Conceptual Physics Alive!

Arbor Scientific · 1991 · Presenter: Paul Hewitt

Master teacher Paul Hewitt teaches noncomputational Conceptual Physics. Observe Hewitt teach in a classroom with real students, using engaging demonstrations and artwork.

Years ago, I found myself serving jury duty during my unit on waves. I had the substitute show the Mechanical Universe episode on waves, and a Conceptual Physics Alive episode on waves. When I returned, I asked my students which video they preferred. To my surprise, they preferred Hewitt's videotaped classroom lecture over the slickly produced television program. That's not to take anything away from the massive accomplishment that is The Mechanical Universe. Rather, it speaks highly of Hewitt's extraordinary ability to connect to students.

Conceptual Physics Alive on Teachers Pay Teachers

SETS AND EPISODES

Set 1: Motion
1. INTRODUCTION
Author Paul Hewitt describes the perspective taken in the Conceptual Physics program and offers a preview of things to come. The program begins with a description of how the video series came to be. Enjoy the clips from the “old days” going all the way back to 1974!

2. LINEAR MOTION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt describes the relationship between distance, speed, and time for objects moving at constant speed. He then discusses how accelerated motion is different. Lastly, he shows how to determine “how fast” and “how far” for objects in free fall.

3. VECTORS AND PROJECTILES 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt reviews uniform motion and accelerated motion. He then combines those ideas to explain the nature of projectile motion. 

 

Set 2: Newton's Laws
1. NEWTON’S FIRST LAW 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the principle of inertia and the consequences of that principle.

2. NEWTON’S SECOND LAW 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt reviews Newton’s first law of motion and extends the discussion to describe Newton’s second law.

3. NEWTON’S THIRD LAW 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt describes the nature of interaction: how two objects interact with equal and opposite force. He gives several examples, and explains why equal forces don’t always produce equal consequences.

Set 3: Conservation
1. MOMENTUM 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt defines momentum and impulse. He explains the importance of time during momentum changes and the physical difference between sticking and bouncing. He finishes with examples of the conservation of momentum.

2. ENERGY 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt defines work, potential energy, and kinetic energy. He also demonstrates transformations of energy and conservation of total energy. He finishes with a discussion of the energy considerations of running and stopping a car.

3. CENTER OF GRAVITY 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt demonstrates how to locate the center of gravity of an object. He defines torque and discusses its role in balance. He also shows several everyday examples of center of gravity and balance.

4. ROTATION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt introduces the concept of rotational inertia. He gives examples of objects with high, low, and variable rotational inertias. He continues with a discussion of conservation of angular momentum and finishes with examples of circular motion.

Set 4: Gravity
1. GRAVITY I 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt focuses on Newton’s law of universal gravitation and how to interpret the corresponding equation. He illustrates the nature of the inverse square law and discusses the physics of weightlessness.

2. GRAVITY II 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt focuses on gravitational interactions between the Earth, Moon and Sun. The mechanics of tides is explained. Gravity inside a hollow shell is described, as are the consequences of stellar collapse.

3. SATELLITE MOTION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt extends the idea of projectile motion to the orbital motion of satellites. He discusses the details of satellite orbits.

Set 5: Relativity+ 
1. SPECIAL RELATIVITY I 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt focuses on relativistic time dilation by describing and explaining the Twin Paradox. The lesson ends with an award-winning cartoon!

2. SPECIAL RELATIVITY II 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the time dilation and its potential consequences. He imagines what would happen if you could travel faster than light, and what you would see if you could look at a very distant mirror.

3. ATOMS 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the structure and size of the atom. He also describes the consequences of atomic structure and the abundance of atoms in the atmosphere.

Set 6: Matter
1. SCALING 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the importance of area-to-volume ratios for objects and organisms. The consequences of size doubling are explored. Finally, the implications for moving through a fluid are examined.

2. LIQUIDS I 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt describes and demonstrates density, pressure, and buoyant force.

3. LIQUIDS II 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt focuses on how buoyant force and density relate to sinking and floating.

4. GASES 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses and illustrates several physical properties of air.

Set 7: Heat
1. HEAT, TEMPERATURE, AND EXPANSION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt distinguishes between temperature and internal energy. He describes and explains the expansion of water upon freezing, and why deep lakes never freeze.

2. HEAT TRANSFER 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt shows some thermal expansion demonstrations that lead into a discussion of thermal conductivity. He continues with some conductivity demonstrations and eventually explains how convection works. The lesson finishes with a discussion of the role of heat radiation in The Greenhouse Effect.

3. HEAT RADIATION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the connection between heat radiation and temperature. He also distinguishes between relative and absolute temperature scales, how best to cook a lobster, and how the geometry of the Earth and its orbit affects local climates.

4. HEAT: CHANGE OF PHASE 

The concepts of evaporation and condensation are contrasted. The energy transfer that accompanies changes of state is related to everyday examples.

Set 8: Waves+
1. VIBRATIONS AND SOUND I 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt introduces the basic concepts of vibrations and waves. Interference and beats are demonstrated and discussed.

2. VIBRATIONS AND SOUND II 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses moving wave sources, refraction, and resonance. The presentation ends with dramatic footage from the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

3. RADIOACTIVITY 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the origins and applications of nuclear radiation.

4. FISSION AND FUSION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the mechanics of nuclear fission and fusion. And he explains why each of the seemingly opposite processes is capable of releasing energy.

Set 9: Light
1. LIGHT AND COLOR 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the origin and propagation of electromagnetic radiation. He describes the differences between colors and how colors interact through addition and subtraction.

2. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt shows how to locate a reflected image and discusses what happens to light when it undergoes refraction.

3. LIGHT WAVES 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt describes some consequences of the wave nature of light.

Set 10: Electricity & Magnetism
1. ELECTROSTATICS 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt discusses the subatomic origin of charge and its consequences. He also shows several demonstrations involving static electric charge.

2. ELECTRIC CIRCUITS 

Concepts in electric current and examples of Ohm's law are discussed. Series and parallel circuits are demonstrated using a car battery that has extended terminals.

3. MAGNETISM AND ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION 

In this lecture, Paul Hewitt describes the effects of magnetism and electromagnetic induction.

Question sets are available for individual episodes. The complete series bundle is available at a discounted price. Student documents and answer keys are provided as Google Docs on Google Drive.