Motion and Machines

Honors Physics conducted a lab investigation that centered on rotational motion. We looked at torque, angular acceleration and moment inertia for a single spinning disc, two spinning discs stacked together and a lightweight rod with widely-spaced weights. Students measured the angular acceleration for each of these situations for gradually increasing amounts of torque and on Monday, we'll go over the results and what we can draw from them. Then we move on to simple machines for the rest of the period, taking on gravity on Tuesday, review on Wednesday and our exam on Thursday.

Physics D finished their discussion of torque with a look at net torque and the sign of torque and then turned attention to simple machines, which is where Physics F also picked up after their discussion of yesterday's centripetal force lab. We listed and described the six simple machines and discussed how machines manipulate force in either work or torque. We contrasted actual and ideal mechanical advantage, then discussed the concept of efficiency and explained why it is always less than 100%. On Monday, D Block works on their centripetal force lab and F Block conducts an investigation centered on levers. Tuesday is D Block's lever lab, while D Block gets some problem-solving practice with machines. Wednesday is review day and Thursday is your exam.

Intro Physics reviewed their conservation of momentum problems, then had some practice with MCAS items for force and momentum. Folks worked on the multiple choice in class, which we went over before the bell, and have the open-response for homework. We'll go over those on Monday as part of our review for Tuesday's exam.