Minds on Physics Topics

The Minds On Physics Internet Modules consists of 15 different modules which address the following conceptual ideas. Each module focuses on a topic. That topic is addressed primarily on a conceptual basis. Computational problems are also provided but typically do not form the central basis of the module. The topics addressed by each module are described below. The objectives are listed on each of our Topic pages.

• Kinematic Concepts

  This module has eight missions that address such topics as vectors, scalars, distance, displacement, velocity, speed, acceleration, oil drop representations, numerical analysis of data, and average speed and average acceleration calculations.

• Kinematic Graphing

  This module has 11 missions that address such topics as the conceptual meaning of slope and area of position-time and velocity-time graphs and the mathematical analysis of such graphs.

• Newton's Laws of Motion

  This module has 12 missions that address such topics as mass, inertia, action-reaction forces, equilibrium, balanced vs. unbalanced forces, and the acceleration-net force relationship.

• Vectors and Projectiles

  This module has 10 missions that address such topics as vector direction, vector addition, vector resolution, and the horizontal and vertical components of displacement, velocity, acceleration and force for a projectile's motion.

• Forces in 2-Dimensions

  This module has 6 missions that address such topics as vector components, equilibrium, the hanging of signs, and inclined planes.

• Momentum and Collisions

  This module has 10 missions that address such topics as momentum, impulse, impulse-momentum change theorem, action-reaction forces in a collision, momentum transfer in a collision, and momentum conservation in a collision.

• Work, Energy, and Power

  This module has 10 sublevels that address such topics as work, power, kinetic and potential energy, and the relationship between the mechanical energy of an object and the work done upon or by it.

• Circular and Satellite Motion

  This module has 10 sublevels that address such topics as tangential velocity, centripetal acceleration, centripetal force, inertia, the mathematics of circular motion, satellite motion, universal gravitation, and Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

• Electrostatics

  This module has 12 missions that address such topics as atomic structure, the nature of charge, insulators, conductors, charging by the methods of friction, induction, and contact, interaction between charged objects, Coulomb's Law, electric fields, and electric field lines.

• Electric Circuits

  This module has 12 missions that address such topics as current, voltage, resistance, Ohm's Law, electric power, series and parallel connections, mathematical analysis of circuits, and combination circuits.

• Waves

  This module has 8 missions that address such topics as the nature of a wave, properties of a wave and basic wave behaviors such as interference and boundary behavior.

• Sound and Music

  This module has 11 missions that address such topics as the nature of a sound wave, properties of a sound wave, intensity level and the deciBel scale, the Doppler effect, resonance, and standing wave patterns for string instruments and open- and closed-end air columns.

• Light and Color

  This module has 9 missions that address such topics as the nature of light waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, the phenomenon of polarization, color addition and subtraction, and the use of color filters.

• Reflection and Mirrors

  This module has 11 missions that address such topics as the law of reflection, diffuse and regular reflection, image formation, plane mirrors, concave mirrors and convex mirrors.

• Refraction and Lenses

  This module has 11 missions that address such topics as refraction, the dependency of the direction of bending upon relative light speed, medium density and index of refraction values, Snell's law, total internal reflection, and converging and diverging lenses.