Online Resources Series: Physics

It’s the final episode of my Online Resource Series, and we’re wrapping it up with physics! Physics can be full of complex concepts, but don’t worry—I’ve rounded up 6 powerful online tools to help your teen understand everything from motion to circuits. Whether you're homeschooling or teaching online, these resources will make learning physics fun and engaging!

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🔹 CK-12 – Interactive physics textbooks with videos, practice problems, and simulations that overlay real-world scenarios to help concepts click.
Explore CK-12 here.

🔹 The Physics Classroom – Tutorials, practice problems, and downloadable worksheets, plus interactive simulations that make problem-solving super simple.
Check out The Physics Classroom here.

🔹 Physics Avery – Best for advanced learners, offering interactive simulations and virtual labs, especially for honors and AP Physics students.
Explore Physics Avery here.

🔹 Khan Academy – You guessed it! Video tutorials and adaptive practice exercises that break down physics topics step-by-step, aligned with educational standards.
Visit Khan Academy here.

🔹 MinutePhysics – A YouTube channel that explains physics concepts in quick, engaging videos. Perfect for quick refreshers or new topic intros.
Watch MinutePhysics here.

🔹 PhET Simulations – Interactive simulations covering everything from motion to energy and circuits. Sign up for a free account to access additional resources and guides.
Explore PhET Simulations here.

Thanks for tuning in!

For more insightful discussions and resources on science education, visit my website at thesciencementor.com.

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Are you looking for bite-sized science tutorials to use with your students or for a refresher for yourself? Visit my YouTube Channel.

Let's continue the conversation and explore the wonders of science together!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey there and welcome back to Teaching High School Science. This is the final episode of my online resource series in science, and today we're gonna focus on physics. Now, if you did not catch my previous two episodes, the first one in a series was on biology, the second one chemistry, and today we're gonna focus on six resources that you can incorporate into your physics curriculum. So let's dive in. Welcome to Teaching High School Science. I'm your host, doc, a former biochemist turned high school science teacher and private tutor. Whether you're homeschooling your team through high school science or teaching online, join me as I share tips and strategies I've learned over the years for at-home and online labs and activities, breaking down complex concepts and structuring learning in a way that makes sense. Now let's dive into today's topics. The first resource is CK-12. Now, just like with biology and chemistry, ck-12 offers a range of levels for physics textbooks. All textbooks are online, they're interactive, they include videos and practice problems, and also, within each of these, you have simulations. Now, the physics simulations, to me, are a bit more robust than any of the others, and the simulations have a gaming feel that overlays the concepts over real world situations and scenarios. These situations really engage students and help them to better grasp and understand those concepts. The second one is the physics classroom. I love the physics classroom and use it throughout my time teaching physics. It provides tutorials, practice problems and interactive simulations, and what I like about the practice problems is that they break down the steps and how to solve each of the problems, and you can download worksheets for additional practice. This resource is comprehensive and it takes them from the basics all the way through more complex and advanced topics. The third online resource is Physics Avery. Now, physics Avery is also interactive and they have a lot of great simulations and virtual labs. However, their content is more so for advanced physics, from honors through AP physics, and these activities are great for reinforcing those concepts and activities where you may not otherwise have access to the equipment in order to visualize those complex concepts.

Speaker 1: 2:25

Now my fourth one. If you guessed Khan Academy was going to be in here somewhere, then you are correct. Khan Academy, just like with biology and physics, have video tutorials and practice exercises that break down those complex concepts, and it covers a wide range of topics, all of which are aligned to educational standards. Next is MinutePhysics. Minutephysics is a YouTube channel that explains a lot of concepts in physics. In short and engaging videos. They provide concise, clear and quick explanations that either review or introduce new topics. That either review or introduce new topics and, along those lines, also check out the Organic Chemistry Tutor, which is also a YouTube channel that explain concepts in math, chemistry and physics.

Speaker 1: 3:14

And the sixth topic on my list you probably guessed because you have not yet heard it is FET simulations. They have a ton of interactive simulations for physics that help students visualize and experiment with physical concepts. These simulations are engaging and they cover topics from motion to energy and circuits. If you sign up for a free account, then that gives you access to additional resources and videos, and these videos are designed to guide you through how to help your students get the most out of the simulations so that they can better understand the concepts. Each of these tools can be used in a variety of ways to help your student not only have fun and engage in the concepts, but break it down and help them to better understand it.

Speaker 1: 4:00

As a recap, we went through CK-12, physics, classroom Physics, avery, khan Academy, minute Physics and FET Simulations. Be sure to check the show notes, because all of the ones we went through in this podcast will be linked there for easy access. Let me know if you have any questions, ideas or other experiences that you'd like to share. Head on over to my podcast page, which you can access by visiting my website at thesciencementorcom. Then select podcast from the menu and subscribe now to the Teaching High School Science podcast for your regular dose of motivation and just-in-time science ideas, and together let's make high school science a journey of exploration and achievement. Until next time, remember curiosity leads to endless possibilities.