PIC
Web Resource
Quick Reference

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Chapter 1: The Prime Movers

Choose a system and follow the links.

Mechanical Fluid Electrical Thermal

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1.1 Force in Mechanical Systems

Vector Direction

This web page is designed to provide additional practice with the use of scaled vector diagrams for the representation of the magnitude and direction of a vector.

Vector Addition

In this unit, the task of summing vectors will be extended to more complicated cases in which the vectors are in directions other vertical and horizontal.

Newton Biography

This page provides a short biography of Sir Isaac Newton.

Animation of Effect of Wind on Airplane

This page shows an animation of the effect of headwind, tailwind, and crosswind on the flight of an airplane.


1.2  Pressure in Fluid Systems

Concrete Canoes

This site has information about the National Concrete Canoe Competition. Visit the links on the page below to individual schools that have competed in the competition to find out more about concrete canoe design and construction as well as the materials used.
http://www.uah.edu/student_life/organizations/ASCE/websites/sites.htm

Submarines

Visit this site to learn a little submarine history and information on how submarines are able to float, dive, and maintain neutral buoyancy at a given depth.

Archimedes

This site includes a variety of links to information about Archimedes' inventions and discoveries.  Of particular interest to this chapter is the link "The Golden Crown."

Archimedes of Syracuse

This site provides a short biography of Archimedes as well as a summary of his achievments.

The Physics of Underwater Diving: Buoyancy Lesson

This site includes a simple activity that demonstrates buoyancy and describes how neutral buoyancy is achieved by divers.


1.3  Voltage in Electrical Systems

How a Battery Works

Explore the links to find out how a battery works, how they are made, and the link for Cool Activities.

How Batteries Work

This HowStuffWorks article is about batteries—from the basic concept at work to the actual chemistry going on inside a battery to what the future holds for batteries and possible power sources that could replace them.

How a Lithium Battery Works

Check out the links on this page to find out all about lithium batteries, their construction, and uses. You can explore other parts of the site to see diagrams and specifications for batteries for specific uses such as implantable batteries for medical purposes.

Physics Tutorial: Static Charge

A multimedia presentation on static electricity.

Static Electricity

Static electricity lesson includes real-world applications and practice problems.


1.4  Temperature in Thermal Systems

About Temperature

Read the section about the development of thermometers and temperature scales on this page.

Celsius Biography

This page provides a short biography of Anders Celsius.

Fahrenheit and Celsius Temperature Scales

This page describes the differences in the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales and describes how to convert between each.  There are also links to sites that will make the conversions for you.