The physical Science investigations described below is a curated collection of low-cost, engaging STEM activities, experiments, and interactive simulations designed to teach fundamental physics concepts. The catalog features diverse hands-on projects, including building marble roller coasters, fan carts, simple electric motors, and candy wave machines. It covers core topics such as potential and kinetic energy, Newton’s laws of motion, electricity, pendulums, and light and color vision, and provides links to high-quality external resources like PhET interactive simulations, Science Buddies, Teach Engineering, and the Exploratorium.

Mobiles
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/mobile

https://www.exploratorium.edu/tinkering/projects/open-kit-balance

13 Activities and Lessons to teach about Potential and Kinetic Energy

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/potential-kinetic-energy-lessons

Marble Roller Coaster

https://www.stem-inventions.com/pages/roller-coaster

Force and Motion- Marshmallow Puff Tube: Newton's 2nd Law

https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/marshmallow-puff-tube

Fan Cart
https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/fan-cart

Balloon Rocket
https://sciencebob.com/make-a-balloon-rocket/

Bottle Rockets
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/bottle-rocket-design

Pendulum Experiments
https://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibit-keywords/pendulums

Pendulum Lab( Simulation)
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/pendulum-lab/latest/pendulum-lab_all.html

Build a Simple Electric Motor
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Elec_p051/electricity-electronics/build-a-simple-electric-motor

Shive Wave Machine
https://www.instructables.com/Candy-Wave-Machine/

Colored Shadows
https://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/colored-shadows

https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/colored-shadows

https://www.exploratorium.edu/tinkering/projects/light-play

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Phys_p035/physics/technicolor-shadows-light-color

Sound Wave Experiments

https://www.exploratorium.edu/subjects/sound?page=0

Light and Color Simulation
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/color-vision/latest/color-vision_all.html

Soap Bubble Film Painting

https://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/soap-film-painting
https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/soap-bubble-shapes

Paper Airplane Test Lab
https://frugalfun4boys.com/paper-airplane-test-lab/

MacGyver Windmills
https://kidwind.org/activity/macgyver-windmills/

Students will use a limited amount of materials to design and build functioning windmill models. They will use these models to convert wind into mechanical energy in order to lift weights. Using the scientific method, they will conduct trials, change variables, and work to improve the performance of their windmills