Janice VanCleave's Physics for Every Kid (eBook)

Janice VanCleave is a science teacher with 27 years of experience in the classroom. She is also the author of more than 50 science books that together have sold over 2 million copies. She is the founder of the popular website www.scienceprojectideasforkids.com and has tutored thousands of students and educators from around the world.

Introduction ix

Foreword xiii

I Energy Introduction 1

1. Energy Conservation 5

2. Frequency 9

3. Coupled Pendulums 11

4. Sound Waves in Air 14

5. Pressure Waves 17

6. Pitch 20

7. Sound Transmission 23

8. The Effect of Mass on Sound 27

9. Natural Frequency 30

10. Neutral Atom 32

11. Electric Current 36

12. Conductors vs. Insulators 39

13. LED 43

14. Electrochemical Energy 46

15. Polarizing an Insulator 51

16. Polarizing a Conductor 56

17. Electroscope 59

18. Triboelectric Effect 63

19. Adhesion: Charging by Contact 66

20. Light Energy 70

21. Light Transmission 73

22. Light Waves 77

23. Interference in Thin Films 80

24. Concave Lens 84

25. Convex Lens 87

26. Plano-Convex Lens 90

27. Polarized Light 93

28. Filters 96

29. Optical Density 99

30. Refractive Index 103

31. Shadows 108

II Force and Motion Introduction 113

32. Inertia: Newton's First Law of Motion 115

33. Rotational Inertia 118

34. Acceleration 122

35. Impulse 126

36. Gravity 129

37. Friction 132

38. Air Resistance 135

39. Drag Force 137

40. Air Pressure 141

41. Torque 145

42. Resultant Force of Gravity 148

43. Center of Gravity 151

44. Balance 154

45. Shifting the Center of Gravity 157

46. Action/Reaction 161

47. Normal Force 165

48. Balloon Rocket 169

49. Bounce 173

50. Coanda Effect 177

51. Bernoulli's Principle 179

52. Pressure Differences 182

53. Balanced Forces 185

54. Unbalanced Forces 188

55. Lift Forces 191

III Simple Machines Introduction 195

56. First-Class Lever 199

57. Equal-Arm Balance 203

58. Second-Class Lever 206

59. Third-Class Lever 210

60. Just for Fun: Third-Class Lever 214

61. Inclined Plane 217

62. Screw 220

63. Wedge 223

64. Moveable Pulley 226

65. Fixed Pulley 229

66. Wheel and Axle 233

IV Magnets Introduction 237

67. Ferromagnetism 240

68. Magnetic Field 244

69. 3-D Magnetic Field 248

70. Mapping Magnetic Fields 251

71. Temporary vs. Permanent Magnets 254

72. Magnetic Permeability 257

73. Compass Rose 260

74. Floating Compass 262

75. Magnetic Declination 265

76. Electromagnet 269

77. Right-Hand Rule 274

78. Demagnetization 277

79. Dipping Needle 279

80. Magnetic Energy 283

Glossary 287

Index 311