Projecting the Bear Necessities

On Friday (12/18), we talked a bit more about projectile motion and enjoyed a Physics Phiesta.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Bear Hunting (Projectile Motion Demonstration)
2) Review completed Final Exam
3) Group collaboration for semester project
4) Physics Phiesta

HANDOUTS
none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on semester project (Not due until the second week after break)

It's Officially Final

On Wednesday (12/16), we hunkered down and took the final exam for the first semester.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Negative Projectiles
2) Final Exam review
3) Group collaboration for semester project

HANDOUTS
none today

HOMEWORK
1) Bring Items for Phiesta (see link below)

Phiesta Thing-Bringers

On the Verge of the Final

On Monday (12/14), we predicted the path of projectiles and did some final review for our test Wednesday.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Negative Projectiles
2) Final Exam review
3) Group collaboration for semester project

HANDOUTS
none today

HOMEWORK
1) Prepare for Final

Solutions for Final Review

I am having an issue getting the link to work right now.

Copy the address below into your Internet navigator and you should see the Final Packet solutions.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B37_u_z5w2RoZTE3MzgwZjEtNDhjYS00YTk2LTljYWUtMDI2MDM2NGE1MTU2&hl=en

Sorry for the inconvenience.

A Bullet in the Hand

On Thursday (12/10), we watched proof that objects fall at the same rate regardless of horizontal velocity.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Review Worksheet 2
2) Mythbusters: Dropped vs. Fired Bullet
3) Final Review
4) Group selection for semester project

HANDOUTS
1) Negative Projectiles

HOMEWORK
1) Continue studying for Final (Final Review solutions to be posted here on Saturday)

Unit 6 Homework Solutions

Click on the appropriate link below for solutions to homework assignments.

Unit 6 Worksheet 1

Unit 6 Worksheet 2

Projecting Forward

On Tuesday (12/8), we examined the beginnings of projectile motion.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review Worksheet 1

2) Projectile Motion Introduction

3) Discussion of Final and Semester Project

4) Group work on Final Review

HANDOUTS

1) Final Review Sheet

2) Unit 6 Worksheet 2

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 6 Worksheet 2

2) Begin studying for Final

Double the Fun of Moving

On Friday (12/4), we explored velocity in two directions.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Clarification of Two Ideas

2) Lab: Constant Velocity...in Another Dimension

3) A Black-and-White Tail

HANDOUTS

1) Constan Velocity lab sheet

2) Unit 6 Worksheet 1

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 6 Worksheet 1

Downhill Express - A Black Diamond of Learning

On Wednesday (12/2), we performed a final experiment to summarize our relationship with motion and forces before moving on.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Discuss Semester Project

2) Lab: Waxing Efficient

HANDOUTS

1) Waxing Efficient lab sheet

HOMEWORK

1) Complete Waxing Efficient lab

Re-Opening the Book on Newton

On Monday (11/30), we reviewed the Unit 4/5 tests and looked into Newton's life.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review of Unit 4/5 Test

2) Unit 4/5 Test corrections

3) Video: NOVA - Newton's Dark Secrets

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK

1) Brainstorm semester project ideas

Thankful for Tests

On Monday (11/23), we took a test on forces and how they affect motion. Have a nice holiday!!

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Unit 4/5 Test

2) A Friction Prediction

HANDOUTS

none today

HOMEWORK

1) Think of ideas for semester project

A Collection of Forces

On Thursday (11/19), we finished our Research Lab presentations and prepared for our test on Monday.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Remaining Research Lab presentations

2) Unit 4/5 Review

HANDOUTS

1) Unit 4/5 Review

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 4/5 Review

2) Assemble HW packet

3) Prepare for Unit 4/5 Test

Homework Solutions

These are now up to date.

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 2

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 3

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 4

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 5

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 6

Unit 4/5 Review

Playing with Friction

On Tuesday (11/17), we practiced some complicated force problems and started to design a playground slide.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Example Problems

2) A Friction Prediction

HANDOUTS

1) A Friction Prediction

2) Worksheet 6

HOMEWORK

1) Worksheet 6

Tips for Friction Prediction

When attempting to determine your friction prediction, try the following steps:

1) Draw force diagram

2) Sum forces in x and y directions

3) For x-direction forces, solve for force of friction (this answer will still have a sin A)

4) For y-direction forces, solve for normal force (this answer will still have a cos A)

5) Insert these two answers into the friction equation.

6) Solve for the angle.

7) Use the angle to calculate the minimum height required for the slide.

Good Luck!

Unit 4/5 Homework Solutions

Worksheet 6 just added. I still need to scan the review sheet and will post this afternoon.

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 2

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 3

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 4

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 5

Unit 4/5 Worksheet 6

The Animals are Coming Home

On Friday (11/13), we started the long-awaited Research Lab presentations and talked more about angled forces.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Example Problems

2) Research Lab Presentations

HANDOUTS

1) Research Lab Peer Evaluation

HOMEWORK

1) Finish Worksheet 5

Forces from a Different Angle

On Tuesday (11/10), we learned about angled forces and their effect on force diagrams. On Friday, we will have our Research Lab presentations.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Introduction of Angled Forces

2) Practice Problems

3) Group Work for Research Lab

4) Worksheet 5

HANDOUTS

1) Worksheet 5

HOMEWORK

1) Complete Research Lab presentation

2) Worksheet 5 page 1

Animal Magnetism

On Wednesday (11/4), we discussed in detail the rubric for the Research Lab project and observed an example of one presentation option.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review Force Diagrams and Unit 4/5 Worksheet #2

2) Evaluate sample Research Lab written product

3) Lost Memories example presentation

4) Group work for Research Lab

HANDOUTS

1) Example Research Lab written product: Memories Lost

HOMEWORK

1) Complete Research Lab written product (due Tuesday, November 10)

2) Work on Research Lab presentation (to be presented Friday, November 13)

3) Prepare for Unit 4/5 Quiz #2 - Force Diagrams, Newton's 2nd Law, and Kinematics (Unit 4/5 - Worksheets #1 and #2)

Over-Reacting

On Monday (11/2), we reacted with Newton's Third Law of Motion and experimented with the tension in a string.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) The Last Inertia Demo

2) Newton's Third Law demonstrations

3) Lab: Can You Feel the Tension?

4) Research Lab Group Work

HANDOUTS

1) Lab: Can You Feel the Tension? worksheet

2) Unit 4/5 Worksheet 3

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 4/5 Worksheet 3

2) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

3) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

4) Complete Research Lab rough draft

Inside the Mind of an Otter

On Thursday (10/29), we continued to collect data to help our our animals and started to take a closer look at the results.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Quick Vocabulary Review

2) Experiment Data Collection

3) Brief Discussion of Project Requirements

HANDOUTS

1) Research Lab Scoring Rubric

2) Research Lab Exit Survey

3) Unit 4/5 Worksheet 2

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 4/5 Worksheet 2

2) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

3) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

4) Rough draft of experiment report postponed until Wednesday (11/4)

Animal House

On Tuesday (10/27), we started to help our research animals solve the mystery of Newton's 2nd Law. Data collection is still in progress and will continue on Thursday.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review of Worksheet 1

2) One More Inertia Demo

3) Research Animal experiment

HANDOUTS

none today

HOMEWORK

1) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

2) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

3) Rough draft of experiment report postponed until Monday (11/2)

Picking Up Speed

On Friday (10/23), we experimented with inertia and started to design an experiment to help our animals friends figure out Newton's 2nd Law.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review of Inertia Stations

2) One More Inertia Demo

3) Notes on Force Diagrams

4) Experiment Design

HANDOUTS

1) Research Lab Worksheet

2) Unit 4/5 Worksheet 1

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 4/5 Worksheet 1

2) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

2) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

Overcoming Inertia

On Wednesday (10/21), we experimented with inertia and started to design an experiment to help our animals friends figure out Newton's 2nd Law.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Inertia Stations

2) Begin to design animal experiment

HANDOUTS

1) Newton station notes

2) Research Lab assignment

HOMEWORK

1) Brainstorm ideas for experiment

2) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

2) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

Falling for You

On Monday (10/19), we tested gravity by throwing things off of the science building.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Complete mindfreak "transposition" with Criss Angel

2) Lab: Acceleration due to Gravity

3) Introduction to Inertia

HANDOUTS

1) Acceleration due to Gravity lab sheet

2) Newton and Fitness article

HOMEWORK

1) Read Newton and Fitness article and answer questions

2) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

2) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

A Festering Test

On Thursday (10/15), we ended our hot-and-cold relationship with changing velocity as we took a test on Unit 3.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Unit 3 Review in song

2) Unit 3 Test

HANDOUTS

1) Permission Slip

HOMEWORK

1) Get Permission Slips signed (one for Exploratorium, one for video in class)

2) Bring $30 for Exploratorium (checks payable to LGHS Science)

In View of the Goal

On Tuesday (10/13), we measured our reaction time and experienced the beginnings of a mindfreak.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Terminal velocity mindfreak

2) Reaction Time Lab

3) Create-A-Quiz

HANDOUTS

1) Reaction Time Lab

2) Create-A-Quiz

3) Unit 3 Packet Cover

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 3 Review

2) Assemble HW Packet

Unit 3 Homework

Unit 3 Worksheet 1

Unit 3 Worksheet 2

Unit 3 Worksheet 3

Unit 3 Worksheet 4

Unit 3 Review

Calm Before the (Gentle) Storm

On Friday (10/9), we calculated the acceleration of cars on a drag racing strip and took a few moments to breathe.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) R Racing Evolution

2) Review of Adaptive Rolling curves

3) NASA LCROSS Animation

HANDOUTS

1) R Racing Evolution worksheet

2) Unit 3 Review

3) Practice Quiz

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 3 Worksheet 4

2) Practice Quiz (optional)

What Goes Around...

On Wednesday (10/7), we focused on the use of equations, rather than graphs, to solve our motion problems.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review of Quiz

2) Kinematic Karma

3) Group Review of WS 2 and WS 3

HANDOUTS

1) Unit 3 Worksheet 4

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 3 Worksheet 4

Defining the Equation

On Monday (10/5), we embraced negative acceleration as it both slowed us down (in the positive direction) and sped us up (in the negative direction).

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review of Kinematic Curves

2) Quiz

3) Worksheet 2

4) Introduce Kinematic Equations

HANDOUTS

1) Unit 3 Worksheet 2

2) Unit 2 Worksheet 3

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 3 Worksheet 2

2) Unit 3 Worksheet 3

Putting the Cart Before the Horse

On Thursday (10/1), we tried to wrap out minds around negative acceleration with some difficulty. We will clarify on Monday.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Lab: Adaptable Curves

2) Review Unit 3 Worksheet 1

HANDOUTS

1) Adaptable curves lab packet

HOMEWORK

1) Dynamic Cart Lab Report

Keeping Up with the Dynamos

On Tuesday (9/29), we further analyzed the motion of our dynamic carts to find the acceleration.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Lab Calculations

2) Introduction to kinematic curves

HANDOUTS

1) Average Velocity and Kinematic Curves

2) Dynamic Cart Lab Requirements

3) Unit 3 Worksheet 1

HOMEWORK

1) Dynamic Cart Rough Draft

2) Unit 3 Worksheet 1

An Accelerated Fresh Start

After the Unit 1&2 Test on Wednesday, we burst headlong into the motion of dynamic carts.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Dynamic Cart Data Collection

2) Discussion of Dynamic Cart Position vs. Time

HANDOUTS

1) None today

HOMEWORK

1) Calculate the velocity and average time for each segment of your Position-time graph

In the Shadow of a Looming Test

During the last day of Unit 2, we made final preparations for the impending test on Wednesday.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review Unit II Review

2) Review Quiz

3) Story Time

4) Equation Highlights

HANDOUTS

1) Equation Sheet

2) Unit 1 & 2 HW Packet Cover Sheet

HOMEWORK

1) Prepare for Unit 1 & 2 Test

2) Prepare Unit 1 & 2 Homework Packet

Average Velocity

In class on Thursday, I mentioned that I would post notes on average velocity. Instead, we will spend some time in class on this tomorrow.

A Constant Sprint to the Finish

On Thursday, we spent a final day examining the relationship between position and constant velocity.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Position/Velocity-Time Quiz

2) Review Unit II Worksheet 5

3) Notes: Scalar versus Vector

HANDOUTS

1) Unit II Review

HOMEWORK

1) Unit II Review

2) Prepare Unit 1 & 2 Homework Packet (due on day of test, 9/23)

Playing Chess in Santa Barbara

On Tuesday, we stopped moving to take a closer look at how position changes affect the velocity of a car, bike, or squirrel.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review Unit II Worksheet 4 (answers posted on this blog)

2) Position/Velocity vs. Time presentations

HANDOUTS

1) Unit II Worksheet 5

HOMEWORK

1) Unit II Worksheet 5

2) Prepare for Position/Velocity-Time Quiz

Unit 2 Homework

If you would like to review the answers for the Unit 2 homework, clock on the appropriate link below.

Unit II Worksheet 2

Chapter 2 Review Questions

Unit II Worksheet 4

Unit II Worksheet 5

Dune Buggy Lab Report Guidelines

It was brought to my attention that I did not explain how the lab reports are graded. My point system is below:

Format - 5 points

Purpose - 2 points

Apparatus - Extra Credit (up to 2 points)

Procedure - 5 points

Data - 5 points

Evaluation of Data - 25 points

Conclusion - 8 points

Total - 50 points

Click on the following link to download the lab guidelines with point values included:

Lab Report Expectations

If you have specific questions about your lab report, please see me at tutorial or email me.

Picture Me Rolling

On Friday, we shifted our focus to velocity as we again used the motion detectors to graph ourselves.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Mathematical Model Quiz

2) Lab: Motion Detector Lab #2

3) Briefly Discuss Lab Reports

HANDOUTS

1) Motion Maps

2) Unit II Worksheet 4

HOMEWORK

1) Unit II Worksheet 4

2) Finish Motion Detector Lab 2

3) Prepare for Velocity-Time Quiz

4) Rewrite Duner Buggy Lab Report (optional)

Moving at the Speed of Physics

On Wednesday, we took our knowledge of position vs. time and extracted information about velocity.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Introduction to Motion Maps

2) Class Review of Unit II Worksheet 1

3) Velocity vs. Time Graphs

HANDOUTS

1) Unit II Worksheet 2

HOMEWORK

1) Unit II Worksheet 2

2) Textbook Chapter 2 Questions 2-8 (pp. 22-23)

3) Prepare for Mathematical Model Quiz (Review back page of Unit 1 Review)

Do We Know Where We are Going?

On Friday we cast the dune buggies aside and became the objects of motion ourselves.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Lab Report: Peer Review

2) Dune Buggy position-time predictions

3) Lab: Graphing Motion

HANDOUTS

1) Lab Report Expectations

2) Dune Buggy Prediction worksheet

3) Graphing Motion Lab worksheet

4) Unit 2 Worksheet 1

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 2 Worksheet 1

2) Dune Buggy Lab report final (turn in hard copy)

An Epic Prediction

We tested our mathematical models for the Dune Buggy position.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Review Mathematical Modeling

2) Quiz: Slope

3) Dune Buggy Race

4) Dune Buggy Lab: Discuss Evaluation of Data

HANDOUTS

1) Unit 1 Review worksheet

HOMEWORK

1) Unit 1 Review worksheet

2) Dune Buggy Lab rough draft

Predicting Slope

Today we continued to analyze the data from our Dune Buggy Lab using hand-drawn and computer-generated "best-fit" lines.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Quiz: Speed and Unit Conversion

2) Dune Buggy Lab: Discuss Procedure, Find Line of Best Fit, and Calculate Slope

3) Graphical Analysis of Dune Buggy Data (computer program)

4) Discuss Mathematical Modeling

HANDOUTS

1) Notebook Organization sheet

2) How to Calculate Slope sheet

3) How to use Graphical Analysis sheet

HOMEWORK

1) Prepare Mathematical Model for Dune Buggy graph

2) Prepare for Slope Quiz

Thursday, August 27, 2009

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Syllabus Quiz

2) Physics 500 Calculations

3) Dune Buggy Lab Data Collection

HANDOUTS

1) Dune Buggy Lab Sheet

HOMEWORK

1) Finish Physics 500 Calculations

2) Get binder materials

3) Cover Textbook

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1) Course Introduction

2) FCI Diagnostic Test

3) Physics 500 Data Collection

HANDOUTS

1) Syllabus

2) All About You worksheet

3) Physics 500 Lab Data Sheet

HOMEWORK

1) Get syllabus signed

2) Get binder materials

3) Complete All About You worksheet

4) Bring $10 Lab Fee