Breadcrumbs

01 Foundations of Physics

Foundations of Physics. This introductory section is designed to strengthen the framework and approach to physics that learners bring along from secondary school. An appreciation for measurement and uncertainty anchors the Ways of Thinking and Doing articulated in the Practices of Science. Physical quantities are modelled as mathematical objects like scalars and vectors, and simple examples are used to illustrate the key conceptual strands of motion, forces, and energy that thread through the syllabus. In H3 Physics, learners explore and wonder about the role of the observer in physical descriptions.

Newton's First Law Drone Hover Challenge simulation

Newton's First Law Drone Hover Challenge is an HTML5 JavaScript physics lesson where students control a drone's thrust, compare thrust and weight, and decide whether the resultant force is zero or unbalanced.

The activity helps learners move beyond the common misconception that an object needs a continuous forward or upward force to keep moving. By watching altitude, velocity and force evidence together, students see that balanced forces mean zero acceleration, not necessarily zero velocity.

Elevator phone accelerometer simulation with a person standing on a weighing scale

Interactive elevator phone accelerometer simulation for Newtonian mechanics: this browser-based model lets students use a phone accelerometer or a manual acceleration control to investigate normal force, weight, apparent weight and weighing-scale readings in a lift.

The activity goes beyond a static worksheet: learners observe live force arrows, calculate the scale reading, answer auto-marked questions, receive targeted hints, and generate xAPI/SLS-friendly learning evidence for teachers.