Physics LabPath
A full physics course where students learn by predicting motion, manipulating systems, reading measurements, and defending models from evidence.
What must be true
The course must teach, simulate, assess, and adapt.
- Learn the physical model with a slow visual walkthrough.
- Predict before launching, wiring, colliding, or measuring.
- Actuate a system and see motion/field/data consequences.
- Explain the result using equations as model evidence, not symbol manipulation.
- Revise and transfer the model to a new physical context.
Mode-native engines
Each domain gets its own controls, models, and evidence.
Mechanics Test Range
Make position, velocity, acceleration, force, and constraints tactile.
Controlsdrag vectorset massfire launcherchange frictionplot motion
Newtonian kinematics/dynamics, constraint and energy approximationsEnergy And Momentum Arena
Show conservation and transfer during collisions, explosions, and ramps.
Controlsset massset velocitychoose collisionadd springmeasure before/after
momentum conservation, kinetic/potential energy, coefficient of restitutionRotation And Orbit Rig
Connect torque, angular momentum, centripetal force, and orbital motion.
Controlsmove pivotapply torquechange radiusset angular speedrelease orbit
rotational dynamics, centripetal acceleration, inverse-square gravity approximationWaves And Optics Bench
Make interference, refraction, diffraction, and image formation visible.
Controlsdrag sourcechange wavelengthmove barrierplace lensread phase
wave superposition, Snell approximation, thin-lens equationElectric And Magnetic Field Lab
Turn invisible fields into manipulable vector fields and force consequences.
Controlsplace chargedrag test chargeswitch magnetdraw field linemeasure force
Coulomb force, field superposition, Lorentz-force approximationCircuits Systems Lab
Show current, voltage, resistance, power, and circuit topology as live constraints.
Controlswire componentschange resistancetoggle switchplace metertrace current
Ohm/Kirchhoff solving for simple DC circuits, power and equivalent resistanceFluids And Thermal Lab
Connect pressure, buoyancy, flow, heat, and energy transfer.
Controlschange depthopen valveheat chamberchange densitymeasure flow
hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy, continuity/Bernoulli approximations, thermal energyMeasurement And Modeling Bench
Make uncertainty, graph fitting, and model selection part of physics reasoning.
Controlscollect dataadd noisefit modelinspect residualcompare claims
linear/nonlinear fit, residuals, uncertainty bands, dimensional checksTry the shape
Representative labs that show the new depth standard.
Constant Motion Tracker
What does a motion graph actually measure?
Open missionNet Force Vector Lab
Which forces actually change the motion?
Open missionWork-Energy Track
Where did the energy go?
Open missionTorque Balance Crane
Why does the same force rotate differently at different distances?
Open missionWave Superposition Tank
Why do waves sometimes cancel and sometimes grow?
Open missionElectric Field Mapping Lab
How can invisible charges create predictable forces?
Open missionPressure Depth Mission
Why does pressure change with depth?
Open missionUncertainty And Residuals Bench
How do you know whether data supports a model?
Open missionFull course map
Eight units. Twenty-four labs. Evidence every week.
Unit 1
Motion And Graphs
How do we describe motion with words, graphs, vectors, and equations?
Mastery gate: Predict and defend motion from position, velocity, acceleration, and graph evidence.Unit 2
Forces And Newton's Laws
How do interactions change motion?
Mastery gate: Use free-body and motion evidence to defend net force and acceleration.Unit 3
Energy And Momentum
What stays conserved, what transfers, and what transforms?
Mastery gate: Use before/after system evidence to defend energy and momentum claims.Unit 4
Rotation And Orbits
How do forces and conservation work when motion curves or rotates?
Mastery gate: Defend torque, angular momentum, and circular/orbital motion with evidence.Unit 5
Waves And Optics
How does energy and information travel through waves?
Mastery gate: Use wave and optical evidence to defend interference, refraction, and image claims.Unit 6
Electricity And Magnetism
How do charges, fields, and circuits create measurable effects?
Mastery gate: Defend electric, magnetic, and circuit behavior with field and measurement evidence.Unit 7
Fluids And Thermal Physics
How do pressure, flow, buoyancy, and heat explain real systems?
Mastery gate: Use pressure/flow/thermal evidence to defend system behavior.Unit 8
Measurement, Modeling, And Engineering Design
How do physicists decide whether a model is good enough?
Mastery gate: Design, measure, model, revise, and defend a physical system with uncertainty.Daily intervention CTA
- Group students by force/motion, conservation, fields, circuits, or graphing misconception.
- Assign a remediation lab based on the first failed model assumption.
- Create a TeachProof room for Socratic response to physics misconceptions.
- Track time from lab evidence to targeted intervention.
Evidence rollup
- Modeling and measurement proficiency by unit.
- Misconception resolution across mechanics, waves, E&M, and data.
- Lab-to-equation transfer evidence.
- Readiness for AP Physics and first-year engineering physics.