The Nature of Waves

All waves are traveling disturbances that carry energy from place to place. This clip looks at transverse waves, in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. It also discusses longitudinal waves, which are parallel to the direction of wave travels.

Matter and Energy

Discover how water molecules change states from solid to liquid and gas. Then learn how pressure affects the human body under water, at the highest points on Earth, and while traveling through outer space. Finally, the last chapter teaches how to measure heat by learning about Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin.

Heat and the Changing States of Matter

Students' understanding of the significance of energy transformations in everyday life is enhanced as the program demonstrates the thermal conductivity of various materials, and the movement of heat through solids, liquids, and gases by convection, conduction and radiation. Students learn how thermal energy causes matter to change states, expand, and contract. The heat of fusion and heat of vaporization are examined, along with the measurement of thermal energy in calories, and the concepts of kinetic and potential energy. Scenes of steel mills, solar and geothermal power plants, and wind farms illustrate these concepts.

Exploring Energy

Energy shows itself in many forms. Some examples are electromagnetic, mechanical, light, heat, sound, and chemical. These types can be transformed from one form into another. Potential and kinetic energies are defined and described. Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but just changes from one form to another.

Roller Coaster Physics

Strap in and take some terrifying turns on the scariest amusement park attractions in the world. We'll tell you about the wonderful world of applied physics to make you feel more comfortable. Roller coasters are so much fun thanks to friction, potential energy, gravity, and acceleration.

Savage Sun

Get launched on an exploration of incredible power, amazing energy, and fantastic forces. Let "Savage Sun" shed light on the meaning of distant observations and illuminate other secrets of the sun. Are your science textbooks falling light years behind recent advances in space exploration? Find out how new technology is putting us on the surface of our nearest star, and into its interior.

Energy From the Sun

Almost all the energy used on Earth comes from the sun as light or heat. Plants use sunlight and water to make food during photosynthesis. Some animals eat these plants, while others eat the animals that eat the plants. Either way, all food contains stored energy that is transferred from the sun to plants, then to animals in the food chain. Animals break down food chemically and mix it with oxygen to produce the energy they need. The energy in food is measured in calories. In a calorimeter, a sample of food is burned inside a sealed container that captures the heat released and uses it to heat a known amount of water. The water temperature before and after heating is recorded. The difference is used to calculate the calories of heat energy released by the food. If calories in the body are not used, they become fat. We also obtain energy from fossil fuels that were formed over millions of years. Some of the sun’s energy soaked up by plants in prehistoric times changed form and became natural gas, which we collect and use to power things such as cars.