Lab Supplies for Discover Physics
For any family looking for a robust physics course, hands-on lab assignments are a must—and this involves purchasing supplies.
While most students’ favorite part of physics is the labs, it’s not essential that students complete all of the labs. We recommend parents have students complete a minimum of the first two labs where we teach students about lab report writing plus 13 more labs (a total of 15 labs).
Where to Buy Supplies?
1. Purchase the Discover Physics Custom Kit
Cornerstone Educational Supplies has created a lab kit for those who would like to complete all of the labs. We recommend students complete 15 of the 27 labs in the lab book that accompany this course. However, if you would like to do all or most of the labs, this is the most economical way to purchase the specialty lab supplies.
2. Purchase supplies a la carte:
Most families won’t complete all of the labs. For those who will be picking and choosing which labs or want to purchase just a few supplies at a time, use the links in the list below to purchase items a la carte from Home Science Tools.
Lab Supplies on a Budget
We understand the budget constraints of many homeschoolers — purchasing curriculum and supplies often for multiple children can be pricey!
We recommend your students plan to watch all of the lab videos and complete at least 15 labs for high school credit. Be sure to have your students complete labs that accompany lessons 1 and 2 where we teach students how to write lab reports.
So how can you make this work on a tight budget? One great way you can stay within your budget constraints is by completing the labs that only require easily obtainable lab supplies and supplies you can probably find around your house.
Email for our list of the most affordable labs or check out the list of labs below to see what labs you already have supplies for.
Canadian Families
Please see this page for a special note on sourcing lab supplies.
Lab Supplies for Discover Physics
Below are two lists of supplies you’ll need. On the left are lab supplies that need to be purchased from a lab supply company. On the right is a list of supplies you will like have around your house or that you can easily acquire from a local store. Alternatively, you can see a list of lab supplies listed by lesson on this page.
Special Supplies
- Scale
- Double convex lens, 150 mm f/l
- Double convex lens, 50 mm f/l
- Optic bench supports
- Optic bench screen holder
- Optic bench candle holder
- Optic bench lens holder
- 4” candle
- Thermometer (measuring below 0 °C and above 100 °C)
- 100-200 g of steel pellets or bbs
- 250 mL beaker
- Beaker tongs
- 2 Dynamics carts
- Support stand
- Ring support
- 1” steel ball
- 2 spring scales
- Set of 4 hooked weights
500 g, 200 g, 100 g, and 50 g - Friction pull board
- Glass Rod
- Fur friction pad
- Rubber rod
- Silk friction pad
- Pith ball on a string
- Digital multimeter
- Zinc plate
- Copper plate
- Alligator clip wires
- Battery Holder for 1 AA Cell
- Resistors (¼ watt resistors: 1.1 kOhm, 1.5 kOhm, 2.0 kOhm, 4.7 kOhm with a 1% tolerance level)
- E10 Mini Light Bulb 3.8 V
- Light Bulb Holder
- Battery holder for 3 AA cells
- 2 -1.2 in ceramic bar magnets
Lab supplies for more lessons coming soon!
Household Supplies or Local Purchases
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Stopwatch (one that shows hundredths of a second)
- Computer with microphone or smartphone
- Online tuner (see online classroom for link)
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Meterstick or yardstick (multiple lessons)
- Ruler with millimeter markings
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Paper ball
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Baseball
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Tennis ball
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Pool ball
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Orange
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Smart phone or video camera
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Camera
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Timer or metronome
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Empty 2-liter or 20 oz plastic pop bottle
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Water
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Sharpie marker
- 1 smooth wood board (approximate 22-24 in long x 5-6 in wide)
- 1 smooth wood board (approximately 6 ft. long by 6 in wide)
- 46” shelving track
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Index card (white)
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Small pot
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1 cup measuring cup
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Spoon
- Vegetable oil
- 3 Styrofoam cups (16 oz capacity)
- 100-200 g of US nickels
- Empty 20 oz. plastic bottle (made of sturdy plastic, PET/Recyclable 1)
- Rubber balloon
- Large bowl or plastic tub capable of holding water to surround the plastic bottle
- Small weights that can fit inside the bottle (coins work well)
- String and ruler or seamstress style tape measure
- Masking tape for marking
- 5 coffee filters
- Paper at least 8″ square (newsprint if available)
- Potato
- Onion
- Lemon
- Dill pickle
- AA battery
- large pieces of paper (at least 11”x15”)
- Fine tipped sharpie or flare pen
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3 New AA Batteries