Facing Midterms

Physics D, F and Honors Physics worked on heat and heat transfer this week. Students discussed the nature of heat energy, it's relationship to temperature, methods of heat transfer, specific heat, latent heat and phase change. In lab, we examined heat transfer between substances and the solid-liquid phase change in one set of investigations and in a second investigation we looked at the insulating properties of different dry fabrics and the same fabrics when wet. As a final activity, we began to review for next weeks' midterm exam. Remember that the exam is cumulative and the questions will be of equal difficulty to those on previous tests. Your practice midterm and answer key are posted on Edline, so look at that to check your work and email me with any questions you might have. For Physics D and F, we will take time to review those practice tests next week.

Intro Physics completed their unit on work, power and machines. We looked at the six simple machines and worked lab investigations with inclined planes and pulleys (simple and pulley systems). We practiced calculating mechanical advantage (both IMA and AMA), as well as efficiency. We also took time to work on our midterm practice exam. Remember that your exam is 10% of your year's grade and is cumulative. Email me over the weekend for any questions about your practice test or the midterm material.