Hi folks,
Lots of work today. For the first part of class, we focused on the concepts of conservation of momentum and transfer of momentum. We also got very mathy as we took a look at problems dealing with conservation and transfer of momentum.
After that, we took a look at the concept of impulse. Impulse is what makes momentum happen. It is the hit/kick/punch/push/etc. that changes the momentum of something. To explore this concept, we did a very complicated and serious lab where we went outside and shot spitballs. This brought us to my favorite equation ft = change in momentum. This is my favorite equation because it is the reason seat belts and airbags keep you safe in a car. Basically, the slower one's momentum changes the less force there is to do damage.
Homework due 2/17 is:
Read Chapter 7 pgs. 86 to 99
Review questions #'s 1 - 9 Pg. 100
Plug and Chug questions #'s 1 - 4 Pg 101
Extra credit possibility. 2 pts for each think and solve on pg 102 (Sorry, not much fun I'm afraid.)
May your holidays be wonder-filled!
Jim Mueller
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
Physics update 12/12 and homework due 12/19
Hi folks,
First off, next week will be the last week before the break. We'll be returning to class Jan. 9.
Today we spent a bit more time with Newton's 3rd Law and also introduced the concept of momentum. We did a lab today looking at the effect mass and velocity have on momentum.
Homework due 12/16 is:
Read pages 74 - 82 in the text book.
Do Review Questions #'s 1 - 17
Also, take some time and take pictures or shoot videos of 2 examples of each one of Newton's Laws. So 6 pictures in all. I don't want you to necessarily set up the pictures, just find things that are examples of each one of the laws. Have fun with this! Feel free to email me the pictures or you can print them out and hand them in if you wish.
First off, next week will be the last week before the break. We'll be returning to class Jan. 9.
Today we spent a bit more time with Newton's 3rd Law and also introduced the concept of momentum. We did a lab today looking at the effect mass and velocity have on momentum.
Homework due 12/16 is:
Read pages 74 - 82 in the text book.
Do Review Questions #'s 1 - 17
Also, take some time and take pictures or shoot videos of 2 examples of each one of Newton's Laws. So 6 pictures in all. I don't want you to necessarily set up the pictures, just find things that are examples of each one of the laws. Have fun with this! Feel free to email me the pictures or you can print them out and hand them in if you wish.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
12/5 Physics update and homework due 12/12
Hi folks,
A fun day today as we pushed Ben's car in the parking lot to show Newton's 2nd law by seeing the affect of our force on the mass of the car. We also investigated Newton's 3rd law by looking at what happened when we added mass to Matchbox cars that were being repelled by magnets.
Homework this week is to:
Read the text book pgs 59 - 70.
At the end of the chapter, do the odd numbered review questions 1-18
At the end of the chapter do the Plug and Chug questions #'s 1-5
A fun day today as we pushed Ben's car in the parking lot to show Newton's 2nd law by seeing the affect of our force on the mass of the car. We also investigated Newton's 3rd law by looking at what happened when we added mass to Matchbox cars that were being repelled by magnets.
Homework this week is to:
Read the text book pgs 59 - 70.
At the end of the chapter, do the odd numbered review questions 1-18
At the end of the chapter do the Plug and Chug questions #'s 1-5
Thursday, November 21, 2013
11/21 physics update and homework due 11/28
Hi folks,
Today we went did another fairly complex lab where I had the students find acceleration, terminal velocity, gravitational force and friction force of a system using a ball and a ramp. The students had to really think about all the formulas we've been using, as well as think about last week's lab. It was quite a mind bender and they did a great job.
Homework for 12/2 is to use the Phet simulation Forces and Motion to answer the following questions.
Here's the link http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-and-motion
Click on the picture of the crate and drag to the right. Notice that as you do there are two force vectors. One is for the force the man is applying and the other is the friction force.
1. What happens to the friction force the second the crate begins to move? Why?
2. What is the minimal amount of force you need to apply to get the crate, filing cabinet, sleepy dog, refrigerator, and textbook to move? (You may want to use the "Applied Force" slider for this.) How does this relate to mass?
3. If you stop applying force to any of the objects what happens on wood? How about on ice? (Use the radio buttons in the upper right hand side to switch.) Describe what's happening there using Newton's First Law and then by using Newton's Second Law.
4. Click on the radio button for sum of forces. What is that green arrow showing?
Click on the "Friction" tab at the top of the screen and do the following questions.
5. What happens to the pushed objects as you increase and decrease the amount of friction?
6. What happens to the Fg and the Fn if you change the gravity?
7. What happens to the Fg and the Fn if you change the object mass?
Click on the Force Graphs tab at the top of the screen for the following questions. Click on the acceleration and velocity buttons in the bottom right to bring up those graphs.
8. Mess with the forces a bit and then draw all three of the graphs that was created by something you tried. Label the graph at any location where change took place. Notice the correlation between force, acceleration, and velocity.
9. Turn "ice" on and draw another three labeled graphs.
10. With "ice" and "bouncy walls" on draw another 3 labeled graphs.
Friday, November 15, 2013
11/14 physics class update and homework due 11/21
Hi folks,
Today we took a look at some strategies to handle some more 2 dimensional motion problems. Also, we did a lab/practicum where we found out many different aspects of a lego catapult.
The homework for this week is to finish whatever data/calculations you weren't able to finish in class regarding the catapult lab. Here is the list of the information I'm looking for.
Top Horizontal Speed
Horizontal acceleration
Top Vertical Speed
Vertical Acceleration
Force
Mass
Distance
Acceleration of Throw
Time of Throw
Resultant Velocity
A mass vs. acceleration graph comparing the 3 balls.
Also, complete the following .pdf. It will be using another one of those PHET simulations and it should be quite a bit of fun.
Today we took a look at some strategies to handle some more 2 dimensional motion problems. Also, we did a lab/practicum where we found out many different aspects of a lego catapult.
The homework for this week is to finish whatever data/calculations you weren't able to finish in class regarding the catapult lab. Here is the list of the information I'm looking for.
Top Horizontal Speed
Horizontal acceleration
Top Vertical Speed
Vertical Acceleration
Force
Mass
Distance
Acceleration of Throw
Time of Throw
Resultant Velocity
A mass vs. acceleration graph comparing the 3 balls.
Also, complete the following .pdf. It will be using another one of those PHET simulations and it should be quite a bit of fun.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Physics class on 11/14
Hi folks,
From the email responses I've received it looks like everyone but Ben and Maria will be there so we will go ahead and have class as usual.
See you tomorrow.
Jim
From the email responses I've received it looks like everyone but Ben and Maria will be there so we will go ahead and have class as usual.
See you tomorrow.
Jim
Thursday, October 31, 2013
10/31 Physics update and homework due 11/7
Hi folks,
Today we got quite mathy as we dove a bit deeper into using our gravity formulas to solve some more complicated problems.
We also entered the realm 2 dimensional motion and I introduced vectors as we worked on understanding projectile motion.
Homework for this week is to do all 6 of the "Think and Solve" questions on page 42 of the Conceptual Physics book.
Today we got quite mathy as we dove a bit deeper into using our gravity formulas to solve some more complicated problems.
We also entered the realm 2 dimensional motion and I introduced vectors as we worked on understanding projectile motion.
Homework for this week is to do all 6 of the "Think and Solve" questions on page 42 of the Conceptual Physics book.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
10/24 Physics update and Homework Due 10/31
Hi folks,
Today we took another look at gravity and many of the very strange aspects of it. We also worked a bit with some formulas based on the gravitational constant.
Homework for this week is to:
Read Conceptual Physics pgs. 10 - 24
Do Review Questions on pg 25 and 26 #'s 4 - 14
Do the Plug and Chug problems on Pgs 26 and 27 #'s 1-8.
Today we took another look at gravity and many of the very strange aspects of it. We also worked a bit with some formulas based on the gravitational constant.
Homework for this week is to:
Read Conceptual Physics pgs. 10 - 24
Do Review Questions on pg 25 and 26 #'s 4 - 14
Do the Plug and Chug problems on Pgs 26 and 27 #'s 1-8.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
10/17 Physics update and homework due 10/24
Hi folks,
Today we took a look at velocity, distance and acceleration graphs in order to get a better handle on reading graphs and understanding what they are really telling us. We also began our lesson on gravity which we will continue next week.
To continue working with graphs, I want you all to spend some time with the following simulation. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-man
Today we took a look at velocity, distance and acceleration graphs in order to get a better handle on reading graphs and understanding what they are really telling us. We also began our lesson on gravity which we will continue next week.
To continue working with graphs, I want you all to spend some time with the following simulation. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-man
I've also included a .pdf that I would like you to fill out using the simulation.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
10/10 physics update and homework due 10/17
Hi folks
Today we took a look at motion, velocity and acceleration. We also did a lab where we measured the velocity and acceleration of a ball on a slope.
Homework for this week is to:
Read in the Conceptual Physics book pages, 10 - 16 and 21-23
Graph Data from Ramp Experiment
I'd like 3 graphs.
1. Feet as the horizontal axis and speed as the vertical
2. Feet as the horizontal axis and acceleration as the vertical
3. Seconds as the horizontal axis and distance as the vertical
Answer the following questions:
1. When did the ball have the highest speed?
2. What would the speed of the ball be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second.
3. What was the average speed of the ball for the entire ramp?
4. When was acceleration greatest or was it constant?
5. If it wasn't constant….why not?
6. What was the average acceleration of the ball for the entire ramp?
7. What would the acceleration be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second.
Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim" Mueller
(919) 929-9791
A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!
Join my Facebook page!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
10/3 physics class update and homework due 10/10
Hi folks,
Today we worked on two of the most important skills not only in science but in life in general, observation and communication. One of my goals today was to show folks that both of those skills are far tougher to do well than they may have imagined. Also, to show some ways to improve those skills and some things to beware of when using them.
I'm including my Bite-Size Physics: Scientific Method eBook. This contains everything we've talked about the past two weeks and a bit more.
Homework due 9/30
Do the activity "Communication Block" in the book on pg. 29 with someone. Observe closely. Write up a guide that would lead someone to being effective at giving instructions in this activity. Examples: Which instruction is best to start with? What are some things to look for? What do you need to be sure to tell listeners? Is there a good order to give instructions in? Various tips to instruction giving. Think of this as an instruction manual for giving instructions. :) Good luck and have fun.
Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim" Mueller
(919) 929-9791
A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!
Join my Facebook page!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Video for 9/26 Physics class and blog page
Hi folks,
Here's the video for yesterday's class. It was taken at a different location but contains the same basic material.
Also, I've posted a blog page where all class emails will be posted. This will make it easier for you to look at past recordings and assignments. Here's the link to the blog.
Have a good weekend everyone!
Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim" Mueller
(919) 929-9791
A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!
Join my Facebook page!
9/26 Physics update
Hi folks,
This week we talked about variables and how important they are to good science and how difficult they can be.
For homework this week, I'd like you to take the pendulum experiment a bit farther. In class, we talked about a variety of variables and each one could be a new experiment. Feel free to use any of those or feel free to come up with something original on your own. Use the enclosed lab report template to write up your experiment.
Let me know if you have any questions. Have fun with this and good luck!
Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim" Mueller
(919) 929-9791
A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!
Join my Facebook page!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)