Studying Physics With Toys

If you are a physics teacher, thinking that it is difficult to make your student like the subject, we suggest that you use toys during the class. These toys will make them enjoy the class more as they are playing and studying at the same time.

As the first and simple toy we would suggest for you, marble becomes a good idea to teach your students physics. Tell them about the concept of marbles game, that every action gives an equal and opposite reaction.

You can explain them that when the shooter collides with another marble, the shooter actually makes the marble move to the same direction the shooter was going to, even though the shooter has stopped running. It seems like the marble continues the shooter's track. From the collision, the smaller marble will absorb the energy of the shooter as the larger marble. The energy pushes the marbles to move forward in the same direction.

Another toy, a yo-yo can lead your students into understanding on kinetic energy, angular momentum, and force. These scientific concepts are gained when the yo-yos descend and move in spiral. Let them examine how the toys work while playing them.

Talking about motion, you can also use Matchbox cars to explain the concept of inertia. You can place something small on top of the matchbox car roof, such as a match stick. Push the car until the stick falls from the roof. With this toy car you can also teach them another physical scientific concept. In this case, you need another toy car with different size. They will see how things with more mass will make larger impact as they gather momentum more quickly.

If you want to teach your students aerodynamics and gravity, you can firstly have them to make airplanes from origami (folding papers). These paper airplanes show how the shape and the balance between the body and the wings influence the ability to fly. In this case, they also learn how the actual plane flies. Those are some toys that you can use to teach physics. Teachers are supposed to be more active and creative to make the students interested in studying any subject, including physics.