Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer
Login
Student Login
Educator Login
Sign Up For Free
Gizmos home page Gizmos home page
Gizmos home page
  • Find Gizmos
    
                                                
    See Full Search Results
    • FREE Gizmos
    • NEW Releases
    • STEM Cases
    • Browse by Standard
    • Browse by Grade & Topic
    • Browse by Core Curriculum
  • About Gizmos
    • What's a Gizmo?
    • About STEM Cases
    • What are Gizmos Investigations?
    • Take a Tour
    • Supporting All Students
    • How to Get Gizmos
    • Testimonials
    • K-5 Science
  • Research
    • The Impact of Gizmos on Student Achievement
    • The Research Behind Gizmos
  • Support
    • Professional Development Overview
    • Meet the Team
    • Course Catalog
    • Help Center
    • Site Status
  • Resources
    • Popular Gizmos Collections
    • Educator Resource Hub
    • Success Stories
    • Insights
  • Get More Info
    • Sign Up for Free
    • Request Purchasing Info
    • Request a Demo
    • Contact Support
  • Login
    • Student Login
    • Educator Login
  • Sign Up For Free
  • Home
  • Find Gizmos
  • Browse by Grade & Topic
  • Physics

Browse by Grade & Topic: Physics

Find Gizmos organized by grade level and topic.

See How FREE Gizmos Work
Narrow Your Search

Distance-Time Graphs

Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner complete a 40-yard dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the speed...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Free-Fall Laboratory

Investigate the motion of an object as it falls to the ground. A variety of objects can be compared, and their motion can be observed in a vacuum, in normal air, and in denser air. The...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Period of a Pendulum

Practice measuring the period of a pendulum. Perform experiments to determine how mass, length, gravitational acceleration, and angle affect the period of a pendulum.

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Fan Cart Physics

Gain an understanding of Newton's Laws by experimenting with a cart (on which up to three fans are placed) on a linear track. The cart has a mass, as does each fan. The fans exert a...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Laser Reflection

Point a laser at a mirror and compare the angle of the incoming beam to the angle of reflection. A protractor can be used to measure the angles of incidence and reflection, and the angle of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Hearing: Frequency and Volume

Test your hearing range by listening to low-, medium-, and high-frequency sounds. Compare the relative loudness of sounds at each frequency to create an equal-loudness curve. In a quiet...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Charge Launcher

Launch a charged particle into a chamber. Charged particles can be added into the chamber to influence the path of the moving particle. The launch speed can be changed as well. Try to match...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Levers

FREE with no time limit!

Use a lever to lift a pig, turkey, or sheep. A strongman provides up to 1000 newtons of effort. The fulcrum, strongman, and animals can be moved to any position to create first-, second-,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Energy Conversions

FREE with no time limit!

Where does energy come from? How does energy get from one place to another? Find out how electrical current is generated and how living things get energy to move and grow. Trace the path of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Heat Absorption

Shine a powerful flashlight on a variety of materials, and measure how quickly each material heats up. See how the light angle, light color, type of material, and material color affect...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Waves

Observe and measure transverse, longitudinal, and combined waves on a model of a spring moved by a hand. Adjust the amplitude and frequency of the hand, and the tension and density of the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Sled Wars

Explore acceleration, speed, momentum, and energy by sending a sled down a hill into a group of snowmen. The starting height and mass of the sled can be changed, as well as the number of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Potential Energy on Shelves

Compare the potential energy of several objects when you place them on shelves of different heights. Learn that two objects at different heights can have the same potential energy, while...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Roller Coaster Physics

Adjust the hills on a toy-car roller coaster and watch what happens as the car careens toward an egg (that can be broken) at the end of the track. The heights of three hills can be...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Period of Mass on a Spring

Measure the period of a mass on the end of a spring. Determine the effects of gravitational acceleration, mass, and the spring constant on the period of the spring. Create an equation for...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Sound Beats and Sine Waves

Listen to and see interference patterns produced by sound waves with similar frequencies. Test your ability to distinguish and match sounds as musicians do when they tune their instruments....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Refraction

Determine the angle of refraction for a light beam moving from one medium to another. The angle of incidence and each index of refraction can be varied. Using the tools provided, the angle...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Pulley Lab

Use a pulley system to lift a heavy weight to a certain height. Measure the force required to lift the weight using up to three fixed and three movable pulleys. The weight to be lifted and...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Distance-Time Graphs - Metric

Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner complete a 40-meter dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Magnetism

Drag bar magnets and a variety of other objects onto a piece of paper. Click Play to release the objects to see if they are attracted together, repelled apart, or unaffected. You can also...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Gravity Pitch

Imagine a gigantic pitcher standing on Earth, ready to hurl a huge baseball. What will happen as the ball is thrown harder and harder? Find out with the Gravity Pitch Gizmo. Observe the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Radiation

Use a powerful flashlight to pop a kernel of popcorn. A lens focuses light on the kernel. The temperature of the filament and the distance between the flashlight and lens can be changed....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Ripple Tank

Study wave motion, diffraction, interference, and refraction in a simulated ripple tank. A wide variety of scenarios can be chosen, including barriers with one or two gaps, multiple wave...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Simple Harmonic Motion

Observe two different forms of simple harmonic motion: a pendulum and a spring supporting a mass. Use a stopwatch to measure the period of each device as you adjust the mass hanging from...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs

Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner run a 40-yard dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the velocity...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Doppler Shift

Observe sound waves emitted from a moving vehicle. Measure the frequency of sound waves in front of and behind the vehicle as it moves, illustrating the Doppler effect. The frequency of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Circuits

Build electrical circuits using batteries, light bulbs, resistors, fuses, wires, and a switch. An ammeter, a voltmeter and an ohmmeter are available for measuring current, voltage and...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Gravitational Force

Drag two objects around and observe the gravitational force between them as their positions change. The mass of each object can be adjusted, and the gravitational force is displayed both as...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Archimedes' Principle

Place weights into a boat and see how far the boat sinks into a tank of liquid. The depth of the boat can be measured, as well as the amount of liquid displaced. The dimensions of the boat...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Basic Prism

Shine white light or a single-color beam through a prism. Explore how a prism refracts light and investigate the factors that affect the amount of refraction. The index of refraction of the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Longitudinal Waves

Observe the propagation of longitudinal (compression) waves in a closed or open tube with evenly-spaced dividers. The strength and frequency of the waves can be manipulated, or waves can be...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Wheel and Axle

Use a wheel and axle to move a heavy load. Find out how many athletes it takes to move the load under different conditions. The radii of the wheel and the axle can be adjusted to help study...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Conduction and Convection

Two flasks hold colored water, one yellow and the other blue. Set the starting temperature of each flask, choose a type of material to connect the flasks, and see how quickly the flasks...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Crumple Zones

  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

Design a car to protect a test dummy in a collision. Adjust the length and stiffness of the crumple zone and the rigidity of the safety cell to determine how the car will deform during the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Air Track

Adjust the mass and velocity of two gliders on a frictionless air track. Measure the velocity, momentum, and kinetic energy of each glider as they approach each other and collide....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Heat Transfer by Conduction

An insulated beaker of hot water is connected to a beaker of cold water with a conducting bar, and over time the temperatures of the beakers equalize as heat is transferred through the bar....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Determining a Spring Constant

Place a pan on the end of a hanging spring. Measure how much the spring stretches when various masses are added to the pan. Create a graph of displacement vs. mass to determine the spring...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Advanced Circuits

Build compound circuits with series and parallel elements. Calculate voltages, resistance, and current across each component using Ohm's law and the equivalent resistance equation. Check...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Atwood Machine

Measure the height and velocity of two objects connected by a massless rope over a pulley. Observe the forces acting on each mass throughout the simulation. Calculate the acceleration of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Doppler Shift Advanced

Derive an equation to calculate the frequency of an oncoming sound source and a receding sound source. Also, calculate the Doppler shift that results from a moving observer and a stationary...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws

FREE with no time limit!

Learn Kepler's three laws of planetary motion by examining the orbit of a planet around a star. The initial position, velocity, and mass of the planet can be varied as well as the mass of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Ray Tracing (Lenses)

Observe light rays that pass through a convex or concave lens. Manipulate the position of an object and the focal length of the lens and measure the distance and size of the resulting image.

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Phased Array

Observe the wave fronts produced by four closely-spaced emitters. The spacing and phase shift of each wave source can be adjusted, as well as the wave velocity. With all four sources you...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Inclined Plane - Simple Machine

Investigate how an inclined plane redirects and reduces the force pulling a brick downward, with or without friction. A toy car can apply a variable upward force on the brick, and the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric

Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner run a 40-meter dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the velocity...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Golf Range

FREE with no time limit!

Try to get a hole in one by adjusting the velocity and launch angle of a golf ball. Explore the physics of projectile motion in a frictional or ideal setting. Horizontal and vertical...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

2D Collisions

Investigate elastic collisions in two dimensions using two frictionless pucks. The mass, velocity, and initial position of each puck can be modified to create a variety of scenarios.

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Tides

Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Energy of a Pendulum

Perform experiments with a pendulum to gain an understanding of energy conservation in simple harmonic motion. The mass, length, and gravitational acceleration of the pendulum can be...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Vectors

Manipulate the magnitudes and directions of two vectors to generate a sum and learn vector addition. The x and y components can be displayed, along with the dot product of the two vectors.

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Coulomb Force (Static)

Drag two charged particles around and observe the Coulomb force between them as their positions change. The charge of each object can be adjusted, and the force is displayed both...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Calorimetry Lab

Investigate how calorimetry can be used to find relative specific heat values when different substances are mixed with water. Modify initial mass and temperature values to see effects on...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Ray Tracing (Mirrors)

Observe light rays that reflect from a convex or concave mirror. Manipulate the position of an object and the focal length of the mirror and measure the distance and size of the resulting...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Trebuchet

Design your own trebuchet to fling a projectile at a castle wall. All of the dimensions of the trebuchet can be adjusted, as well as the masses of the counterweight and payload. Select a...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Energy Conversion in a System

A falling cylinder is attached to a rotating propeller that stirs and heats the water in a beaker. The mass and height of the cylinder, as well as the quantity and initial temperature of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Uniform Circular Motion

Measure the position, velocity, and acceleration (both components and magnitude) of an object undergoing circular motion. The radius and velocity of the object can be controlled, along with...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Pith Ball Lab

Pith balls with positive, negative, or no electrical charge are suspended from strings. The charge and mass of the pith balls can be adjusted, along with the length of the string, which...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Penumbra Effect

Observe the partial shadows cast by a rectangular block lit by multiple light sources. The number of light sources ranges from one to five, and individual lights can be turned on or off....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)

Fire a banana cannon at a monkey in a tree. The monkey drops from the tree at the moment the banana is fired from the cannon. Determine where to aim the cannon so the monkey catches the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Tides - Metric

Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space, and...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Convection Cells

  • New!

Explore the causes of convection by heating liquid and observing the resulting motion. The location and intensity of the heat source (or sources) can be varied, as well as the viscosity of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Torque and Moment of Inertia

One of the simplest machines is a see-saw lever. Place up to eight objects on the lever at different locations and try to balance it. Calculate net torque and moment of inertia based on the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Temperature and Particle Motion

Observe the movement of particles of an ideal gas at a variety of temperatures. A histogram showing the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution is shown, and the most probable velocity,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Magnetic Induction

Measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field at different locations in a laboratory. Compare the strength of the induced magnetic field to Earth's magnetic field. The direction...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Color Absorption

Mix the primary colors of light by using red, green, and blue lights. Use pieces of colored glass to filter the light and create a wide variety of colors. Determine how light is absorbed...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

Investigate the energy and motion of a block sliding down an inclined plane, with or without friction. The ramp angle can be varied and a variety of materials for the block and ramp can be...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Phase Changes

Explore the relationship between molecular motion, temperature, and phase changes. Compare the molecular structure of solids, liquids, and gases. Graph temperature changes as ice is melted...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Moment of Inertia

Place masses on a circular table and see how fast it spins when struck by a piston. Discover the relationships between angular velocity, mass, radius and moment of inertia for collections...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Electromagnetic Induction

Explore how a changing magnetic field can induce an electric current. A magnet can be moved up or down at a constant velocity below a loop of wire, or the loop of wire may be dragged in any...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Coriolis Effect

  • New!

The Coriolis effect causes winds to be deflected as they move across Earth's surface, resulting in circular patterns of winds. This effect is caused by two factors, Earth's rotation and...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Household Energy Usage

Explore the energy used by many household appliances, such as television sets, hair dryers, lights, computers, etc. Make estimates for how long each item is used on a daily basis to get an...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects

Observe and compare objects of different shapes as they roll or slide down an inclined plane. Compare the percentages of translational and rotational kinetic energy for each object, and see...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Feel the Heat

  • New!

Have you ever used a glove warmer to keep your hands warm? How about an instant cold pack to treat an injury? In the Feel the Heat Gizmo, create your own hot and cold packs using various...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Herschel Experiment

Shine sunlight through a prism and use a thermometer to measure the temperature in different regions of the spectrum. The thermometer can be dragged through the visible spectrum and beyond....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Boyle's Law and Charles's Law

Investigate the properties of an ideal gas by performing experiments in which the temperature is held constant (Boyle's Law), and others in which the pressure remains fixed (Charles's Law)....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Photoelectric Effect

Shoot a beam of light at a metal plate in a virtual lab and observe the effect on surface electrons. The type of metal as well as the wavelength and amount of light can be adjusted. An...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Center of Mass

Drag blocks onto a two-dimensional surface and observe the effects on the center of mass. Use a grid to calculate the coordinates of the center of mass. Investigate predefined shapes or...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Herschel Experiment - Metric

Shine sunlight through a prism and use a thermometer to measure the temperature in different regions of the spectrum. The thermometer can be dragged through the visible spectrum and beyond....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Ideal Gas Law

  • New!

Explore relationships between amount, temperature, pressure, and volume for an ideal gas in a chamber with a moveable piston. Discover rules of proportionality contained in Boyle's law,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Nuclear Decay

Observe the five main types of nuclear decay: alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay, positron emission, and electron capture. Write nuclear equations by determining the mass numbers and...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Star Spectra

Analyze the spectra of a variety of stars. Determine the elements that are represented in each spectrum, and use this information to infer the temperature and classification of the star....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Big Bang Theory - Hubble's Law

Follow in the footsteps of Edwin Hubble to discover evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory. First, observe Cepheid variable stars in different galaxies to determine their distances. Then,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Nuclear Reactions

Explore examples of nuclear fusion and fission reactions. Follow the steps of the proton-proton chain, CNO cycle, and fission of uranium-235. Write balanced nuclear equations for each step,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color

  • New!

Observe how different colors of light are reflected or absorbed by colored objects. Determine that white light is a combination of different colors of light, and that one or more component...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 2 - Focusing Light

  • New!

Once light enters the eye, it must be focused on the retina. Manipulate the pupil diameter to regulate the amount of light that enters then eye, then change the lens shape to focus light....

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light

  • New!

Observe how photoreceptors on the retina are stimulated by different colors of light. Determine that cone cells are stimulated by specific colors of light and enable us to see color, while...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Levers

FREE with no time limit!

Use a lever to lift a pig, turkey, or sheep. A strongman provides up to 1000 newtons of effort. The fulcrum, strongman, and animals can be moved to any position to create first-, second-,...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Energy Conversions

FREE with no time limit!

Where does energy come from? How does energy get from one place to another? Find out how electrical current is generated and how living things get energy to move and grow. Trace the path of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Crumple Zones

  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

Design a car to protect a test dummy in a collision. Adjust the length and stiffness of the crumple zone and the rigidity of the safety cell to determine how the car will deform during the...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws

FREE with no time limit!

Learn Kepler's three laws of planetary motion by examining the orbit of a planet around a star. The initial position, velocity, and mass of the planet can be varied as well as the mass of...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

Golf Range

FREE with no time limit!

Try to get a hole in one by adjusting the velocity and launch angle of a golf ball. Explore the physics of projectile motion in a frictional or ideal setting. Horizontal and vertical...

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo

How Free Gizmos Work

Gizmos icon

Start teaching with 20-40 Free Gizmos. See the full list.

Lesson materials list icon

Access lesson materials for Free Gizmos including teacher guides, lesson plans, and more.

Time icon

All other Gizmos are limited to a 5 Minute Preview and can only be used for 5 minutes a day.

Refresh icon

Free Gizmos change each semester. The new collection will be available January 1 and July 1.

Sign Up for Free

About STEM Cases

Students assume the role of a scientist trying to solve a real world problem. They use scientific practices to collect and analyze data, and form and test a hypothesis as they solve the problems.

Realtime reporting icon

Each STEM Case uses realtime reporting to show live student results.
Introduction to the Heatmap

Time icon

STEM Cases take between 30-90 minutes for students to complete, depending on the case.

Save icon

Student progress is automatically saved so that STEM Cases can be completed over multiple sessions.

Grades icon

Multiple grade-appropriate versions, or levels, exist for each STEM Case.

Handbook icon

Each STEM Case level has an associated Handbook. These are interactive guides that focus on the science concepts underlying the case.

STEM Case Help & Resources Sign Up for Free

Want More?

Check out these quick links.

  • Sign up for a FREE Trial!
  • Take a Tour
  • Get Help

Find Your Solution

Start playing, exploring and learning today with a free account. Or contact us for a quote or demo.

Sign Up For Free Get a Quote
Find Your Solution
Gizmos logo Brought to you by ExploreLearning

© 2025 ExploreLearning. All rights reserved. Gizmo and Gizmos are registered trademarks of ExploreLearning. STEM Cases, Handbooks and the associated Realtime Reporting System are protected by US Patent No. 10,410,534

Other Products

Reflex icon Frax icon Science4Us icon
Find Gizmos
  • FREE Gizmos
  • NEW Releases
  • STEM Cases
  • Browse by Standard
  • Browse by Grade & Topic
  • Browse by Core Curriculum
About Gizmos
  • What's a Gizmo?
  • About STEM Cases
  • What are Gizmos Investigations?
  • Take a Tour
  • Supporting All Students
  • How to Get Gizmos
  • Testimonials
  • K-5 Science
Research
  • The Impact of Gizmos on Student Achievement
  • The Research Behind Gizmos
Support
  • Professional Development Overview
  • Meet the Team
  • Course Catalog
  • Help Center
  • Site Status
Resources
  • Popular Gizmos Collections
  • Educator Resource Hub
  • Success Stories
  • Insights
Get More Info
  • Sign Up for Free
  • Request Purchasing Info
  • Request a Demo
  • Contact Support

Get Connected

  • Support Form
  • Toll-Free 866-882-4141
  • Local +1-434-293-7043
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Other Products

Reflex icon Frax icon Science4Us icon

© 2025 ExploreLearning. All rights reserved. Gizmo and Gizmos are registered trademarks of ExploreLearning. STEM Cases, Handbooks and the associated Realtime Reporting System are protected by US Patent No. 10,410,534

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • System Requirements
  • Sitemap