Enough is Enough

Though it was just a little and it didn't stick, seeing snow today was not a happy-making experience. Time for sunshine. Buckets and buckets of sunshine...

Honors Physics went over yesterday’s sound exam and then moved into the light. We started out by describing the general properties of light (as per the wave model), the components of the electromagnetic spectrum, Huygen’s ideas about light propagation, reflection and plane mirrors. A lot of this was covered back in the vibrations and waves chapter, so we were able to move through that material at a pretty fast clip. Tomorrow, you will get a chance to work with plane mirrors and also with convex and concave mirrors. We said that plane mirrors make virtual images that are the same size and orientation as the object and appear as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror. It is a different ballgame with curved mirrors….

Physical Science B conducted a lab investigation with lenses to study refraction, image formation and magnification. Using a biconvex lens, students made real and virtual images, determined the focal length of the lens and calculated magnification for the various images formed. The results of the lab were good! Students were clearly able to see the pattern of image formation as an object moved closer and closer to a lens and the result when an object was placed at the focal length and within the focal length. Further, the calculate focal lengths coincided nicely with that experimentally determined at the beginning of the investigation. We’ll go over the lab tomorrow, so make sure you have completed the lab write up. Time will also be spent reviewing refraction and dispersion before starting the general chapter review in preparation for Monday’s exam.

Physical Science E discussed dispersion of light by prisms and raindrops. Rainbow formation was explained, as were the variations of the simple rainbow: multiple rainbows, full rainbows and moonbows We then turned attention to starting the review for Monday’s exam on sound and light. Make sure to come with any final questions tomorrow so that we can get you squared away before the test.

Physics F and G spent time correcting their sound exams. Light and reflection begins tomorrow…

Homework

Honors Physics A: None
Physical Science B: Complete lab write up and review worksheet packet
Physical Science E: None
Physics F and G: Complete test corrections