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.