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kruidenier physics

@kruidenier.bsky.social

Midwest Physics Teacher (High School)

kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Quick volume flow rate lab using cheap 'water squirters'. They measured starting height, distance the water travelled, and time to plunge. We split one in half to get internal radius of the chamber, they predicted radius of the opening. Fun and more accurate than I expected! #ITeachPhysics 🎢

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Simple but visually striking example of neutral buoyancy I stole from a colleague. Tie a helium balloon to a long coil of string, let it rise, then clip the string at the point it loses to contact with the ground. #ITeachPhysics

Side by side of helium balloon floating in the middle of the air with string hanging down. In one picture the string is shorter and floating, in the other longer and a portion sits on the ground.

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

APP1 project for the week before winter break/end of 1st semester: project an object, track the motion, and create a visual presentation of the motion, force, and energy. #iTeachPhysics 🎢

Kinematic graphs, energy bar charts, table of positions, velocities, accelerations, and net force, a FBD, and a motion tracked image of a thrown ball.

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Final unbalanced force lab for my honors physics class- 1) derive an expression for the kinetic friction coefficient of socks on tile using only times and distances. 2) Take data and numerically solve. Required whimsy makes this a favorite activity! Mass independence always stuns. #iTeachPhysics 🎢

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Had students jump while standing on a force platform. They copied the normal force-time graph, identified different parts of the jumping motion, and analyzed the vertical force summation for each part. #iTeachPhysics 🎢

Screen capture of normal force vs time graph labeled which sections, then chart to fill out for each section guiding them to correct force summations.

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Making a new energy stations lab for APP1. Have the skateboard PhET, U(s) up a ramp with spring cart, U(g) down a ramp with motion cart, marbles on equal height change tracks, and ramp to loop minimum speed. Any other 'quick' energy transfers I could add? #iTeachPhysics

Spring plunger cart on angled ramp, energy demo equipment- equal height change tracks, and energy demo equipment- ramp into loop, all on desk together

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

First snowfall of the year was a nice backdrop for my honors physics N2L derivation lab. Several delightfully spontaneous conversations about road friction and driving home with students. #iTeachPhysics

Snow falling outside the window, inside a physics lab station with a modified Atwood setup.

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Trying to add more quick 'analog' labs to my APP1 curriculum. 45 min, derive an algebraic expression for velocity of a pushed block using work-kinetic energy theorem. Estimate a numeric value with measurements only from this equipment. No screens. Mostly happy the with results! #iTeachPhysics 🎢

Pile of meter sticks, spring scales, friction blocks, digital scales, and bar masses.

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

New work-kinetic energy lab for app1. horizontal fan cart to verify F-d graph area matches kinetic energy gained, then angled ramp to predict velocity at different positions before experimentally confirming #iTeachPhysics

Motion cart on 10 degree angled track, fan cart on horizontal track. Both recording v-x graphs on computer.

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kruidenier physics @kruidenier.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

I'm sure lots have done this before, but it was a new idea to me... Tension as a constant value- negligibly massed string- versus changing tension in a thick rope or chain. Led to some nice discussion!

Two chains of 5 spring scales, one with intermixed masses and one with large mass at bottome

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