Friday, May 28, 2010

Return Your Textbooks Early

If you are able, please bring your physics textbook to class on Tuesday; you will be able to turn it in early and have one less headache to deal with in the next two weeks.  


Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

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3...2...1...Contact


On Tuesday (5/25), we started viewing the movie "Contact" and considering the

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Begin the movie "Contact"

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Physics Project

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due by June 1)
2) Physics Project (project due June 1)
3) Physics Final Parts 2 and 3 (to be completed by June 8)

Friday, May 21, 2010

I Like the Way You Work


On Friday (5/21), we spent the day working on the end-of-year physics projects.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Work on projects

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Physics Project

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due by June 1) [I will show "Contact" in class next week]
2) Physics Project (project due June 1)
3) Physics Final Parts 2 and 3 (June 8)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Beginning of the End


On Wednesday (5/19), we enjoyed the first part of the final exam for the second semester.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Final Exam Part 1

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Physics Project

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due by June 1) [I will show "Contact" in class next week]
2) Physics Project (project due June 1)
3) Physics Final Parts 2 and 3 (June 8)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Last Minute Hints

Make sure you include the following topics in your review:

Friction
Displacement-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time graphs
Heat Loss
Work
Unit Conversion

These are the topics that I did not hear a lot about on Monday.

See you tomorrow.

Monday, May 17, 2010

The Eve of Conclusions


On Monday (5/17), we made the last preparations for the first part of the final and learned about the semiconductor industry and technological innovations.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Prepare Equation Sheet for Final Part 1
2) Guest Speaker

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Prepare for Final Exam Part 1

UPCOMING
1) Final Part 1 (5/19)
2) Physics Paper (due by June 1)
3) Physics Project (project due June 1)
4) Physics Final (June 8)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Great America Eve


On Thursday (5/13), we discussed our Great America field trip in greater detail and spoke briefly of our impending final.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Great America Info
2) Roller coaster Video
3) Final Discussion

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Create one problem you would like to see solved before the final
2) Work on Project and Paper
3) Study for Final Exam Part 1

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17 - accepted until 6/1 without penalty)
2) Final Part 1 (5/19)
3) Physics Project (project due June 1)
4) Physics Final (June 8)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Astrolabe-a-rific


On Wednesday (5/12), we learned how to use an astrolabe to measure the height of distant objects.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Question of the Day: How tall is the LGHS gym stanchion?
2) Final Review Input

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Create one problem you would like to see solved before the final
2) Work on Project and Paper
3) Study for Final Exam Part 1

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17 - accepted until 6/1 without penalty)
2) Final Part 1 (5/19)
3) Physics Project (project due June 1)
4) Physics Final (June 8)

Friday, May 7, 2010

A Fickle Newton


On Friday (5/7), we reviewed the ideas of motion and forces by playing Gravityland.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Gravityland
2) Final Destination

HANDOUTS

1) Final Exam Concepts (Final Exam Concepts)

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Project and Paper
2) Study for Final Exam Part 1

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
2) Final Part 1 (5/19)
3) Physics Project (project due June 1)
4) Physics Final (June 8)

Thursday, May 6, 2010

STARk Raving Mad


On Wednesday (5/5), we observed reviewed for the CST's by playing a game.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Soup or Star
2) General Concept Review
3) Pendulum Review

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Project and Paper

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
2) Final Part 1 (5/19)
3) Physics Project (project due June 1)
4) Physics Final (June 8)

Monday, May 3, 2010

Electromagtastic


On Monday (5/3), we observed the intricate relationship between electricity and magnetism.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Magnetic Observations
2) Deduction vs. Induction
3) Electromagnetic Demonstrations

4) Review of Project Proposals

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Project and Paper

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
2) Final Part 1 (5/19)
3) Physics Project (project due June 1)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Circuitous Route


On Thursday (4/29), we built simple circuits and examined equivalent resistance.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Series and Parallel Circuits
2) Building Simple Circuits

3) Equivalent Resistance

HANDOUTS

1) Unit 9 Worksheet 2 (Unit 9 Worksheet 2 Blank)

HOMEWORK
1) Finish Project Proposal (due Monday [5/3])
2) Unit 9 Worksheet 2

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
2) Final Part 1 (5/19)
3) Physics Project (proposal due 5/3; project due June 1)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Seeing (and Feeling) Sparks


On Tuesday (4/27), we challenged our potential and got electrons moving.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Discuss Project Proposal (Project Proposal)
2) Introduction to Electricity

3) Electricity demos

HANDOUTS

1) Unit 9 Worksheet 1 (Unit 9 Worksheet 1 Blank)

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Project Proposal (due Monday [5/3])
2) Unit 9 Worksheet 1

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
2) Physics Project (proposal due 5/3; project due June 1)

Friday, April 23, 2010

Looming Disorder


On Friday (4/21), we took the waves test and briefly discussed thermodynamics and entropy.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Brief wave review
2) Waves test

3) Lecture on thermodynamics

HANDOUTS

1) none today

HOMEWORK
1) Work on Project Proposal and Paper

UPCOMING
1) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
2) Physics Project (proposal due 4/29)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Homework Solutions and Food Sign-Ups

Below are links to homework solutions for Unit 8 and food items people are bringing for after the test.






Waving Goodbye


On Wednesday (4/21), we reviewed optics and some elements of waves in preparation for our test on Friday.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Review of Light (Bend, Bounce, or Burrow)
2) Optics with Bill Nye

3) Discusse Phinal Project

HANDOUTS

1) Waves Test Review sheet

HOMEWORK
1) Prepare for Test
2) Assemble Unit 8 HW packet (Worksheets 1-5)

UPCOMING
1) Unit 8 Test - Waves, Sound, and Light (Friday, 4/23)
2) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
3) Physics Project (proposal due 4/29)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Physics Got Back


On Monday (4/19), we revisited forces and motion before taking a look at sunsets and diffraction.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Discussion of Remaining Big Assignments
2) Force and Motion Diagnostic Test

3) Review Refraction (sunsets, 
4) Diffraction

HANDOUTS

1) Movie E-Motion sheet
2) Physics Project sheet

HOMEWORK
1) Brainstorm Physics movie and Phinal Project

UPCOMING
1) Unit 8 Test - Waves, Sound, and Light (Friday, 4/23)
2) Physics Paper (due 5/17)
3) Physics Project (proposal due 4/29)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Remaining Big Assignments

As I mentioned in class last time, two of your remaining assignments for the year are a physics project and a paper based on a science fiction movie.  A link to the descriptions of each of these assignments is below.




Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Spring Break Recess

If you are bored out of your mind and are looking for something to do, I'll be at school working on experiments for the rest of the year Thursday (4/15) at 10:00.  You can get a head start. 


I hope you are having a great break!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Somewhere Over the Refracted Light


On Thursday (4/8), we created and analyzed rainbows.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Unit 8 Quiz #3 - Light

2) Under the Rainbow lab
3) Rainbow notes
4) Total Internal Reflection Demo

HANDOUTS

1) Under the Rainbow lab sheet

HOMEWORK
1) Brainstorm Physics movie and Phinal Project
2) Enjoy your break!

UPCOMING
1) Unit 8 Test - Waves, Sound, and Light
2) Physics Paper (check back here for requirements)
3) Physics Project (up to 3 people, 3 physics topics per person); you may collaborate with students from other physics classes

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Fine Tuning of Light


On Tuesday (4/6), we reflected, refracted, and split light into pieces

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1) Color demonstrations and electromagnetic spectrum

2) Notes on reflection, speed of light, refraction, and total internal reflection
3) Worksheet 5 including Snell's Law lab

HANDOUTS

1) Electromagnetic spectrum note sheet
2) Unit 8 Worksheet 5 (Unit 8 Worksheet 5 Blank)

HOMEWORK
1) Complete Unit 8 Worksheet 5
2) Prepare for Light Quiz

UPCOMING
1) Unit 8 Quiz #3 (4/8)