Middle School Physical Science Teacher Guide
Legacy Notice: The following collection of experiments utilize older generation PASCO sensors and equipment. View the updated versions of these experiments »
The following list of lab activities are from PASCO's Middle School Physical Science Teacher Guide. You may preview and download editable student handouts as well as the Teacher Guide Introduction, which contains an overview of the activities, a master materials list and safety precautions. Individual materials lists are included within each student handout, and a complete materials list is provided below.
Grade Level: Middle School
Subject: Physical Science
Teacher Collection Files
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Activities
01) Archimedes' Principle
In this lab, students will use force sensors to measure the change in gravitational force on an object in the air and on that same object immersed in water.
02) Boyle's Law
In this lab, students will use absolute pressure sensors to investigate how changes in the volume of a confined gas with constant temperature affects pressure.
03) Conservation of Matter
In this lab, students will use temperature and absolute pressure sensors to measure changes in temperature and pressure during an oxidation reaction.
04) Energy Transfer
In this lab, students will use stainless steel temperature sensors to measure the transfer of heat energy from a candle flame through convection and conduction.
05) Exploring Velocity and Inertia
In this lab, students will use motion sensors to measure the velocity of a cart as it travels down an inclined track and collides with an obstacle.
06) Heat Transfer in Fluids
In this lab, students will use fast response temperature sensors to investigate what happens to the temperature of a solution when two substances of different temperatures are mixed.
07) Investigating Evaporative Cooling
In this lab, students will use fast response temperature sensors to measure changes in temperature as water cools.
08) Investigating Solar Energy
In this lab, students will use temperature sensors to measure changes in temperature as black coffee is warmed by sunlight.
09) Measuring Light Intensity
In this lab, students will use light sensors to investigate how light intensity changes as it gets further from the source.
10) Measuring the Voltage of Elements in Series
In this lab, students will use voltage sensors to investigate voltage drops across a varying number of elements in series within a circuit.
11) Motion Graphs
In this lab, students will use motion sensors to measure the position of a moving object.
12) Neutralizing an Acid and a Base
In this lab, students will use pH sensors to measure changes in pH and to determine the endpoint of a titration.
13) Newton's First Law
In this lab, students will use motion and force sensors to determine how the change in an object’s motion is related to the force (push or pull) applied to the object.
14) Newton's Third Law
In this lab, students will use two force sensors to measure a pair of oppositely directed forces.
15) Observing Freezing Point Depression
In this lab, students will use temperature sensors to investigate how solid-liquid transitions effect the temperature of ice water solutions.
16) Observing Phase Changes
In this lab, students will use temperature sensors to measure changes in temperature during the heating of two different mixes of ice and water – one with distilled water only and one with salt dissolved in distilled water.
17) Simple Harmonic Motion
In this lab, students will use motion sensors to measure the period of a simple pendulum.
18) Simple Machines and Force
In this lab, students will use force sensors to measure the force required to lift a mass with varying configurations of fixed and moveable pulleys.
19) Speed and Velocity
In this lab, students will use motion sensors to measure the position and velocity of a moving object.
20) Transfer of Energy in Chemical Reactions
In this lab, students will use fast response temperature sensors and absolute pressure sensors to measure changes in the temperature of an endothermic reaction and the temperature and pressure changes of an exothermic reaction.
21) Varying Reaction Rates
In this lab, students will use fast response temperature sensors to measure changes in temperature over time. Students will complete four trials of Alka-Seltzer® tablets reactions before analyzing their data.
22) Voltage Time
In this lab, students will use voltage sensors to measure the energy conversions that occur as the battery supplying energy for a miniature motor becomes exhausted.
23) Work and Mechanical Advantage
In this lab, students will use force sensors to measure the force required to lift a mass with varying configurations of fixed and moveable pulleys, in combination with an inclined plane (a ramp).
