Category Archives: AP Physics 1 and 2

“Nothing is too wonderful to be true” – Michael Faraday’s Law

Posted on September 2, 2017 by marcreif

Science is moved forward by observations and experiments, yet some observations are too subtle and some experiments too complicated to reproduce in the classroom.Michael Faraday’s discovery of electromagnetic induction combines observation and experimentation yet requires nothing expensive or complicated. It … Continue reading →

Posted in AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Physics C, E and M, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Physics Teacher’s Strongman Trick

Posted on July 9, 2017 by marcreif

Strongman tricks often involve seemingly impossible tasks like bending iron bars, lifting gigantic weights, or pulling trains with your teeth. This “teacher trick” doesn’t take great strength to impress. Using a clever arrangement of a mirror and a laser, students … Continue reading →

Posted in about teaching and learning, AP Physics 1 and 2, Modeling., Teaching Ideas | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pinterest Boards for Teachers

Posted on June 5, 2017 by marcreif

Last year, inspired by my oldest daughter’s obsession with Pinterest, I started making Pinterest boards for high school physics teaching. Pinterest is a website that allows you to create “bulletin boards” of images (with a snippet of text) “pinned” from … Continue reading →

Posted in about teaching and learning, AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Physics C, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Using Tasks Inspired by Physics Education Research

Posted on May 7, 2016 by marcreif

Below are my thoughts on the Tasks Inspired by Physics Education Research (TIPERS). These are really excellent tools to promote discussion in your physics class, no matter what the level. I strongly recommend buying one or more of these books. By … Continue reading →

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