PhysicsQuest
PhysicsQuest is a middle school competition that consists of four physical science experiments centered on a mystery. The experiments are designed to be done by small groups in a classroom or after school setting. Each of the experiments gives students a clue that they need to solve the mystery. Classes can submit their answers online and be entered into a random drawing for prizes. PhysicsQuest kits are provided free to registered classrooms.
Register now for PhysicsQuest 2008: Nikola Tesla & the White City
Marie Curie's Floating Classes (2007)
Marie Curie was a brilliant scientist who received two Nobel Prizes. She had to fight hard to become a scientist because she was a Polish female growing up in Russian-controlled Warsaw – some of her classes had to constantly change locations to avoid being detected by the police.
This fall take your middle school students back in time to the Warsaw of the late 1800s. Their mission: keep the police from finding Marie’s classes by correctly completing four physical science challenges. The challenges center on heat, temperature, and energy.
Winners Announced!
Grand Prize:
Ms. Jan Aschim's 4th period class (Rockford, IL)
Each Grand Prize student will receive an iPod shuffle and a small hand boiler. The Grand Prize class will receive a $500 gift certificate to Educational Innovations, Hydrodynamic Deluxe Set and an infrared thermometer.
1st Prize:
Ms. Chris Clapsadle's Sullen Sa and Sara Gewin (Memphis, TN)
Ms. Rosalie Wilmot's 6th grade 2nd period class (Havana, IL)
Ms. Rita Martin's 8th grade A (Texarkana, TX)
Ms. Amy Hill's 6th grade class (Lubbock, TX)
Rebecca Chatskis (McKinney, TX)
Each 1st Prize student will receive a small hand boiler. The 1st Prize class will receive a $100 gift certificate to Educational Innovations, Hydrodynamic Deluxe Set and an infrared thermometer.
Make Your Own Kit
Materials List 
Manual
Warsaw Map
Map Grid Overlay
Ruler Template
Challenge/Final Report
Extension Activities (all)
This year we wanted to make even the choosing of the winners a learning experience. First, each correct entry was assigned a number. We corraled seven children as well as four PhysicsQuest volunteers. Each person flipped a coin. If the coin landed heads up we wrote down a "1" and if it landed on tails we wrote down a "0". A series of 1s and 0s forms a binary number. The binary number that was "flipped" corresponded to a correct entry and that entry was chosen as the grand prize winner. In this case the winning number was "00010111100" which corresponded to entry number 188, Ms. Aschim's 4th period class. Learn more about binary numbers
