Physics: Age 12

11 illustrated Physics lessons for Age 12.

Particles and a Nucleus A hot, crowded cloud contains tiny particles. Protons and neutrons can join into a small central core while el…
Storm Cloud Collisions Inside a tall storm cloud, ice crystals and water droplets swirl in turbulent air. When they bump into each ot…
Blue Sky Light Sunlight contains many colors. Air makes short blue waves spread out much more than long red waves, so the sky…
Curved Wing in Airflow A wing's upper surface curves upward. Air moves faster over that curve than beneath, so the pressure above dro…
Spider silk and steel cables A spider silk cable and a steel cable have the same thickness. The spider silk cable holds a full-size coach b…
Airbag Above the Snow A skier's backpack inflates into a big balloon in about two seconds. With more volume, the moving snow lifts t…
Short Jaws, Stronger Crush Two open pliers sit on a bench. The short pliers crack a walnut, while the long pliers leave a same-sized waln…
Compact Shape Holds Heat For the same mass, a smooth, round body has less skin on the outside than a body stretched into a long neck, t…
Sailboat Moving Forward Wind pushes the sail from the side. Water pushes back on the fin below, so the boat moves forward.…
Lifting a Boulder With a Plank A plank resting on a steel wedge lets a small push at one end raise a heavy boulder at the other end. The fart…
Timing a Light Beam to a Mirror A telescope fires a short pulse of light at a mirror far away, and the light bounces straight back. Because li…