Physics:
Everyday Examples in Engineering

Lesson Plans

This section contains lesson plans and solutions, most of which have been prepared using the principle of the 5Es: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate (1).  


Demonstrations

This section provides examples of demonstrations—and includes directions for building and using the demonstrations.

Video Demonstrations of Everyday Examples


Ideas for Lesson Plans

This section lists ideas that could be used to illustrate engineering concepts. Consider these ideas as you create your own lesson plans.

Particle Kinematics

  • Bicycle, Skateboard*

Particle Kinetics

Rigid Body Kinetics

  • Ice Skating*
  • Unscrewing Bottles*

Thermodynamic Laws

Vibrations and Waves


*Source:  Ilene Busch-Vishniac, Tom Kibler, Patricia B. Campbell, Eann Patterson, Darrell Guillaume, Jeffrey Jarosz, Constantine Chassapis, Ashley Emery, Glenn Ellis. Horace Whitworth, Susan Metz, Suzanne Brainard & Pradosh Ray

(1) Atkin, J.M. and Karplus, R. (1962). Discovery or Invention? Science Teacher, 29(5):45.