My Library

This activity blends a hands-on investigation with a computer simulation, as students use probeware to observe and graph the changing temperature of a melting ice cube. In the first step, learners use a sensor to monitor temperature as an ice cube melts in a bowl of room temperature water. Next, temperature is monitored as a second ice cube is placed in a solution of salt water mixed at the conce ...

Students do an activity in which heat is transferred from hot water to cold metal washers, and then from hot washers to cold water. They view an animation to help them understand what's going on at the molecular level, and then they draw their own representation of the process of conduction.

This activity from the TeachEngineering Digital Library engages students in the engineering design process as they build physical models of roller coasters using foam pipe insulation and marbles. The lesson features a host of instructional supports: scripted introduction, discussion questions, front-loaded vocabularies, video showing the design in action, formative assessment, background informa ...

This 5-minute YouTube video, hosted by physicist Derek Muller, aims to debunk specific misconceptions held by most people about heat and temperature. Dr. Muller uses an inquiry-based approach to explore the scientific meaning of heat transfer by examining whether our touch receptors are reliable gauges of heat and temperature. The opening question: “Which is hotter, a metal hard drive or a ...