
The
conference is over and back when there was snow on the ground, someone asked
me to come up with physics sites. Physics is not my thing; it reminds me of
something my mother used to threaten to give me - not a pleasant thought.
Therefore if I have to do Physics, it has to be fun!
Here
goes:
First - What in the world
is "physics"? http://www.wordreference.com/English/definition.asp?en=physics
Apparently physics gets to be a lot of things - the branch of science concerned
with the properties of matter and energy and the relationships between them.
It is based on mathematics and traditionally includes mechanics, optics, electricity
and magnetism, acoustics, and heat. Modern physics, based on quantum theory,
includes atomic, nuclear, particle, and solid-state studies. It can also embrace
applied fields such as geophysics and meteorology.
With this mixed bag of subject
matter (pun intended) and spring in the air, why not rejoice and sing?! Physics
songs. There is actually a CD out there of Physics songs, Physics
Pholk songs, in part funded by an NSF grant! http://www.harmonpublishing.com/items/physics_pholk_songs/
How about a seasonal rendition
of the 12 Days of Newton? "On the first day of Newton , Sir Isaac gave
to me The acceleration due to Gravity " The other 11 days can be
found at http://www.wesleyan.edu/physics/misc/physcarols.htm#12b
Also in the Top Physics Phorty
(probably sung by Phish) is a cute little ditty, Doppler Shifting. http://www.astrocappella.com/doppler.shtml
This page comes complete with an .mp3 version for listening pleasure and includes
lyrics. It's a gas (or is that a different branch of science?) but by all
means visit http://www.astrocappella.com/
where you can buy their CD for $15 -
"13 original, astronomically-correct
songs spanning the Universe ..."
These people are serious educators
who learned the value of songs and multimedia in helping kids learn. You remember
"In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue."
( I never knew there was an entire poem; go to http://www.teachingheart.net/columbus.htm)
Social studies teachers do not have the market on great techniques to educate
kids. The physics people have learned that rhyming, rapping and singing are
a great way to motivate and assist students in the learning process. And remember,
the sites listed below cover a multitude of topics.
• http://www.astrocappella.com/
lyrics, plans, activities, multimedia
• http://www.haverford.edu/physics-astro/songs/
PhysicsSongs.org but make sure you click on the link to
• http://www.haverford.edu/physics-astro/songs/database/search.htm
the motherlode, a database of songs on electricity, scientists, optics, astronomy,
quantum mechanics, it's all here(hear)
• http://www.acme.com/jef/science_songs/
Singing Science Records, by Hy Zaret who also wrote "Unchained Melody"
(think Righteous Brothers and Ghost)
• http://www.scientainment.com/songs.html
.MP3s and lyrics, science songs and media , including links to The Physics
Chanteuse and Cosmic Cabaret (can you believe this!?)
• http://www.tranquility.net/~scimusic/resources.html
science resources, all with a song in their heart
• http://www.tranquility.net/~scimusic/SSA/contest.html
- links to a science songwriting contest for students!!!
• http://www.teachtsp.com/classroom/scicourt/scsongs.html
Tom Synder's Science Court, songs and lyrics
• http://chemlab.pc.maricopa.edu/periodic/lyrics.html
No list would be complete without Tom Lehrer's Elements. Click on the Flash
animation.
• http://www.ups.edu/faculty/gcrowther/Misc/Songs/lyrics.shtml
Science songs
• http://www.astro.washington.edu/kevin/songs.html
constellations, astronomy
• http://songsforteaching.homestead.com/Science.html
Songs for teaching science, environment
If you need the less than lively
links to Physics, try these and tune in later when I try my sleight of hand
with Physics again.
• http://www.einet.net/galaxy/Science/Physics/Education/
resources for Physics in Education, categorized by grade and by subject or
consider
• http://www.einet.net/galaxy/Science/Physics.html
for resources in physics in general, acoustics, past the speed of light to
X-Rays