Physics D, F and Honors Physics began their discussion of light today with an overview of the nature of light as a transverse, electromagnetic wave (when it behaves as a wave), the members of the EM spectrum and their uses, the speed of light and how Huygens viewed light waves and their propagation. Physics D and Honors Physics also looked at light intensity, but Physics F will get there on Monday, when they will also start, with the other sections, on an examination of reflection and reflection by flat mirrors.
Intro Physics discussed yesterday's lab investigation on phases and phase change before turning attention towards the liquid and gas phases of matter. We continued to describe matter in terms of energy, particle motion, volume and shape and saw how the pattern of increasing energy took solids to liquids and then gases. We'll hit plasma on Monday and then begin our look at phase changes, phase change diagrams and latent heat.
2/28/14
2/27/14
Saying Farewell to Sound
Physics D, F and Honors Physics took their Sound exams today and begin with light and reflection tomorrow. Intro Physics conducted a lab investigation on phase changes. We began talking about phases of matter yesterday and today, examined water undergoing the liquid-solid phase changes. We charted the temperature change of freezing water and melting ice and overlaid the graphs to see that the solid-liquid change (melting) occurred at the same temperate as the liquid-solid transformation (freezing) and that the temperature did not change during the process of changing phase. We'll discuss the lab in class tomorrow as we continue looking at phases of matter and latent heat.
2/25/14
Swamped with Sound
Physics D and Honors Physics discussed the concepts of timbre and beats today in class. We used our work with harmonics to discuss the musical quality of sound and why different instruments, playing the same note, sound quite differently due to the numbers and intensities of harmonics each instrument produces. We then turned attention to beats, which is an interference phenomenon where two waves of similar frequencies produce a resultant wave with alternating soft (destructive) and loud (constructive) regions. The numbers of beats/second, or beat frequency equals the frequency difference between the incident waves. Tomorrow we review and Thursday is our exam, so come to class tomorrow with questions.
Physics D conducted two lab investigations, one that centered on sound production and beats and the other on standing waves. Students compared properties of waves produced by two different tuning forks struck separately and when they were struck simultaneously. The interference of the waves produced beats with, when the frequency was calculated, was equal to the frequency difference between the two tuning forks. Folks then generated standing waves on a string and measured properties such as wavelength, frequency and wave speed. As wavelength decreased, frequency increased so that the speed of the wave in the rope remained constant. We'll discuss this lab tomorrow, along with the idea of timbre and beats before reviewing for Thursday's exam.
Intro Physics discussed the relationship between work and heat. We looked at how doing work on a system can raise its internal energy and temperature and how a system doing work can experience a decrease in internal energy and temperature. We touched on the concept of thermodynamics and discussed how heat, work and internal energy are related in both heat engines and refrigeration systems. Tomorrow, we begin on phases of matter and phase chnge.
Physics D conducted two lab investigations, one that centered on sound production and beats and the other on standing waves. Students compared properties of waves produced by two different tuning forks struck separately and when they were struck simultaneously. The interference of the waves produced beats with, when the frequency was calculated, was equal to the frequency difference between the two tuning forks. Folks then generated standing waves on a string and measured properties such as wavelength, frequency and wave speed. As wavelength decreased, frequency increased so that the speed of the wave in the rope remained constant. We'll discuss this lab tomorrow, along with the idea of timbre and beats before reviewing for Thursday's exam.
Intro Physics discussed the relationship between work and heat. We looked at how doing work on a system can raise its internal energy and temperature and how a system doing work can experience a decrease in internal energy and temperature. We touched on the concept of thermodynamics and discussed how heat, work and internal energy are related in both heat engines and refrigeration systems. Tomorrow, we begin on phases of matter and phase chnge.
2/24/14
And We're Back
Intro Physics reviewed their work with specific heat, calorimetry and conservation of energy, before getting some practice solving problems involving heat transfer between objects. If we can assume some degree of conservation of energy, we can assume that the heat lost by one object equals the heat gained by a second and use that relationship to solve for specific heat of one substance, temperature change (initial or final or final temperatures, too) or mass. We'll go over these problems tomorrow before turning attention to phase change and latent heat.
Physics D and F discussed the concept of harmonics and the harmonic series produced by stringed instruments, pipes open at both ends and pipes closed at one end. We examined how the instrument types formed standing waves and why pipes closed at one end are different than the other two instrument types. The homework problems will give you practice calculating harmonic series for these instrument types and tomorrow, we use harmonics to discuss the concept of timbre before turning attention to beats and beat frequency.
Honors Physics worked on two lab investigations in class today, one focusing on beats and beat frequency and the second on standing wave formation. Beats are produced by interference of two waves of similar frequencies and the number of beats per second (beat frequency) is equal to the frequency difference between the two notes, and the data we collected in lab verified this relationship. The more difficult of the two investigations involved forming standing waves, which only form a certain frequencies in the medium. It took folks awhile to get the waves formed and stabilized long enough to collect data, which demonstrated that as wavelength decreased, frequency increased and by a predictable value. We'll talk about he labs tomorrow, as well as the harmonic series problems that were assigned, in class tomorrow before turning attention to timbre and beats.
Physics D and F discussed the concept of harmonics and the harmonic series produced by stringed instruments, pipes open at both ends and pipes closed at one end. We examined how the instrument types formed standing waves and why pipes closed at one end are different than the other two instrument types. The homework problems will give you practice calculating harmonic series for these instrument types and tomorrow, we use harmonics to discuss the concept of timbre before turning attention to beats and beat frequency.
Honors Physics worked on two lab investigations in class today, one focusing on beats and beat frequency and the second on standing wave formation. Beats are produced by interference of two waves of similar frequencies and the number of beats per second (beat frequency) is equal to the frequency difference between the two notes, and the data we collected in lab verified this relationship. The more difficult of the two investigations involved forming standing waves, which only form a certain frequencies in the medium. It took folks awhile to get the waves formed and stabilized long enough to collect data, which demonstrated that as wavelength decreased, frequency increased and by a predictable value. We'll talk about he labs tomorrow, as well as the harmonic series problems that were assigned, in class tomorrow before turning attention to timbre and beats.
2/14/14
Facing Vacation
The snow day yesterday will push Physics D, F and Honors Physics exams back one day, so they'll be the Thursday of the week we return from vacation. Between yesterday and today, these blocks moved forward with their study of sound. We looked at sound intensity, relative intensity and the decibel scale, structure and function of the human ear and how intensity and frequency play into human ability to hear. Today, Physics F worked with a lab centering on sound production by natural and artificial sources, how multiple waves are analyzed by the principle of superposition and how telephone companies code information in touch-tone systems, while Honors Physics moved forward into harmonic series and standing waves. Make sure you can properly calculate harmonic series for vibrating strings, pipes open at both ends or pipes closed at one end, in addition to determining wavelengths of standing waves based on the length of the vibrating string or air column.
Intro Physics built on their work with heat transfer by discussing the third method of heat transfer, radiation, and looking at examples of how heat is transferred as an energy wave. We then turned attention to specific heat and calorimetry. We defined specific heat and discussed how that property explains why some materials change temperature readily and others resist temperature change. We then looked at calorimetry and how a calorimeter uses the Law of Conservation of Energy to determine the specific heat of a material or the energy content of a fuel or food. When we return, we'll practice with specific heat and using the idea of energy conservation to solve problems involving heat transfer.
Have a good vacation!
Intro Physics built on their work with heat transfer by discussing the third method of heat transfer, radiation, and looking at examples of how heat is transferred as an energy wave. We then turned attention to specific heat and calorimetry. We defined specific heat and discussed how that property explains why some materials change temperature readily and others resist temperature change. We then looked at calorimetry and how a calorimeter uses the Law of Conservation of Energy to determine the specific heat of a material or the energy content of a fuel or food. When we return, we'll practice with specific heat and using the idea of energy conservation to solve problems involving heat transfer.
Have a good vacation!
2/11/14
Lots of Sound
Physics D discussed their lab investigation on properties of sound before exploring those properties more fully in class. We refreshed ourselves on the basics of sound, and added in additional descriptors and phenomena demonstrated by sound, such as pitch and the Doppler Effect. Physics F and Honors Physics built from this discussion, in which they engaged yesterday, to look at sound intensity, the decibel scale and sound and human health. We examined the formula for sound intensity and related that to relatively intensity and the decibel scale, before relating the decibel scale to human activities. Tomorrow, we look at features of the human ear and then start to broach the concept of harmonics and overtones.
Intro Physics worked on two lab investigations surrounding the concept of heat transfer. We looked at heat transfer between substances at different temperatures and when one substances was undergoing a phase change. By comparing heat lost to heat gained we were able to see conservation of energy in action, though we worked to minimize loss to the environment through the design and construction of a more efficient calorimeter. We'll discuss these investigations tomorrow in class, before taking on methods of heat transfer - conduction, convection and radiation.
Intro Physics worked on two lab investigations surrounding the concept of heat transfer. We looked at heat transfer between substances at different temperatures and when one substances was undergoing a phase change. By comparing heat lost to heat gained we were able to see conservation of energy in action, though we worked to minimize loss to the environment through the design and construction of a more efficient calorimeter. We'll discuss these investigations tomorrow in class, before taking on methods of heat transfer - conduction, convection and radiation.
2/10/14
A Nice New Monday
Intro Physics built upon Friday's discussion of temperature to examine the three major temperature scales (Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin) and then practice converting between one scale and another. We then looked at the idea of heat transfer, focusing on the direction of spontaneous heat flow and how our nerves perceive that flow. We put a specific definition to heat energy and, in lab tomorrow, will look at heat transfer between two materials at different temperatures, as well as between materials where one is undergoing a phase change. Our last bit of discussion concerned thermal equilibrium and that is another concept tomorrow's labs will highlight.
Physics D completed their lab investigation into sound. Most groups worked with the tone dialer software to determine how telephone systems use sounds to encode information. Honors Physics discussed this lab in class today, along with the extra investigation about the mathematics of music before moving on (along with Physics F) to a discussion of sound wave properties, sound propagation, spherical waves, pitch and the Doppler Effect. Tomorrow, Physics D has this discussion and the other two blocks will take a look at sound intensity and resonance.
Physics D completed their lab investigation into sound. Most groups worked with the tone dialer software to determine how telephone systems use sounds to encode information. Honors Physics discussed this lab in class today, along with the extra investigation about the mathematics of music before moving on (along with Physics F) to a discussion of sound wave properties, sound propagation, spherical waves, pitch and the Doppler Effect. Tomorrow, Physics D has this discussion and the other two blocks will take a look at sound intensity and resonance.
2/7/14
The Day o' Tests
Physics D, F and Honors Physics had their Chapter 11 - Vibrations and Waves exam. For D Block, this exam fell during their long block, so the second half of the period was dedicated to working on a lab investigation about sound. Folks produced sounds with tuning fork and saw very clean sine curves when the tuning fork was struck lightly and a more complex waveform when it was struck more sharply. The FFT graph showed one frequency for a soft strike and multiple frequencies for a hard strike. According to the law of superposition, waves can exist at the same place at the same time and the resultant is the combination of all of them, which is why multiple waves being received by the microphone produced a complex form. On Monday, we'll complete the lab and allow people to see the waveforms produced by their voice and by an electronic phone dialer. Honors Physics and Physics F will start with lecture material for sound.
Intro Physics reviewed their Work and Energy exam and then turned attention to heat and temperature. We defined temperature, differentiated from the ideas of hot and cold, broached the concept of thermal expansion and explained how that property of matter explained expansion gaps in bridges, how hot air balloons are filled and how thermometers function. On Monday, we'll turn attention to temperature scales and methods of heat energy transfer.
Intro Physics reviewed their Work and Energy exam and then turned attention to heat and temperature. We defined temperature, differentiated from the ideas of hot and cold, broached the concept of thermal expansion and explained how that property of matter explained expansion gaps in bridges, how hot air balloons are filled and how thermometers function. On Monday, we'll turn attention to temperature scales and methods of heat energy transfer.
2/6/14
Winding Up With Waves
Physics D and F reviewed for their Vibrations and Waves exam in class today. With yesterday being lost to snow, we picked up from Tuesday's discussion of wave interference and reflection and reviewed the chapter material in preparation for tomorrow's exam. Since we did not cover standing waves on Tuesday, that won't be on tomorrow's exam, but we will discuss standing waves in the next chapter, Sound, so we will have the material on that exam, instead. Physics D will begin with that particular new chapter in class tomorrow with a lab that will fall during the second half of the period (long block).
Honors Physics worked on a lab investigation concerning sound. We looked at sounds produced by human voices, pure tones produced by tuning forks, tones produced by a touch-tone phone and how those tones varied due to the presence of overtones or harmonics. A second investigation focused on the mathematics of music, and the mathematical relationships between notes on a scale. Tomorrow is your Vibrations and Weaves exam and Monday begins our formal discussion of sound.
Intro Physics took their Work and Energy exam today and begin a new unit - Heat and Temperature - tomorrow in class. We'll look at heat energy, temperature, specific heat, methods of heat transfer, phase change and latent heat as we move through the unit.
Honors Physics worked on a lab investigation concerning sound. We looked at sounds produced by human voices, pure tones produced by tuning forks, tones produced by a touch-tone phone and how those tones varied due to the presence of overtones or harmonics. A second investigation focused on the mathematics of music, and the mathematical relationships between notes on a scale. Tomorrow is your Vibrations and Weaves exam and Monday begins our formal discussion of sound.
Intro Physics took their Work and Energy exam today and begin a new unit - Heat and Temperature - tomorrow in class. We'll look at heat energy, temperature, specific heat, methods of heat transfer, phase change and latent heat as we move through the unit.
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