Phynally Phryday

More lab work for all blocks today. Depending on where groups ended yesterday, people were working on their radiation shielding lab or their half-life lab. All loose ends will be tied up on Monday, so be prepared to work!

Radiation

Folks are working on their radiation labs, looking at the impact of distance and shielding on the intensity of radiation experienced at a location. Not surprisingly, both increased distance and shielding lowered the radiation intensity and the relationships were nicely exponential. Tomorrow, some groups will be finishing up these labs and others will be taking on a new concept - half-life. We'll use a discharging capacitor to give us a nice model of nuclear decay and use the resulting curve to examine the half-life of the capacitor.

Senior Awards

Congratulations to the seniors who received awards from the Science department. You deserve them!

Anatomy and Physiology - Ian Sotnek
Environmental Science - Melissa Edwards
Physics - Kyle Gillen
AP Biology, Honors Physics - Victor Hu

Bye Bye Seniors

Seniors left today, though they return on Wednesday for their awards ceremony. The remaining juniors are not sitting idle, however. F Block did not meet due to the modified class schedule, but C and E did take place and students began to explore the idea of radiation. We'll concentrate on the types of radiation (α, β and γ), what occurs in nuclear decay and transmutation and the lab work will center on how shielding and distance can impact radiation exposure. The labs will use NRC-certified safe materials and appropriate safety precautions will be in place, so there's no worry about folks starting to glow green or turn into one of the X-Men.

The Accuracy is Over 9000

Just Love those Lil' Avengers

This Is What I Have to Put Up With

Food for Thought

It Begins!

The past couple of days has been review and more review, so I posted silly things to keep spirits high before peopled plunged into the depths of the final exam pool. E and C had their exams today, B and F will suffer through them tomorrow.

As book collection also commences, remember that you have to hand back to me the book that you were originally issued or it counts as a lost book. I have your book forms in my room and also on my computer, so you can email me if you need the number to check before you come to class tomorrow. If you can't find your book or you've destroyed it to the point that you're ashamed to hand it in, go on Amazon.com or some other place that handles used textbooks and buy a cheap copy (make sure the condition is ok, though) to replace yours. A new book is over $80 and that is what I'll have to charge for replacement. If you don't think the book will get here before I have to turn in senior obligations, at least print out the email showing you've ordered it.

Any final questions from B and F Block, email me before 9:00 pm (doggies and I are early-to-bedders) and I'll get back to you.

This is Made of Awesome

Scientific Method... Pretty Much Like That

This Is Why I Don't Assign Them

Barreling Along

With folks actually back in school, it was time for everyone to buckle down for review. Some in C and F Blocks worked on their Magnetism test corrections, but the focus of most people's attention was on review. Remember to ask me for help with your work and if you need extra problems, blank copies of tests, etc... try and give me some head's up in advance so I can get it ready for you. Email if you need anything after school hours...

Seriously

Today was Senior Skip Day, so some of you haven't been in class for two days. Please remember that you are staring down the barrel of exams this week and I will not be showing any mercy because you haven't had enough time to review. PLEASE use your time wisely and be prepared. Finals are 10% of your year's average...

Phryday

The only blocks that had more than a handful of attendees were B and C Blocks and they worked on either final exam review (B Block) or test corrections (C Block). Senior Skip Day is Monday, so that will also keep attendance to a very low level. Hope everyone is managing time well to prepare for the upcoming finals!

Have a fun prom and stay safe!