Mechanics

Avalanche! (Energy) What could show the effects of potential energy any better than an avalanche? What makes this clip even more interesting are all the skiers and snowboarders racing the snow.

Randy Johnson (Momentum) What happens when a pigeon and one of Randy Johnson's fastballs occupy the same point in space and time? May not be appreciated by all of your students.

Need More Speed (Projectile Motion) A bicyclist tries to go off of a ramp and land on the roof of a building, but may not have enough launch speed.

Creative Communication (Circular Motion) Using circular motion as a means of communication...gone wrong. One of my students favorite clips.

Watch Out! (Circular Motion) A clip not for the faint of heart, but it certainly gets the students attention as you start your discussion about centripetal forces.

Escher's Waterfall (Energy) Believe it or not...is it possible to recreate M.C. Escher's Waterfall and make it work?

Falling Cranes (Center of Gravity) What could make a crane topple? Watch and find out.

Crash Test Dummies (Newton's First Law) Excellent example of Newton's First Law...hopefully, gets the point across about why seat belts are important.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling (Newton's First Law) Will this tire ever stop rolling???

No More Focus (Newton's Laws of Motion) Very intense clip showing a car running into a wall...pick your favorite law to discuss with this clip.

Frames of Reference (Motion) Classic clip...who or what is moving? Standing on his head?

The Amazing Felix (Free Fall) He jumped from how high? Traveled how fast? For how long? Crazy!

Race Between Two Cars (Free Fall) A falling Lexus races a Lexus speeding along the ground...is the result possible?

Experiencing g's (Acceleration) How many times can one man pass out? Another student favorite.

Bad Timing, Take 2 (Momentum) Another example of bad timing for a poor bird.

Gun Recoil Meets Woman (Momentum) You just know that this is not going to go well for the woman shooting the gun!

Hammer Juggling (Momentum) I use this with my impulse-momentum lesson...this is one talented homebuilder!

Hammer vs. Feather Race (Free Fall) The classic scene that took place on the Moon...which will hit the ground first? Here's to Galileo!

Make Your Own Roller Coaster (Energy) Tired of waiting in long lines? Well, make your very own backyard roller coaster!

Looks Like It Hurt! (Newton's First Law) What does it look like to get punched in slow motion...watch and find out!

Skiing and Falling (Energy) Not sure why I even use this video, but I teach in Virginia and I love to show people skiing (and wiping out).

Speed Skiing (Energy) These people get moving really fast...surprising that the end was not more dramatic.

Pool Jumping (Projectile Motion) For all the boys in the class...OUCH!

Even Bees Do It (Vectors) A clip that shows vectors...I was so happy to find this one!

Water Slide and Jump (Energy) Did this really happen? Popular video clip...ask your students what they think and then prove it!

Whale Goes Boom! (Momentum) How do you get rid of a dead beached whale?

That Is a High Jump (Free Fall) How high can a person jump from a standing position? Pretty impressive.

Child On a Leash (Work) I really hope that this is a fake video.

X Games and Jake Brown (Energy) The absolute best way to teach the various forms of energy and energy conservation. Amazing that he walks away from the fall.

Breaking Bricks (Impulse-Momentum) There is more than one way to break a brick.

Anti-lock Brakes (Forces) The benefits of anti-lock brakes clearly shown in a short clip.