A Case of the Mondays

Today found both Honors Physics and Physics D engaged in motion-based lab investigations. Honors Physics collected the last of the data and began preparing graphs for their circular motion experiment and Physics D conducted a lab on the 2-dimensional motion of a cart on a ramp. The cart demonstrated motion very similar to what we saw for a ball in free fall in our previous lab experiment, but this time, the acceleration came nowhere close to -9.81 m/s². However, as we increased ramp height, the acceleration began to climb and if we had actually approached vertical, we would have gotten values close to g. We'll talk about the vector nature of acceleration and forces tomorrow and refresh ourselves on the meaning of the shapes of the graphs we produced. Then, it's on to vector resolution.

Physics F looked at using the Pythagorean Theorem and the tangent function to combine perpendicular vectors. As long as the vectors in question form a right triangle, the Pythagorean Theorem can give us the magnitude of the resultant vector (hypotenuse of the triangle) and the tangent function provides direction. We practice working problems in class and hammered out how to choose the angle to evaluate and report for an answer. Tomorrow, we'll review this a bit and move on to vector resolution.

Intro Physics went over their velocity/displacement homework problems and, then, began to look at acceleration, the rate of change of velocity. We made sure the whole scope of the acceleration definition was explored and took on the interaction between velocity and acceleration in terms of signs. When they have the same sign, the object speeds up in the direction of the motion and when the signs are opposite the object slows down in the direction of motion. When you are at rest, but are subject to acceleration, you start from rest in the direction of the acceleration. When you are in motion, but subject to zero acceleration, you continue moving with constant velocity. We ended the period with a look at the formula and unit for acceleration and we'll practice with that in class tomorrow, with an eye, also, at velocity-time graphs for objects showing motion with constant acceleration.

Complicating Motion

Honors Physics took yesterday to introduce themselves to circular or rotational motion. We examined how to define displacement (as the portion of the circle swept out during the position change measured in radians) and used that displacement to set up for angular speed and acceleration. Today, we conducted a lab investigation where the cause of circular motion (centripetal force) was investigated. Students measured the tangential speed of a mass as it moved in circular motion with a given centripetal force and rotational radius. We varied the radius as one aspect of the experiment and the centripetal force (for constant radius) as a second aspect. We'll finish this lab up on Monday before looking for fully at angular kinematics.

Intro Physics took time yesterday to review their lab work for the Cart on the Ramp investigation, then turned attention to reviewing their Chapter 1 exams. We then jumped slightly into motion by discussing the importance of a frame of refrence when evaluating motion. Today, we picked up with specific descriptors of motion (distance/displacement; speed/velocity) and examined them from a conceptual and graphical standpoint. At the end of class students began to work on a series of practice problems for displacement and velocity and we will go over those on Monday. Remember your basic techniques for working with fractions and your algebra. When something is equal to a fraction, (v = Δx/t), cross multiply, then isolate the desired variable and solve.

Physics D reviewed the graphical method of working with vectors which was the focus of yesterday's work, then took on using the Pythagorean Theorem and the tangent function to streamline the analysis of perpendicular vectors. We discussed vector addition using these techniques and worked a few practice problems in class. On Tuesday, we'll look at vector resolution, which is breaking down a resultant into its x- and y-components and on Monday, we look at the 2-dimensional motion of a cart ascending and descending a ramp. Physics F began their introduction to vectors today, after reviewing their Cart on a Ramp lab that they worked on yesterday. We looked at the motion of our cart and compared/contrasted it with the motion of the ball tossed into the air that played a role in our previous lab investigation. The vector techniques we learn in this first part of Chapter 2 will allow for a deeper analysis of that type of situation, so we'll make sure to spend time learning how to combine and resolve vectors before we move on.

More Tests Than You Can Shake a Stick At!

Honors Physics, Physics D and F all enjoyed their Chapter 1-2 exams today and on Thursday move on to greener pastures. Honors Physics takes a brief stop in angular kinematics, Physics D begins work with vectors and Physics F works on a lab investigation monitoring the motion of a cart on a ramp. The graphs will be very familiar, but what we're looking for is going to be slightly different than for your ball-toss lab. It will tie in with the work on vectors and 2-dimensional motion that we're starting on Friday.

Introductory Physics completed their Cart on a Ramp lab, including the extensions that tested angle of incline on the cart's acceleration. The types of graphs you worked with (position-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time) are going to be studied in depth during the upcoming motion unit and we'll refer back to this lab to highlight elements of that discussion. Thursday, we'll go over the lab, discuss your first lab write-up to get a leg-up on writing the next one and, go over your Chapter 1 exams and, time permitting, address the Pre-Reading Questions you had for homework last night. Friday, we start with motion!

Test and Test Prep

Intro Physics took their Chapter 1 test today and return to their labwork tomorrow. We'll complete the Cart on a Ramp lab and may have time to go over today's exams, as well. If not, we'll go over the tests on Thursday, before we formally begin our work with motion.

Honors Physics, Physics D and F reviewed for their Chapters 1-2 exam. Physics D and F spent the first portion of class reviewing their free-fall homework and then all classes moved page by page through the chapters, highlighting the relevant information for the exam. On Thursday, Physics D and F will begin work with vectors and Honors Physics will do a quick bit of angular kinematics.

Free-Fall!

Physics D and F reviewed their work with the kinematics formulas and then turned those formulas towards analyzing objects experiencing free-fall motion. Free fall is any motion where the object is only acted upon by gravity, so no other forces are involved. We assume that air resistance is negligible (a decent assumption for some objects and a poor one for others) and realize that the object does not actually have to be falling to be in free-fall. A ball tossed straight up in the air is in free-fall, because the only force acting on it is gravity. We discussed problem-solving methods for free-fall motion and will go over the homework problems on Monday before beginning our review of Chapters 1 and 2 for Tuesday's test. Then, it's on to vectors!

Honors Physics reviewed their more in-depth kinematics problems and worked an extra in class as practice. The decision was made to push the test back one day to have Monday as a review day, so the test is now scheduled for Tuesday. On Thursday, we'll take a look at angular kinematics.

Intro Physics worked on a lab investigation centering on a cart moving on a ramp. Students examined position-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs of the motion and used those graphs to explain the interplay of acceleration and velocity and determine the value for the cart's acceleration. We didn't finish the lab in class, so on Tuesday (Monday is Chapter 1 Exam day), we'll complete the investigation.

Kinematics

Intro Physics spent the period finalizing ideas for scientific figures, practicing implementing rules of significant figures in problem solving and reviewing for Monday's exam. We walked through the chapter page by page, highlighted important information and addressing areas of question. Tomorrow, a lab investigation that will open the door for our next unit of study - motion.

Honors Physics discussed their free-fall motion homework problems before receiving a set of slightly more challenging problems to work in in class. We'll go over those tomorrow before reviewing for Monday's exam. Physics D and F also worked on kinematics problems during the period and we attacked issues at an individual level, so folks could find ways to properly set up and solve these problems. Here's a quick video with an example of how to work through a typical kinematics problem:


Physics D and F have their Chapter 1-2 test on Tuesday, so make sure to look things over this weekend come with questions on Monday. We're discussion free-fall acceleration tomorrow, but Monday is a full-period review, so come prepared...

More Motion!

Physics F reviewed their work with acceleration and focused, today, on the kinematics formulas. We looked at the formulas, discussed how they were derived and worked several sample problems to illustrate the methods for extracting information from a word problem and choosing the right tools to generate a solution. Tomorrow is all-period practice with kinematics problems so that skills can be nailed down. We'll see these formulas all year and working with them quickly and easily will be a must.

Physics D will also be working on kinematics problems tomorrow, but after we go over today's lab on objects in free-fall. Notice, though, that one of the kinematics formulas we discussed yesterday was used in your investigations. The equations are valid for horizontal, vertical or 2-dimensional motion and we'll use them often for analyzing many types of situations. For your investigation, the graphs you produced for the tossed ball and dropped picket fence matched well with what we would predict for an accelerating object and it was clear that the acceleration had a constant value. We'll discuss the lab in detail tomorrow and provide some tips for your write-up which is due on Monday.

Honors Physics discussed their lab investigation from yesterday and used it as a reference for today's discussion of objects in free-fall. We defined free-fall as motion acted upon only by gravity and demonstrated why objects behave differently in free-fall because of the confounding effect of air resistance. We examined a sample problem that used the familiar kinematics formulas to evaluate motion of a basketball and more problems along those lines are on the homework list. We'll go over those tomorrow, before making a last practice round of our motion problems (expect some tougher ones), Friday is review day and Monday is exam day. Tuesday it's on to angular kinematics!

Intro Physics discussed their graphing and scientific notation homework, then worked on an activity that highlighted the concepts of accuracy and precision. It became clear that small errors in technique had big impacts on the accuracy of our volume readings and the precision of those readings was determined by the specific measuring tool we used. We then started our discussion on the use of significant figures to report precision. We'll finish that up first thing tomorrow, before having a general review of the chapter in preparation for Monday's exam.

Moving On With Motion

Intro Physics took time today to discuss scientific notation and how to perform calculations with values given in scientific notation. We worked though a number of problems, with each student investigating the quickest and most efficient way to work with scientific notation on their calculators. we also reviewed the general rules for estimating the power of an answer to give folks a small method of self-check when problem-solving. Tomorrow, we're on to accuracy, precision and significant figures. Review for the chapter is Thursday, lab on Friday and the Chapter 1 exam is on Monday. On Tuesday, it's on to motion!

Honors Physics conducted two lab investigations concerning free-fall motion. Graphs of the motion were analyzed to gain information about the motion and students began to pull together ideas about acceleration, displacement and velocity, as they pertain to an extended motion, such as a ball being tossed into the air and caught. The investigations also allowed for folks to experimentally determine the value for acceleration due to gravity, which we begin to discuss tomorrow in class.

Physics F took on the topic of acceleration today. Class began with a review of the lab and a evaluation of e last set of lab write-ups. We went over high and low points of those papers and students were given advice how to remedy those issues for the next lab synopses that are due Monday. We tied the lab work into our acceleration discussion and used the graphs from the lab to highlight the main ideas. Tomorrow, we look at the kinematics formulas, which was how Physics D spent their time. We discussed the formulas, in general, then walked through a sample problem as a class before folks got to try one on their own. Tomorrow, nothing but problem-solving practice.

Blogger is a Foul Beast

I still can't access my blog using any form of actual login besides this app, so I guess it'll have to do until Google figures itself out...

Physics and Honors Physics have been working through 1-dimensional motion. We defined the basic descriptors of motion, discussed the importance of a frame of reference, contrasted vector and scalar quantities and started on the mathematics of motion. The lab work for this unit centers on free-fall motion and interpreting graphs of motion and Physics F started with that today. We looked at the motion of a ball tossed into the air, analyzing position-time and velocity-time graphs of the motion. We then used a thin, heavy object to determine acceleration do to gravity. Tomorrow, we'll discuss the lab investigations and think about material for the lab write-up.

Intro Physics reviewed the graphing exercise and the took a deeper look into graph creation and interpretation. We are going to make and evaluate a large number of graphs this year, so we will see working on getting those skills hammered down as we move along. Tomorrow, we begin our work with scientific notation and be prepared to work quickly and accurately with scientific notation on your calculators.

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Back Online (sort of)

Well, I guess I'm doing this through an app on my iPad for now since Blogger has, apparently, messed up a lot of folks.

Today was a big day for unit conversation for everyone. All classes reviewed the basics of unit conversion and had more practice with simple and more complex problem types. Some classes are getting more practice tomorrow, but others are moving on to significant figures, accuracy and precision. Intro Physics will be conducting their first lab investigation, which will let students learn how to use the Vernier probeware system and the investigate the relationship between weight and quantity for pennies.

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Phryday!

Despite a fire drill this morning, all went swimmingly to end our first week back. Intro Physics discussed the use of models in science and began to dig into the specifics of the scientific method. D Block Physics completed their discussion of models and hypothesis and started to dip toes into the area of measurement. The SI system was reviewed and we looked at both the importance of and the techniques for unit conversion. Remember, I don't necessarily care the method you use for unit conversion so long as it works for you. However, on a test, I need to see your work so that I can assign partial credit for a problem if you get the wrong answer. On Monday, we conduct our first lab investigation centering on the use of the Vernier system and then the linear relationship between weight and quantity for a manufactured object (pennies).

This was the lab Honors Physics worked on today, which obtained excellent results. We walked step-by-step through the setup and take down process for the Vernier equipment, highlighted problems and pitfalls, and then students undertook their investigation in their groups, demonstrating that weight per penny is a very constant property. We ended the period by reviewing the lab data and discussing ideas for the write-up that's due on Tuesday. For F Block Physics we addressed any final questions about the lab they worked on yesterday and then launched into Chapter 1. We looked at the scope of physics, the use of models in science and how the scientific method involves models in it's processes. On Monday, we start to look at the SI system and dimensional analysis.

The Basics of Science

Today found Intro Physics, Physics D and Honors Physics working through the beginning of Chapter 1, which in every science textbook in the world deals with things like the scientific method, the metric system, measurements, what that particular science is about, etc. We hit the nature of physics, the scientific method, pure vs. applied science, science vs. technology and started, for some, discussing the idea of models. Tomorrow we finish up with his and dig into the metric system.

Physics F conducted an investigation that allowed students to familiarize themselves with the Vernier equipment and investigate the linear relationship between weight and quantity for a man-made object (pennies). We walked through the setup and take down of the lab apparatus plus the specifics of the software, before students were allowed to jump into their investigation. They used a force sensor to measure the weight of groups of pennies (pre- and post-1982) and examined the relationship, which was very linear. Students then used this information to work problems associated with converting dollar amounts to weight and weights to dollar amounts, as would be handled by the treasury and banks. Tomorrow, E Block works on this lab and F Block gets its introduction to Chapter 1.

Day 1!

Day 1 for everyone today and, unsurprisingly, Day 1 business was on every class's agenda. We went over the syllabus, homework and laboratory guidelines, curriculum frameworks (for the Introductory Physics group), distributed books and discussed general expectations and content for the courses. Tomorrow, we launch into an introductory unit that will focus on the metric system, use of models in science, scientific notation and significant figures, graphing and unit conversion. Basically, reminding ourselves of some basic skills that one needs to conduct any form of science. The exception will be F Block, who will undertake their first lab investigation, centering around the use of the Vernier probeware system and how it functions to collect, present and analyze real-time data.

Welcome back everyone!