Honors Physics Thursday Dec. 18th

I was out today so the kids watched Mythbusters "Penny Drop".

AP Physics Thursday Dec. 18th

I was out today so the kids used the time to start work on the Chapter 6 Problem Sets.

Honors Physics Wednesday Dec. 17th

Today we spent the class period discussing elevators! Heavy Light Normal?

Then we talked about propellors and jets and how the NTLFP create motion.

AP Physics Wednesday Dec. 17th

Today I passed back and we went over the multiple choice section of the Chapter 5 Test.

Then we started our discussions of friction.

I posted the Chapter 6 problem sets.

Honors Physics Tues. Dec. 16th

Today we created and presented white boards for Unit 4 Worksheet 2 homework.

QUIZ on FRIDAY!

AP Physics Tues. Dec. 16th

Today we took the Short Answer section of the Chapter 5 Test.

Tomorrow we'll look at the multiple choice questions.

Honors Physics Monday Dec. 15th

Today we presented the white boards from the Newton's 2nd Law Lab.

a = Fnet / mass

We discussed forces on a helicopter / airplane / submarine / etc.

HOMEWORK

Please complete Unit 4 Worksheet 2 for tomorrow.

AP Physics Monday Dec. 15th

Today we finished presenting the last white board from Chapter 5.

Then we took the multiple choice section of the Chapter 5 QUIZ.

Tomorrow - short answer.

Honors Physics Friday Dec. 12th

Today we spent the whole day talking about Newton's 3rd Law and force pairs.

I finished the class period with a story about a friend from college.

AP Physics Friday Dec. 12th

Today we finished presenting the white boards from the Chapter 5 problem sets.

In addition we talked about the difference between balanced forces like weight and normal and Newton's 3rd Law force pairs.

Tests on Monday and Tuesday.

Honors Physics Thursday Dec. 11th

Today the kids finished the lab and finished writing their white boards.

Then we started talking about Newton's 3rd Law:

All forces come in pairs that are equal in strength, opposite in direction and act on the other object.

For example: for two blocks (A and B) in contact the force of A on B is equal to the force of B on A.

Tomorrow we'll present the white boards.

AP Physics Thursday Dec. 11th

Today the kids worked on a challenge - they had to take out the troll as a cart accelerated down a ramp.

They were only moderately successful with the hitting of the troll and even less successful with the explanation.

The kids did OK but the challenge design sucked.

Honors Physics Wednesday Dec. 10th

Today we started Newton's 2nd Law Labs.

4 Groups were varying the Fnet and measuring the acceleration.
3 Groups were varying the mass and measuring the acceleration.

We will present the white boards for the labs tomorrow.

AP Physics Wednesday Dec. 10th

Today we continued to present the white boards from the chapter 5 problem sets.

We'll finish up tomorrow and have a challenge!

Chapter 5 Tests Monday and Tuesday.

Honors Physics Tuesday Dec. 9th

Today we finished up presenting any white boards that were lingering from the past week.

After that we discussed unbalanced forces and designed labs for tomorrow.

Lab 1: Acceleration vs. Fnet
Lab2: Acceleration vs. Mass

Tomorrow we'll complete and present the labs.

AP Physics Tuesday Dec. 9th

Today we choose up presenters and the kids created white boards for the chapter 5 problem sets.

We started presenting the boards today and will finish presenting on Wednesday.

QUIZZES - Multiple Choice on Monday and Short Answer on Tuesday of next week.

Honors Physics Monday Dec. 8th

Today we created white boards for each of the 7 stations.

They measured the forces in the strings with small "forceometers" to verify their predictions.

The students then presented thier white boards to the class.

We'll finish up presenting tomorrow and think about Newton's 3rd Law.

AP Physics Monday Dec. 8th

Today we finished up the 4 net force labs.

The students finished taking and graphing (and linearizing) the data.

Most importantly I assigned the Rube Goldberg Machine project.

Tomorrow we'll wrap up the lab and look at the homework.

Honors Physics Friday Dec. 5th

Today we started by talking about the forces on an object on a ramp and how best to orient the axis when drawing the force diagram.

Then the kids moved into the lab to do the 7 stations.

On Monday they will complete the stations and measure all of the tensions.

AP Physics Friday Dec. 5th

Today the kids continued with the 4 Newton's 2nd Law Labs.

They will finish Monday.

They will have to Linearize their graphs!

Honors Physics Thursday Dec. 4th

Today the kids did the weight vs. mass lab.

They all labbed and we even compiled the data!

Tomorrow - balanced forces station lab.

AP Physics Thursday Dec. 4th

Today we started the Atwood's Machine Labs. There are 4 labs at two stations.

Atwood's
accel vs system mass
accel vs net force

Modified Atwoods
accel vs system mass
accel vs net force

We will continue to work on these tomorrow.

Honors Physics Wednesday Dec. 3rd

We finished up our discussion of mass and weight.

I demonstrated the Atwood's Machines and talked about balanced and unbalanced forces.

AP Physics Wednesday Dec. 3rd

Today we did a prelab discussion of the Atwood's and Modified Atwood's Machine labs.

We'll actually do the labs tomorrow.

Honors Physics Tuesday Dec. 2nd

Today we finished presenting the white boards from Unit 4 Worksheet 1.

Then we talked about the differences between mass and weight.

Lastly we discussed Galileo's Law of inertia and Newton's 1st Law.

AP Physics Tuesday Dec. 2nd

Today they kids visited the stations that they built yesterday and drew force diagrams for each of the apparati. They found all forces including weight, normal forces, and tensions.

We discussed each as a group at the end of class.

Honors Physics Monday Dec. 1st

Today we white boarded Unit 4 Worksheet 1.

They turned in their Catapult Final Reports.

Tomorrow we will finish presenting the white boards and discuss the differences between mass and weight.

AP Physics Monday Dec. 1st

Today the kids build static forces apparati: three (3 weight / 2 pulley systems), one angled atwood, and one multiple straight hanging masses.

Tomorrow they will draw force diagrams for each and find the tension in all of the strings!