So Many Labs

Physics A and B block worked on a lab investigation involving pulleys. Folks tested simple fixed and movable pulleys, as well as pulley systems, for the mechanical advantage they produced. For pulleys, the mechanical advantage (resistance force/effort force) can be determined by experimentation or by the number of supporting ropes. The simple fixed pulley had one supporting rope and an MA of 1. The simple movable pulley had two supporting ropes and an MA of 2. And so forth and so on... On Monday, we'll start our discussion of circular motion, torque and simple machines, so have those lab sheets completed.

Honors Physics conducted a lab investigation targeting buoyant forces. When an object is placed in a fluid an upward force acts on the object equal to ρ_fluidV_fluidg. Since the product of density and volume equals mass, that formula is another way to calculate weight. To determine floating or sinking, compare the forces acting on an object (weight and the buoyant force) and see who is larger. We'll discuss buoyant forces in more detail on Monday and you can use that discussion to help with your lab write-up which is due on Tuesday.

Intro Physics went over their buoyant forces problems and then worked on some questions dealing with buoyancy. We'll read these over on Monday before moving on to fluids moving due to pressure gradients and Pascal's Principle.