Supplies for High School Physics

Scientific Calculator

In addition to the lab supplies found below, students need to have a scientific calculator.  It doesn’t have to be fancy.  It just needs to be able to do logarithms,trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan), exponents, and scientific notation.  A popular choice among students is the Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS calculator (affiliate link). You can often find this model on sale during the Back-to-School sales at Staples, Office Depot, and even Walgreens and CVS.  

Materials needed for hands-on labs

Opportunities for hands-on science really go far to help students internalize the topics they are learning, especially in physics. That’s why in this course, I’m providing ways for students to do meaningful science labs using materials that are easy to purchase.  Additionally, we will be making use of many online labs and simulations to explore principles too difficult to model at home.

The majority of the items below can be found at your local grocery or dollar store.  

For items you will need to purchase from vendors, I have included affiliate links to products on Home Science Tools and/or Amazon.  Please note that you do not have to use these links.

  • Ruler (must measure in centimeters)
  • Magnetic compass
  • Rubber bands
  • Protractor
  • Stopwatch (can use app on smartphone)
  • Transparent tape

  • Clear drinking glass
  • Index card
  • Aluminum foil
  • Markers
  • 1.5 volt D battery
  • Insulated wire, 20 or 22 gauge (need at least 12 inches)
  • Scissors
  • Large nail
  • Metal paper clips
  • Thumb tack
  • Cardboard box (you will be cutting it into pieces.  Should be at least the size of a shoe box)
  • String, twine, or thread
  • Spring scale
  • 200 g weight with hook
  • Digital mass pocket scale (measuring normal force) [students who have taken my chemistry classes likely already have one they can use)
  • magnet and Iron filings (magnetic fields).  [one magnet will suffice, but a collection of magnets will give interesting results]

In addition to required labs, I will provide ample opportunities for students to do optional labs and investigations for extra credit.  Below are some of the materials needed for those OPTIONAL labs.  I’ve tried to group items that go together for a single lab.  I’ve also listed what topics the optional labs cover.

  • Yard or meter stick, small ball (like tennis or ping pong ball) (calculating change in potential energy)
  • Ruler (with center groove that will fit marble), Marbles (momentum/collisions)
  • Straw (Bernoulli’s principle)
  • Bathroom scale and access to an elevator (yes, I’m serious) (measuring normal force and acceleration)
  • Aluminum pie plate and toilet paper tube (will also need raw egg)
  • Foam or paper cup (water pressure)
  • Paper cup, waxed paper, rubber band, small votive candle (pinhole camera)
  • Flat mirrors, magnifying glass, small flashlight, laser pointer (optics)
  • Rubber balloons (static electricity, light reflection/absorption)
  • Magnifying glass (light reflection/absorption)
  • Flashlight bulb (making simple circuit)
  • Toy car (think Hot Wheels or Matchbox)
  • Clay or play-doh

Optional (but recommended) summer math review:

I have designed short, inexpensive self-paced online courses meant to provide students with a review of the math concepts they’ll use in their high school science course.  They are short and painless enough to do in the week or so before their year-long class begins.  The course most beneficial for review before class begins is  Using Mathematical Formulas.  You can find it here: Kristin Moon Science Self-paced Courses

Updated 7/24/25