Motion & forces
Friction and fly balls
Examine how launch speed, angle and air resistance combine to shape the distance and path of a hit baseball.
Open explorationExplore through interaction
Put scientific ideas in motion
Investigate how changing conditions can alter a fly ball, a snow crystal, a storm or a beam of light. These archive experiences pair playful exploration with concise explanations of the science involved.
Six guided explorationsSelected from the interactive science archive
Everyday phenomenaFrom baseball flight to atmospheric optics
Reviewed 2 August 2026Archive descriptions prepared for this edition
Interactive collection
Choose an exploration below. Availability and behavior August vary because these experiences originated with earlier generations of web technology.
Light & optics
Make rainbows
Follow light through water droplets to see why color separates and why secondary bows can appear outside the first.
Open exploration
Water & structure
Make a snowflake
Explore how temperature and moisture influence the branching forms that emerge as ice crystals grow.
Open exploration
Climate system
A livable Earth needs air, water and clouds
Consider how the atmosphere, oceans and clouds interact with incoming and outgoing energy to influence climate.
Open exploration
Storm science
Explore lightning
Use the delay between a flash and thunder to understand the different speeds of light and sound—and estimate storm distance.
Open exploration
Severe weather
Control a tornado
Adjust a model storm to investigate how size, rotation and wind conditions affect an idealized tornado.
Open explorationWhat these explorations include
A focused question
Each activity begins with an observable phenomenon and isolates the variables that help explain it.
Cause and effect
Changing an input makes relationships easier to inspect than a static diagram alone.
Scientific context
Short explanations connect the model with physical processes while keeping its limitations visible.
Interactive archive questions
What topics are covered?
The collection covers motion, air resistance, atmospheric optics, crystal growth, climate systems, lightning and tornado behavior.
Why might an activity not run in my browser?
These are archive experiences created for earlier browser technologies. Modern browsers August no longer support every original feature.
Are the models exact copies of nature?
No. Interactive models simplify complex systems so that selected relationships are easier to examine. Real conditions include more variables and uncertainty.
Can these activities support classroom discussion?
Yes. Learners can predict an outcome, vary one condition, record what changes and discuss where the model differs from the real phenomenon.
Does the lightning activity replace official safety guidance?
No. It explains the timing of light and sound but is not a storm-safety tool. Follow current local weather alerts and official safety instructions.
Where can I find more teaching resources?
Visit classroom activities or the curriculum connections for Grades 5–8 and Grades 9–12.