Teacher Resources
The Physics Classroom has been devoted to helping students, teachers, and classrooms since the 1990s. We are as passionate about that mission now as we have ever been. If you are a teacher of Physics or Physical Science, we encourage you to use our Video Tutorial with your students. And we also encourage you to consider the use of other resources on our website that coordinate with the video. We have listed a few below to help you get started.
Curriculum Corner, Circular Motion and Gravitation
Get students active and thinking with our free Think Sheets from the Curriclum Corner section of our website. Here's one to get you started ...
Mathematics of Circular Motion
Teacher Toolkits, Roller Coaster Physics
Try a Teacher Toolkit ... you might be very glad that you did. Each toolkit includes annotated links to vetted resources from across the web that we feel reliably support the specific topic. Give this one on roller coaster physics a try.
Physics Interactives, Roller Coaster Model
Give students a chance to explore the variables that affect a rider's experience on a roller coaster. Students can design loops and hills and dips and explore the resulting speeds, accelerations and normal forces. There's a classroom-ready activity sheet to make it easy to implement in your classroom.
Concept Builders, Forces and Free-Body Diagrams in Circles
Students love Concept Builders. They can earn stars, dataways, and trophies while they master a concept. This one provides a great exercise in identifying free-body diagrams for objects moving in circles.
Physics Interactives, Roller Coaster Design
This interactive, data-rich tool and the accompanying activity sheet were designed to support a project in which students design a roller coaster.
Science Reasoning Center, Roller Coaster Loops
With this reading passage and accompanying questions from the Science Reasoning Center, students will strengthen their reasoing skills as they learn about the physics of roller coaster loops. A great mental workout.
Physics Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion Chapter, Amusement Park Physics
This page from our Tutorial section is the written version of our video Tutorial. You will find additional problems with answers and solutions. Check it out.