GPN Physics Daily Blog

Honors Physics Friday Sept. 18th

2009-09-18T09:40:00.001-04:00

Today we white boarded all of the variation labs. We talked about what makes a good white board and developed a grading scheme for the lab notebooks.

We then started to present the white boards.
We will finish presenting the boards on Monday.

Physics Wednesday Sept. 16th

2009-09-16T13:56:00.001-04:00

Today the kids took another pretest. After they finished we finished presenting the getting to know you white boards that they created the other day.

Tomorrow we will be white boarding the lab data.

Honors Physics Wednesday Sept. 16th

2009-09-16T13:54:00.002-04:00

Today the kids worked on the variation labs. There are 9 labs altogether. Most lab groups were able to collect data from at least 6 different labs.

If you were not in class, it is your responsibility to get the lab data from your partners.

Tomorrow we will be finishing collecting data, graphing with the computers and white boarding the results.

AP Physics Tuesday Sept. 15th

2009-09-15T13:48:00.001-04:00

Today the kids took a pretest.
The second year kids took the MBT.
The first year kids took the FCI.

We will revisit each of these later in the year to see how they do in comparison.

Physics Tuesday Sept. 15

2009-09-15T13:46:00.002-04:00

Today in physics we did a couple of things.

First we looked at what makes a good white board. We'll be using white boards to present the labs to each other during class so knowing what is important on each is important.

Second did a quick getting to know you activity where the students drew a defining characteristic of themself on a white board and then brainstormed what they might have in common and drew that also.

We presented these white boards in front of the class.

Honors Phyiscs Tuesday Sept. 15th

2009-09-15T13:44:00.001-04:00

Today we took the Lawson Test of Scientific Reasoning.
This test is used by the teachers to gain a better understanding of the level at which the students understand science.
All physics students at GPN will take this test within the first two weeks of school.

Physics Monday Sept. 14th

2009-09-15T07:11:00.003-04:00

Today the kids took the FCI one of the assessments we'll be using to test the kids this year.
All physics students will be taking the FCI both before and after instruction.
Look for it again in the spring.

Honors Physics Monday Sept. 14

2009-09-14T09:57:00.002-04:00

Today all of the kids took the FCI. The FCI is taken both pre and post instruction so they will all see this again in the spring. Every physics student in the school will take this today.

Tomorrow we'll start the variation labs.

Honors Physics Wednesday May 13th

2009-05-13T15:08:00.001-04:00

Today we looked at the Van de Graaff Generator and saw sparks fly.

Then we did a sample problem for Coulomb's Law.

Lastly we started our discussion of the three measurable quantities of electricity.

Homework: Do the Coulomb's Law Homework.

Honors Physics Tuesday May 12th

2009-05-13T15:07:00.000-04:00

We finished up the Coulomb's Law Lab.

The students graphed the variables and solved for the constant.

Honors Physics Monday May 11th

2009-05-11T13:30:00.002-04:00

Today I introduced this week's Problem of the Week called 30 Quarters. I played the game with a couple of students on the board to give them a sense of the problem.

Then I passed back the quizzes from last week and we went over any problems to which they had questions.

Then we played with the pith ball!

AP Physics Monday May 11th

2009-05-11T13:29:00.001-04:00

Today we finished reviewing for the AP Test which is this afternoon!

Honors Physics Thursday May 7th

2009-05-07T11:12:00.004-04:00

Today the kids took the Sound, Light and Color quiz.

AP Physics Thursday May 7th

2009-05-07T11:12:00.002-04:00

Today we continued with our discussion of the velocity dependent drag force. We did another example from a different year AP Test.

Honors Physics Wednesday May 6th

2009-05-07T11:11:00.002-04:00

We finished up with the white boards from the Mirrors and Lenses Homework.

Then we began our discussion of Electricity by drawing the forces on a balloon stuck to the ceiling.

QUIZ on Sound, Light and Color on Thursday.

AP Physics Wednesday May 6th

2009-05-07T11:09:00.001-04:00

Today we finished up the Chapter 15 problem set.

Then we began our discussion of the velocity dependent drag force. This leads to a differential calculus problem that often shows up on the AP Test.

We did an example of this type of problem.

Honors Physics Tuesday April 5th

2009-05-05T14:08:00.001-04:00

Today we went over the Mirrors and Lenses Homework.

We also finished up our discussion of color - talking about complimentary colors and after images.

AP Physics Tuesday April 5th

2009-05-05T13:47:00.001-04:00

Today we went over the Chapter 15 Problem Sets.

Honors Physics Monday May 4th

2009-05-04T14:13:00.001-04:00

Today we wrapped up the lab from Thursday.

We looked at the relationships between the focal length, image distance and object distance.

We drew the rays for the images.

Homework: Complete the mirror and lens homework.

AP Physics Monday May 4th

2009-05-04T14:12:00.000-04:00

Today we studied simple harmonic oscillators; Simple Pendula, Mass/Springs and Physical Pendula.

Homework: Complete the Unit 15 Problem Sets

Honors Physics Thursday April 30th

2009-04-30T13:32:00.004-04:00

Today we went over the last couple problems of the Reflection and Refraction Homework.

Then we did the lens and mirror lab.

AP Physics Thursday April 30th

2009-04-30T13:32:00.002-04:00

Today we went over the chapter 13 Problem Set.

Honors Physics Wednesday April 29th

2009-04-29T13:35:00.002-04:00

Today we white boarded and presented the Reflection and Refraction homework.

We got through all but one of the problems.

Tomorrow - mirror and lens lab.

AP Physics Wednesday April 29th

2009-04-29T13:34:00.002-04:00

Today we looked at Kepler's 3 Laws of Motion.

Honors Physics Tuesday April 28th

2009-04-28T17:50:00.000-04:00

Today we had a half day.

So we did the three light color addition.

Homework: Reflection & Refraction Homework

AP Physics Tuesday April 28th

2009-04-28T17:48:00.001-04:00

No new topics today due to an assembly.

Homework: Chapter 13 Problem Set (there is only one)

Honors Physics Monday April 27th

2009-04-28T17:45:00.002-04:00

Today we wrapped up our discussion of reflection and refraction.

We looked at Total Internal Reflection. We looked at converging mirrors and lenses.

We burned some paper with mirrirs and lenses.

AP Physics Monday April 27th

2009-04-28T17:43:00.002-04:00

Today we finished up our discussion of Gravitation.

We looked at the force, acceleration, speed, period, radius, potential energy and escape velocity.

Honors Physics Friday April 24th

2009-04-28T17:41:00.002-04:00

Today we did the pin hole lab. We started with the classic three shape demo. The kids then created images and filled in a table containing the variables ho, hi, do and di. Then looked at the ratios hi/ho and di/do.

AP Physics Friday April 24th

2009-04-28T17:39:00.003-04:00

Today we began our discussion of Universal Gravitation.

Honors Physics Thursday April 23rd

2009-04-23T13:22:00.001-04:00

Today we graded each other's picture projects.

After that we talked about flat mirrors and how we see ourselves.

AP Physics Thursday April 23rd

2009-04-23T13:19:00.002-04:00

Today we went over the first half of the Chapter 12 Problem Sets.

Tomorrow we will finish going all problems from Chapter 12.

We will assess on Chapter 12 on Wednesday of next week.

We will begin reviewing for the AP Test next week - we will be meeting every moring in Science 106 at 7 AM.

Don't forget the picture project is due tomorrow.

Honors Physics Wednedsay April 22nd

2009-04-22T13:50:00.002-04:00

Today we looked at the refraction of light - starting with the laser in the water demo.

The light bends due to a change in speed (because of a change in the medium).

They did the Snell's Law lab on the computer and discovered the rule.

AP Physics Wednedsay April 22nd

2009-04-22T13:48:00.002-04:00

Today we looked at the Torque Worksheets from The Physics Teacher magazine.

For homework I assigned the second problem set from Chapter 12.

Tomorrow we'll look at the both Chapter 12 problem sets.

Honors Physics Tuesday April 21st

2009-04-21T15:27:00.001-04:00

Today we looked at the Law of Reflection.

The class started with the laser and mirror demo. We then moved into the lab and using the little plastic red reflectors the students drew objects, images, observers and rays.

AP Physics Tuesday April 21st

2009-04-21T15:25:00.002-04:00

We went over the rest of the Chapter 11 problem sets.

I collected the Tortoise problem of the week.

I assigned Chapter 12 Problem Set 1 due for Wednedsay.

Lastly I reminded them of the Picture Project that is due on FRIDAY!

Honors Physics Monday April 20th

2009-04-21T15:24:00.001-04:00

Today we took the FCI Post-Test.

Then we started our discussion of the Law of Reflection with a laser and mirror demo.

AP Physics Monday April 20th

2009-04-21T15:22:00.002-04:00

Coming back from break we continued to look at Conservation of Angular Momentum.

I assigned the last problem set from Chapter 11 for homework.

We started our discussion of Equilibrium and Chapter 12.

AP and Honors Physics - Blog Update

2009-04-21T15:07:00.002-04:00

So I've been a little lax in my posting to the blog - understatement of the year!

I am back in action starting today.

If I forget - get on me!

Honors Physics Tuesday March 3rd

2009-03-03T13:47:00.003-05:00

Today we looked at more Energy Flow Diagrams.

Then we introduced the Energy Pie Chart. I used the Smart Board to introduce the drawings.

HOMEWORK - complete Unit 8 Worksheet 1 for Wednesday.

We started the Hooke's Law Spring Lab.

AP Physics Tuesday March 3rd

2009-03-03T13:45:00.000-05:00

Today we went over the last Chapter 8 Problem Set.

We talked briefly about center of mass and parabolas.

QUIZ tomorrow and MC Test on Thursday.

Honors Physics Monday March 2nd

2009-03-03T13:44:00.001-05:00

It was only a 19 minute hald day so today we watched a You-Tube video and analyzed the physics behind it.

AP Physics Monday March 2nd

2009-03-03T13:43:00.001-05:00

It was only a 19 minute period so today we went over the bungee jumper problem.

Honors Physics Thursday Feb. 26th

2009-02-26T13:45:00.002-05:00

Today we explored the types of energy transfers in our everyday world.

I taught the kids how to represent energy transfer and to draw "energy transfer diagrams".

AP Physics Thursday Feb. 26th

2009-02-26T13:44:00.002-05:00

Today we went over Chapter 8 Problem Set 4.

In addition, we talked about the Bungee Jumper Problem.

Sails are due tomorrow.

Honors Physics Wednesday Feb. 25th

2009-02-26T13:41:00.001-05:00

What is Energy?

Today we started with that question. From there we listed and gave examples of various energies including; kinetic, elastic, gravitational, electric, electromagnetic, chemical and thermal.

Honors Physics Tuesday Feb. 24th

2009-02-26T13:32:00.005-05:00

SailCart Race Day!

AP Physics Wednesday Feb. 25th

2009-02-26T13:32:00.004-05:00

Today I passed back some of the quizzes they had taken over the past weeks. They used the AP rubrics to grade their own papers.

We went over the homework problems from last night.

Then we discussed the relationship between Potential Energy graphs and the force on a particle.

Homework: Chapter 8 Problem Set 4

Honors Physics Monday Feb. 23th

2009-02-26T13:30:00.005-05:00

Today I passed back the quizzes from before break.

After that we did the physics of sailing and worksheet.

AP Physics Tuesday Feb. 24th

2009-02-26T13:30:00.004-05:00

Today we looked at Chapter 8 Problem Set and went over the problems.

We talked more about the conservation of energy and how it is transferred between kinetic and potential.

Homework: Chapter 8 Problem Set 3

AP Physics Monday Feb. 23th

2009-02-26T13:26:00.002-05:00

Today we examined the first concepts in chapter 8; the path independent nature of the transfer of energy. Also we looked at the conservation of energy.

We looked at the Chapter 8 Problem Set 1 problems.

Homework: Chapter 8 Problem Set 2

Honors Physics Friday Feb. 13th

2009-02-26T13:16:00.005-05:00

Today the kids took a QUIZ covering three topics:
Circular Motion
Universal Gravitation
Momentum

AP Physics Friday Feb. 13th

2009-02-26T13:16:00.002-05:00

Today the kids took the Chapter 7 Homework QUIZ.

Honors Physics Thursday Feb. 12th

2009-02-12T13:29:00.001-05:00

Today we talked about how you get into orbit and what it means to be in orbit for astronauts.

Then we white boarded and went over the Universal Gravitation homework.

Quiz tomorrow on Momentum, Circular Motion and Universal Gravitation.

AP Physics Thursday Feb. 12th

2009-02-12T13:27:00.001-05:00

Today we went over some left over problems from Chapter 7.

After that we went over the problems from Chapter 8.

Tomorrow we'll have a small quiz on Chapter 7 homework and then look at some quizzes from last week.

Honors Physics Wednesday Feb. 11th

2009-02-11T13:31:00.001-05:00

Today we used the Smart Board and worked out the rest of the Universal Gravitation concepts.

Homework: I assigned for the students to complete the Universal Gravitation Homework for tomorrow.

Tomorrow we'll go over the UG Homwork.

QUIZ on Friday.

AP Physics Wednesday Feb. 11th

2009-02-11T13:29:00.002-05:00

Today we did the power challenge!

Kids ran up the stairs and we measured their times. Using their weights and masses they calculated their horsepower!
The top was David Ulmer with a power of 1.25 hp.

Homework!

Please complete Chapter 8 Problem Set 2 for Thursday.

Honors Physics Tuesday Feb. 10th

2009-02-10T14:05:00.001-05:00

Today we finished presenting the white boards for the momentum homework.

We then looked briefly at Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.

AP Physics Tuesday Feb. 10th

2009-02-10T13:56:00.002-05:00

Today we went over the homwork from last night - Chapter 8 Problem Set 1.

Tomorrow we'll finish looking at that problem set.

Also - tomorrow is the Power Challenge!

Honors Physics Monday Feb. 9th

2009-02-09T13:37:00.001-05:00

Today we discussed the SailCart project, due dates and the structure of the course.

Then we white boarded and began presenting the Momentum Homework.

Quiz Friday.

AP Physics Monday Feb. 9th

2009-02-09T13:36:00.001-05:00

Today we went over some left over problems from Chapter 7.

Then we talked about Work as a transfer of energy.

Then we discussed the conservation of energy and the three types of energy in physics:
Kinetic
Gravitational Potential
Elastic Potential

Homework: Complete the first Chapter 8 Problem Set for tomorrow.

Honors Physics Friday Feb. 6th

2009-02-06T13:21:00.002-05:00

Today the kids finished up their white boards for the Gravitational Force lab.

We presented the boards and derived Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.

We will white board the Momentum Homework on Monday.

AP Physics Friday Feb. 6th

2009-02-06T13:19:00.001-05:00

Today we looked at Power as a concept.

Last night they worked on 4 problems for homework and we were able to go over a few of them today.

I also passed out a AP problem for them to work on over the weekend.

Homework! Do the last Chapter 7 problem set for Monday.

Honors Physics Thursday Feb. 5th

2009-02-05T13:59:00.000-05:00

HOMEWORK - please complete the momentum homework. It can, of course, be found on the Blackboard site.

Today we wrapped up our conversation about the conservation of momentum.

Then we started our discussion of gravitational forces.

The students started the Gravitational Force lab.

AP Physics Thursday Feb. 5th

2009-02-05T13:57:00.002-05:00

Today we went over the first two problems sets from Chapter 7.

HOMEWORK! Do Chapter 7 problem sets 3 and 4.

Tomorrow we'll go over the quiz from Tuesday morning and the problems sets from tonight.

Honors Physics Wednesday Feb. 4th

2009-02-04T14:30:00.001-05:00

Today we did the Interactive Physics labs - Sticky & Bouncy Collisions.

We concluded the Law of Conservation of Momentum.

AP Physics Wednesday Feb. 4th

2009-02-04T14:29:00.003-05:00

Today we reviewed chapter 7 concepts and equations.

Then we took a quiz - 1998 #3.

HOMEWORK - complete Chapter problem sets 1 and 2

Honors Physics Tues. Feb. 3rd

2009-02-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Today we white boarded the circular motion homework from last week.

We started presenting the boards and will continue to present them tomorrow.

AP Physics Tues. Feb. 3rd

2009-02-03T13:35:00.000-05:00

Today we finished up the lab - with limited success - and went over the results.

We looked at stored energy (in springs and fields).

We need to define work tomorrow.

Honors Physics Monday Feb. 2nd

2009-02-02T13:59:00.003-05:00

Today we looked at the data from last Friday's lab. We verified the "Fat mav" equation and looked at some more examples.

After that we did the dreaded "egg throw" demonstration.

Lastly we crashed some cars together and looked at the momentum of the system.

AP Physics Monday Feb. 2nd

2009-02-02T13:55:00.001-05:00

First we started by wrapping up the spring lab from last Friday.

We looked at spring konstants and Hooke's Law.

Then we found the work done on/by the spring.

After that we started a lab where the kids are measuring the effect of the drop height of a pendulum on the net force at the bottom of the swing and the speed at the bottom of the swing.

Tomorrow we'll finish up the lab.

Honors Physics Friday Jan. 30th

2009-01-30T13:44:00.000-05:00

Today we did the Impulse Lab.

The kids measured the mdv of a cart and calculated the Fdt.

They graphed the results.

On Monday we'll examine the results.

AP Physics Friday Jan. 30th

2009-01-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

Today we did a spring lab.

Part 1 included measuring the force and stretch distance to find the spring konstant of a spring.

Part 2 included finding relationships when combining springs.

Monday - spring energy!

Honors Physics Thursday Jan. 29th

2009-01-29T13:15:00.002-05:00

Today we did our introduction to momentum.

Momentum is represented by the letter p and the equation is:

p = mv

where m is the mass and v is the velocity.

AP Physics Thursday Jan. 29th

2009-01-29T08:56:00.001-05:00

Today we graded the two AP questions from yesterday. The students used the official AP grading rubric to grade their questions.

After that we looked at the relationship between Wnet and Kinetic Energy.

Honors Physics Tuesday Jan. 27th

2009-01-27T20:31:00.002-05:00

Today we did the friction lab!

We discovered a linear relationship between the frictional force and the normal force;

f = (mu) n

Homework!

Print out and do as much as you can of the Circular Motion Homework. You'll have time in class tomorrow to finish and turn it in.

AP Physics Tuesday Jan. 27th

2009-01-27T20:09:00.002-05:00

Today we looked at the minimum speed of the stopper on a string at the top.

Then we looked at the same stopper at the same speed at the bottom of the same circle.

Then we started our discussion of Kinetic Energy and Work; chapter 7.

Honors Physics Monday Jan. 26th

2009-01-26T13:44:00.001-05:00

Today we finished up our discussion of circular motion by looking at banked curves and magic speeds.

Then we started our discussion of the friction lab.

Tomorrow we'll do the friction lab.

AP Physics Monday Jan. 26th

2009-01-26T13:42:00.001-05:00

Today we looked at an old AP question that asked about a car on a banked curve.

Tomorrow we'll look at the grading rubric and attempt a new AP Problem.

Honors Physics Friday Jan. 23rd

2009-01-23T13:53:00.000-05:00

Today we wrapped up the circular motion lab developing the equation for centripetal force.

Then we ran in circles and examined that angle of lean. We brainstormed examples of angle of lean and looked at the relationships between the equations.

AP Physics Friday Jan. 23rd

2009-01-23T13:52:00.002-05:00

Today we continued our discussion of circular motion.

We talked about:
Angle of lean
Banked tracks
The Gravitron

We solved for the optimum speed for a given angle and radius of a banked track.

Honors Physics Thursday Jan. 22nd

2009-01-22T13:41:00.002-05:00

Today we finished up our preliminary discussion of circular motion and started the CIRCULAR MOTION LAB. This is the kids' first introduction to Interactive Physics.

They all measured the effects of mass, speed and radius on the Centripetal Force.

Tomorrow we'll finish presenting the white boards and come up with a full equation.

AP Physics Thursday Jan. 22nd

2009-01-22T13:35:00.001-05:00

Today we had a full class long discussion of hills, dips and loops.

We asked the questions - what is the max speed one can attain and still stay on the hill? and what is the minimum speed one needs to clear a loop.

We discussed centripetal force and its equation.

Honors Physics Wednesday Jan. 21st

2009-01-21T13:37:00.001-05:00

Today we continued our preliminary discussions of circular motion. The rules include (but are not limited to the following);

Speed is constant but velocity is changing (direction)
Velocity is tangent to the circular path
Acceleration (centripetal) is always toward the center
The forces are unbalanced
The unbalaced force (Fnet) points toward the center (centripetal)

Tomorrow lab.

AP Physics Wednesday Jan. 21st

2009-01-21T13:35:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day back from final exam "break".

We took the hour to go over the multiple choice section of the final exam.

Tomorrow we'll look at the short answer section.

Honors Physics Thursday Dec. 18th

2008-12-18T22:42:00.000-05:00

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

AP Physics Thursday Dec. 18th

2008-12-18T22:41:00.001-05:00

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

Honors Physics Wednesday Dec. 17th

2008-12-18T22:40:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-18T22:36:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-16T14:12:00.001-05:00

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

QUIZ on FRIDAY!

AP Physics Tues. Dec. 16th

2008-12-16T14:11:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-15T20:48:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-15T20:47:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-14T20:49:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-14T20:45:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-11T19:36:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-11T19:34:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-10T13:31:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-10T13:29:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-09T13:18:00.001-05:00

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.