Countdown to Zero Hour

Seniors are not counting the seconds until their final, ummm..., final is completed on Friday. Teachers are also, so happiness is spread around nicely. Physics is working on voluntary bonus work and Honors Physics spent today on last-minute preparations for tomorrow's exam.

Physical Science spent a long block discussing electromagnetic induction. Seems like a lot of information was hurled at you today, but if you filter it, a few major ideas shake out. The definition of electromagnetic induction, the definition of magnetic flux and ways to create magnetic flux, the relationship between degree of magnetic flux and current generated, the function of a generator and how it compares to an electric motor, the definition of alternating current and why generators and transformers are related to alternating current, how energy conversions are demonstrated by electric motors and generators and the function of transformers. I wouldn't spend a great deal of study time for Friday's exam on the parallel/perpendicular pieces for coil and magnetic fields, the variable designations for magnetic field and flux or the behavior of charged particles in magnetic fields. The origin and propagation of electromagnetic waves was already covered in previous material and today's discussion should simply have been review and clarification of those ideas. Tomorrow, a general review of this chapter and Friday is the exam. Starting Monday, we begin MCAS review with a whole exam from a previous academic year. Then, we'll tackle any specific concepts that people want to go over along with a cursory review of the frameworks topics. Next Thursday and Friday - the show is on...

Here's an interesting video on how electric transformers are made:



A cheap, simple generator that you can make at home:



Finally, a clear example of the fact that generators function to convert mechanical energy into electric energy: