with proper parental controls. A science web site for teens created by CTY
is Cogito https://cogito.cty.jhu.edu/ .

The Advanced Placement Teachers' Resources Search http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Pageflows/TeachersResource/TeachersResourceController.jpf is a good place to browse for a range of subjects.

A comprehensive list of books and sites by 1999 physics Nobel Laureate Gerard ′t Hooft is

HOW to BECOME a GOOD THEORETICAL PHYSICIST
http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/theorist.html

and for dry humor one can read his other essay,
HOW to BECOME a BAD THEORETICAL PHYSICIST
http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/theoristbad.html

A good physics forum I have browsed is
Physics Forums
http://www.physicsforums.com/

Physics Today magazine is worth browsing. For example, it recently discussed "Teaching general relativity to undergraduates"
http://www.physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v65/i6/p41_s1?bypassSSO=1
Some of these books may be accessible to gifted high school students who have studied AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C.

The online resource that goes with the conceptual physics courses that I teach is called the physics classroom . There are notes for each topic as well as simulations and quiz questions. It does a good job of explaining the concepts with examples for students.

Another online resource for simulations is called Explore learning you can check it out for a few minutes at a time, but it does require you sign up. I do not know how much it costs though because I get it through school. It is not quite a good as pHet that was mentioned earlier, but does have some good stuff to play with.

Our copy of "Thinking Physics" arrived yesterday, and I flipped open at random to the mechanics example of the ant walking on the sandwich being eaten by the guy walking forward in the moving streetcar. DS likes it. Thanks for the recommendation.

ALISON - also has free courses or diplomas, including advanced physics/general science/ chemistry/biology/algebra/SAT math - under school curriculum - http://alison.com/AllCourses

There's a lot of potentially useful coursework on ALISON and it's FREE. So before you spend one penny, look online for free/ open source resources.

A list from the Ohio Association for Gifted Children is copied below.

Physics Resources for Gifted Students

• Conceptual Physics text by Paul Hewitt – Many gifted middle schoolers enjoy this as an introduction to physics (helpful for younger and older students also, depending on the interest and ability level of the student). http://www.conceptualphysics.com/

• EPGY’s online AP Physics B course – Many gifted kids have successfully used this course. Introductory college level. Student is prepared to take the AP Physics B exam after successful completion of this course. Visual lectures with animation and color. http://epgy.stanford.edu/courses/physics/

• MIT Open Courseware. Free. Class list available here: http://ocw.zju.edu.cn/OcwWeb/Global/all-courses.htm#Physics. A popular physics class is taught by the amazing Professor Lewin. All the materials, including video lectures, problem sets, and exams, except for the textbook, are on the MIT website. http://ocw.zju.edu.cn/OcwWeb/Physics/8-01Physics-IFall1999/CourseHome/index.htm.

• Two free AP Physics online courses (B and C) here: http://www.archive.org/details/ap_courses Click on the course you want, then when you get there, click on the lesson you want, then look to the left hand side of the page where it says "click to start this lesson".

• Physics C lectures/lessons and book recommendations here: http://www.courserepository.org/.

• AP Physics approved sample syllabi example textbook list here: http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/courses/physics_c.html

• Kinetic Books says on their website that their Physics for Scientists and Engineers digital course has now been approved for AP, and they provide virtual labs as well. It costs $50 for the CD version of the course and $30 for the labs, a little less for the one-year web access version. http://www.kineticbooks.com/index.html

• The College Board answers some questions about AP courses and middle school here: http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/faq.html

• Physics with Calculus, by Craig Fletcher. The books come in two volumes, designed as a self-teaching course. http://faculty.polytechnic.org/cfletcher/

Particle Physics Resources

• The Particle Adventure - Intro particle physics tutorial with some “activity” sheets (though some are simply quizzes). http://www.cpepweb.org/particles.html

• Handbook of Engaged Learning Projects - a page of primarily science-based projects (some are interdisciplinary) for elementary through high school level students. http://ed.fnal.gov/help/index.html

• Data-based Investigations from Fermilab - data-based investigation such as “Calculate the Top Quark Mass”, “Investigate Special Relativity”, “Search for Higgs”, and “Cosmic Rays”. http://ed.fnal.gov/data/

• Streaming video of the parts of a particle detector http://quarknet.fnal.gov/run2/boudreau.shtml

• Searching For the Building Blocks of Matter On-line Tutorial http://ed.fnal.gov/projects/exhibits/searching/

• Particle Physics Interactive Timeline http://www.fnal.gov/pub/inquiring/timeline/index.html

Miscellaneous

• "Physics 10: Physics for Future Presidents" by Professor Richard A. Muller of UC Berkeley, a series of 26 lectures, each 1.25 hrs. A good introduction to basic physics concepts. Dr. Muller presents the material in a clear and engaging way. Free on youtube and podcasted on iTunes: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=095393D5B42B2266

• Muller also wrote a book for the general public (and also a textbook), same title: http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Future-Presidents-Science-Headlines/dp/0393066274.

• UC Berkeley has many courses available online: http://www.youtube.com/user/ucberkeley

• Richard Feynman's lectures. Streaming videos: http://freescienceonline.blogspot.com/2008/12/richard-feynman-physics-video-lectures.html

• The Teaching Company has a course "Physics in Your Life" by Wolfson here: http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=1260. Enjoyable for all ages, paced in half hour segments, includes demonstrations of classic experiments. Check the library; if not in holdings, wait for a Teaching Company sale. The Teaching Company also has String Theory and much, much more.

• Chad Orzel has a preliminary copy of the first chapter of his book, Quantum Physics for Dogs here: http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2008/09/quantum_physics_for_dogs_previ.php If you like that, you might enjoy his other blog posts that involve talking about physics with his dog, Emmy: http://scienceblogs.com/principles/physics/physics_with_emmy/

• The Flying Circus of Physics is a text with online supplemental material. “Curious events and effects of the everyday world” http://www.flyingcircusofphysics.com/index.aspx

I can certainly recommend Paul Hewitt's book. he has a style of explanation above anything elese we have used. I managed to pick up a second hand copy (I live in the UK - I had to buy from the US). The only downside is that I didn't get access to the website that accompanies the book.

One other book useful for delving when you need to back up any teaching is Asimov's Undertsnding Physics, which, in his inimitable style, explains more of the mathematical side in a way that a non-mathematician like myself can follow
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understandi..._1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342251467&sr=1-1

If you can you might also try and obtain a copy of Eureka on DVD. I know it used to be available on youtube. It is invaluable - I wish they had made another series.

Another great resource is "the way things work". the book is still available, but if you can get a copy of the DVD I highly recommend it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Way-Thi..._1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1342251264&sr=1-1

One last one - Physics for superheroes
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Physics-Sup..._1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342251374&sr=1-1

some hate it - but I really took this book and the style of explanation. Might be my age

Thanks for all of these terrific suggestions!

I'll be back to add a couple of other open-source links.
MITx was mentioned, yes? TED also has some interesting material.

Coursera and Udacity are also on my radar, though I've not checked either one out very thoroughly at this point, so I can't say what they have which is physics-specific.

High school level material (not just physics):

SAS curriculum pathways.

Oh-- for lab materials, Labpaq and esciencelabs.

A bioinformatics professor is homeschooling his son and a few other students in AP Physics C, describing the lessons and experiments (including computer analysis of experimental data) at his blog

http://gasstationwithoutpumps.wordpress.com/tag/ap-physics/ .

The textbook used is Matter and Interactions http://matterandinteractions.org/ .

I had to bump this marvellous older thread I just came across. There's been a couple recent discussions about physics books, so I am guessing I'm not the only one who will enjoy spending a few days pouring through this bonanza of resources. In fact, on-line materials are appearing at such a rate that the real challenge is figuring where to spend your time - and possibly your money. I'm drowning in choice! With the benefit of almost three more years since this thread was created, I'd love to hear recent experience to help triage.

On our end, our particular interests include engaging physics materials in any format (info, courses, games, whatever) for DS11, who smuggles Neil de Grasse Tyson under the covers, but has no exposure yet to any systematic physics concepts. The more visual the better (visual as in he loves geometry but not algebra - as opposed to we want graphic design run amuk!). Anything to do with gravity, particle, quantum and cosmology especially welcome.

I've recently been pouring through "The Great Courses" listings, including two courses strongly recommended a couple of years ago by ColinsMum (The Joy of Math and Particle Physics for Non-Physicists). I'm teetering on the edge of ordering, but wondering if that's just crazy in this new era of free Coursera et al? Same question for an EPGY physics course (which will never be recognized by our schools). Somehow the simplicity and linear coherency of something like The Great Courses - with physical DVDs in hand - appeals (but perhaps that's just my age showing?) And to be perfectly honest, regardless of what appeals to me, DS is rather resistant to after-schooling, and probably would enjoy a random selection of youtube videos and websites more than something that smacks of systematic instruction (and he's the antithesis of linear). Though I presume The Great Courses are more of a "watch for entertainment" as compared to EPGY which requires a lot of "do as homework"...?

Michelle, I would probably stick with the Neil dGT videos and Coursera topics rather than invest in TGC materials-- DD was rather underwhelmed with them at that age. They were much more dry than she cared for.

We have a small handful of them, but they barely got used. It probably depends upon the kid-- but your description sounds a lot like my DD at 10-11yo. If it felt too "schooly" then she wasn't having it.

We didn't ever try The Joy of Mathematics, though-- and what we did have success with (a couple of art history ones, and a world religions thing) we borrowed from our local library.

Bostonian's list from the previous page is still amazing as a collection of resources. DD tried most of them, and she really enjoyed exploring most of it.

We gladly endorse the Hewitt text-- it won't be enough for kids past middle school (at least not by itself), but it's a very solid introduction to classical mechanics.

The Einstein Revolution MOOC, currently in session, is not a straight physics course but looks interesting.