Physical World

This collection of STEM resources is based on the physical world.  Resources are listed in order of stage.

Avalanche!

Stage: 2 and 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Investigate how avalanches occur and how they can be controlled

Temperature

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Water freezes at 0°Celsius (32°Fahrenheit) and boils at 100°C (212°Fahrenheit). Is there a temperature at which Celsius and Fahrenheit readings are the same?

Maths Is Everywhere!

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Maths is everywhere in the world! Take a look at these images. What mathematics can you see?

Big and Small Numbers in the Physical World

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in physical contexts.

Global Warming

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

How much energy has gone into warming the planet?

Big and Small Numbers in Physics

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Work out the numerical values for these physical quantities.

Big and Small Numbers in Chemistry

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Get some practice using big and small numbers in chemistry.

Carbon Footprints

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Is it really greener to go on the bus, or to buy local?

Robot Camera

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Could nanotechnology be used to see if an artery is blocked? Or is this just science fiction?

Constantly Changing

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Many physical constants are only known to a certain accuracy. Explore the numerical error bounds in the mass of water and its constituents.

Electric Kettle

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Explore the relationship between resistance and temperature

Guessing the Graph

Stage: 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Can you suggest a curve to fit some experimental data? Can you work out where the data might have come from?

Heavy Hydrocarbons

Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Explore the distribution of molecular masses for various hydrocarbons

Molecular Sequencer

Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Investigate the molecular masses in this sequence of molecules and deduce which molecule has been analysed in the mass spectrometer.

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.