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Our Newest Labs, Activities & CoolStuff

CoolStuff Newsletter

Color Me Excited, Seeing spectra in a whole new light [W/Video]

Teaching the spectra of visible light can be an engaging classroom activity. But, it’s always been challenging to find ways to go beyond simple passive demonstrations.

Hand-held diffraction “rainbow” foil (sometimes mounted in cardboard glasses) can be fun. But students often have difficulty even spotting the spectrum. “I can’t see it!” is the common complaint. And [...]
SpillNot: The Physics Behind the Slosh [W/Video]
Although the problem of why coffee spills might seem trivial, it actually brings together a variety of fundamental scientific issues. These include fluid mechanics, the stability of fluid surfaces, and interactions between fluids and structures (we’ll set aside the biology of walking for now). The SpillNot is a cool tool for getting your students interested in the everyday physics behind why drinks spill while we’re carrying them and what has to happen to prevent spillage.
Top 10 Demonstrations with the Plasma Globe [W/Video]
What can you do with a plasma ball? We get this question a lot! Check out these simple, cool demos using everyday lab items like fluorescent lamps, LEDs, neon gas tubes, and even your own body! You’ll be amazed at how easy and fun teaching and learning about electrostatics can be.

Check back often for the latest tips!

The Blue-Violet Laser

The wavelength you've been missing!

Take a look at the new blue-violet Laser, which produces wavelengths at 405 nm. Sure, it is a different color and that is always cool, but why use this over any other Laser?

Labs & Activities

Momentum - Tailgated by a Dart
In this lab, students will learn to estimate the speed of an object by applying conservation of momentum to an inelastic collision. Energy is not lost its transferred from one object to another. Students will fire a dart into the back of the free rolling car and measure the distance of the car, calculate the speed of the dart and car, and measure the mass of the car and dart.
Density Rods
The Density Rod Set consists of two rods. The aluminum rod sinks in warm water and floats in cool. This is because cool water is more dense than warm, and the aluminum rod is made to be between those two densities. The PVC rod does the reverse – floats in warm water and sinks in cool. This time, the rod changes more than the water, becoming more dense when it is cool.
Quantum Lab (Inquiry)
Something that is quantized exists in multiples of a set quantity. Examples are charge [1.6 x 10-19C] or quantum energies of photons. Planck and Einstein predicted that light existed as discrete bundles called photons. Since they could not see a unit of photon energy, this lab constructs a model of how quanta was derived and visualized by scientists. In this INQUIRY lab, students will develop their own method for finding the pennies' mass.

Direct from the classroom blog

Tip of the hat to all you teachers

By: Chris Posa

May 7, 2013
Happy 306th Birthday to Leonhard Euler

By: Arbor Scientific

April 15, 2013
1 KM = 1 MI?

By: Buzz Putnam

April 2, 2013

Arbor Scientific is a leading provider of Physics and Physical Science teaching equipment tested and approved by educators recognized for their expertise. Arbor Scientific works with teachers at all levels to find the ‘Cool Stuff’ – unique demonstration and laboratory tools – and then provides lesson plans, supportive teaching guides and science teaching supplies to make each learning experience fun and effective.

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