Welcome to the

The Multimedia Physics Studios consists of a collection of GIF animations and accompanying explanations of major physics concepts. The animations cover common physics principles discussed in a first-year high school physics course. The animation and discussion have been written specifically for beginning students of physics. While the animations provide a strong visual reinforcement of physics concepts, they are not interactive. Interactive Shockwave animations are available at the Shockwave Physics Studios. Related information and discussion of physics concepts can be found at The Physics Classroom tutorial.

Topics:

| 1-Dimensional Kinematics | Newton's Laws | Vectors and Projectiles | Momentum and Collisions | Work and Energy | Circular, Satellite and Rotational Motion | Special Relativity | Static Electricity | Waves, Sound and Light | Ray Optics | QuickTime Movies | Shockwave Animations |

GIF Animations

1-Dimensional Kinematics

• Average vs. Instantaneous Speed
• Hot Wheels Track
• Acceleration vs. Constant Velocity
• Constant Rightward Velocity
• Constant Leftward Velocity
• Rightward Velocity with a Rightward Acceleration
• Rightward Velocity with a Leftward Acceleration
• Leftward Velocity with a Leftward Acceleration
• Leftward Velocity with a Rightward Acceleration
• Passing Lane - Position vs. Time Graph
• Passing Lane - Velocity vs. Time Graph
• The Stoplight
• Motion of a Two-Stage Rocket

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Newton's Laws

• Newton's Law of Inertia
  • The Car and The Wall
  • The Motorcyclist
  • The Truck and Ladder
    
• The Elephant and The Feather - Free Fall
• The Elephant and The Feather - with Air Resistance
• Skydiving

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Vectors and Projectiles

• Vector Direction
• Vector Addition: 6 + 8 = ???
• Vector Addition: The Order Does NOT Matter
• The Plane and The Wind
• The River Boat
• Parabolic Motion of Projectiles
• The Monkey and The Zookeeper
  • Throw at the Monkey in a Gravity Free Environment
  • Throw above the Monkey with Gravity On
  • Throw at the Monkey at a Fast Speed with Gravity On
  • Throw at the Monkey at a Slow Speed with Gravity On
• Horizontally Launched Projectiles
• Non-Horizontally Launched Projectiles
• Maximum Range
• The Plane and The Package
• The Truck and The Ball
• A Satellite as a Projectile

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Momentum and Collisions

• The Astronaut Catch
• The Diesel Engine and Flatcar Collision
• The Cart and The Brick
  • Part A - 2-kg Brick dropped on a 3-kg Cart
  • Part B - 2-kg Brick dropped on a 1-kg Cart
• The Fish Catch
  • Big Fish in Motion Catches Little Fish
  • Little Fish in Motion is Caught by Big Fish
    
• Car-Truck Collisions (collisions between objects of unequal mass)
  • Car "Rear-Ends" Truck - Inelastic
  • Truck "Rear-Ends" Car - Inelastic
  • Car "Rear-Ends" Truck - Elastic
  • Truck "Rear-Ends" Car - Elastic
  • Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck - Inelastic
  • Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck - Elastic
    
• Two Dimensional Collision Between Two Cars

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Work and Energy

• Which Path Requires the Most Energy?
• Energy Transformation for Downhill Skiing
• Energy Transformation on a Roller Coaster
• Energy Transformation for a Dart
• Energy Transformation for a Pendulum
• Energy Conservation on an Incline
• Stopping Distance of a Hot Wheels Car
• How Far Will It Skid?
• How High Will It Go?

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Circular, Satellite, and Rotational Motion

• Uniform Circular Motion
• Inertia and The Right Hand Turn
• The Centripetal Force Requirement
• Roller Coaster G-Forces
• Orbiting Satellites
• Kepler's Second Law - The Law of Equal Areas

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Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity

• Length Contraction

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Static Electricity

• Charging a Single Sphere by Induction Using a Negatively-Charged Object
• Charging a Two-Sphere System by Induction Using a Negatively-Charged Object
• Charging an Electrophorus Plate by InductionUsing a Negatively-Charged Object
• Charging an Electroscope by InductionUsing a Negatively-Charged Object
• Grounding a Positively-Charged Electroscope
• Grounding a Negatively-Charged Electroscope

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Waves, Sound and Light

• Longitudinal Pulse
• Tuning Forks and Longitudinal Waves
• Guitar Strings and Longitudinal Waves
• Sound Waves and the Eardrum
• Propagation of an Electromagnetic Waves
  
• Standing Waves on a String
  • 1st Harmonic
  • 2nd Harmonic
  • 3rd Harmonic
  • 4th Harmonic
  • 5th Harmonic
    
• Reflection of a Pulse at a Fixed End
• Reflection of a Pulse at a Free End
• Reflection: Echo vs. Reverberation
• Transmission of a Pulse from a Less Dense to a More Dense Medium
• Standing Wave Formation on a String
  
• 2-Point Source Interference Patterns
  • Changing Separation Distance
  • Changing Wavelength

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Ray Optics

• The Law of Reflection
• Image Formation for Plane Mirrors
• Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors
  • Object Located Beyond the Center of Curvature
  • Object Located at the Center of Curvature
  • Object Located Between Center of Curvature and the Focal Point
  • Object Located In Front of Focal Point
• Image Formation for Concave Mirrors
  • Object located Beyond the Center of Curvature
  • Object located Between Center of Curvature and the Focal Point
    
• The Broken Pencil

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QuickTime Movies

Vectors and Projectiles

• Horizontally Launched Projectile
• Non-Horizontally Launched Projectile

Momentum and Collisions

• Car-Truck Collisions (collisions between objects of unequal mass)
  • Car "Rear-Ends" Truck - Inelastic
  • Truck "Rear-Ends" Car - Inelastic
  • Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck - Inelastic

Work and Energy

• Roller Coaster

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