Physics
Why does a ball curve when you throw it? Why do astronauts float? What makes a bulb glow? Play first, then read how it works.
New to physics? Start here
Ten short, illustrated lessons that build physics up from first principles: forces, gravity, energy and more.
Games
4 games · play in any order
Launch Lab
Land the ball on the pad by changing angle and speed. Six missions on Earth, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter.
Orbit Keeper
Find the launch speed that keeps a satellite circling a planet instead of crashing or flying away. Six missions from the Space Station to Mars.
Circuit Rescue
Wire batteries, switches and bulbs to power up a dark spaceship. Find out why some bulbs glow dim and others shine bright.
Marble Machine
Build a marble run from ramps and loops and watch an energy bar show height turning into speed. Five missions, from a simple slope to a grand finale.
Explainers
Short reads with live experiments built in.
Why 45° throws the farthest
Every throw splits its speed between going up and going forward. Find the perfect split.
Same throw, four planets
Throw the same ball on Earth, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter and watch what gravity does.
Why don't satellites fall down?
They do fall! They just keep missing the ground. See how sideways speed turns a fall into an orbit.
How fast is orbit speed?
Why high satellites go slower than low ones, what an oval orbit is, and how fast you need to go to leave Earth for good.
What is electricity, really?
Picture electricity as water in a pipe. Find out what a battery, a wire and a switch each do.
Why do some bulbs glow dim?
Two bulbs, one battery, two ways to wire them. Try both and see which one shines and which one shares.
How height turns into speed
Energy never disappears. It just changes form. Watch a marble swap stored height for speed.
Why loops need a high start
Why a roller coaster has to climb so high before it loops the loop, and the 2.7 rule that predicts it.
Activity guides
Hands-on activities for home, class or self-study.
Projectile motion with a ball and a tape measure
A 30-minute hands-on activity that pairs with Launch Lab, with questions to ask along the way.
Orbits you can feel: string, ball and funnel
Three safe hands-on demos that pair with Orbit Keeper, with questions to ask along the way.
Safe circuits with a battery, a bulb and a wire
Low-voltage hands-on activities that pair with Circuit Rescue, with safety rules and questions to ask.
Build a marble run with pipe insulation
A simple home or classroom marble run, three measurements to take, and questions that connect it to Marble Machine.