The Aftermath

Well, there really is no aftermath. The storm was fairly lackluster for this part of the world, so we are back to normal.

Physics A and B reviewed for tomorrow's exam for Chapter 4. Remember to look at the videos posted a few days ago for problem-solving information for forces on objects on horizontal surfaces and on inclines. Starting Thursday - Work and Energy.

Honors Physics reviewed Friday's homework problems, then turned attention to power. Remember that power measures the rate at which work is done or energy is converted/used. Two machines with different power ratings can do exactly the same amount of work. The difference is that the higher-power machine will do the work in a shorter time period. Calculating power can take a variety of pathways - using work and time; using energy (KE or PE) and time; using net force and velocity. So, read problems carefully to plan a strategy to use power relationships. Tomorrow, review for the Chapter 5 Test, Thursday is the Chapter 5 test and Friday finds us entering the domain of momentum.

Introductory Physics conducted two lab investigations today. One looked at measuring the value for acceleration due to gravity, which we accept as 9.81 m/s² as an average. Because the value is an average, we don't expect classroom values to necessarily fall directly on that value and, although it is minimal, there is the impact of air resistance to consider. The second lab looked at air resistance specifically, and how it influenced the motion of an object as it fell. We'll go over these labs tomorrow, but the write-ups aren't due until Friday. Tomorrow, we'll tidy last minute issues for free fall and projectile motion and move on to Newton's 3^rd law of motion.