Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Week of 3/28-4/1

Welcome back from break!  I hope you had a relaxing and fun time.  Check out your grades and make sure that you have all your assignments in.  Right now missing projects are bringing some of you down.  Remember that the Final Draft of your Pendulum Lab is due Tuesday.

  • Monday 3/28:  Review Wave Characteristics.  Turn in Ripple Tank Labs if not already.  Notes on sound and resonance.  Tacoma Narrows Bridge Video.
  • Tuesday 3/29:  Turn in Final Draft of Pendulum Lab and Color-Marked version.  Go over pendulum equation.  Pendulum and Spring Problems:  p. 449 1-4, p. 451 1+2  Due Friday
  • Thursday 3/31:   Computer Sound Lab.  Doppler Effect, Sound Intensity, and more on Resonance. 
  • Friday 4/1:  Check off Pendulum and Spring Problems. Harmonic Series Equations. HW p. 499 1-4.   (whoops, save this for Monday).  Sound Intensity.  HW p. 188 1-5 instead.  Introduce Musical Instrument Project (due Thursday 4/14).

Friday, March 18, 2011

Happy Spring Break!!

I hope that you enjoy your break!  I have just updated grades, so check them and see if you can find any of your missing assignments.  This is a great time to make up missing homework, finish labs, and do Extra Credit.  Check the documents section of this website if you have forgotten what you can do for Extra Credit.  The end of the 3rd quarter is Thursday, April 7th.  E-mail me if you have any questions:  mkenny@pps.k12.or.us

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Week of 3/14-3/18

  • Monday 3/14:  Questions on Pendulum Lab?  Wave definitions and wave problems, due Thursday.
  • Tuesday 3/15:  Color-marking Pendulum Lab.  Wave interactions. 
  • Thursday 3/17:  Turn in Wave definitions and problems.  Set up Ripple Tanks and do First Half of Ripple Tank Lab.
  • Friday 3/18:  Finish Ripple Tank Lab. 
Final Draft of Pendulum Lab due Tuesday 3/29.  You should include your color-marked draft with the final draft.  Feel free to turn it in before Spring Break if you can!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The Week of 3/7-3/11

Monday 3/7:  Finish up with Mr. Smith.  Share projects with a small group and then turn in the project.  Try out steam boats!
Tuesday 3/8:  Intro. to waves and periodic motion.  Pre-write for pendulum inquiry lab.
Thursday 3/10:  Pendulum Inquiry Lab.  Test string length and at least one other variable.  Take data and then transform data (calculate averages and uncertainty)
Friday 3/11:  Go to computer lab to graph using LoggerPro.  2nd Draft of Pendulum Lab due Tuesday for Color-marking.  Final draft of Pendulum Lab due Tuesday 3/29th, although it can certainly be turned in earlier!!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Week of 2/7-2/11

This week there is a Late Opening on Wednesday.  The only FLEX will be Tuesday at lunch.

Monday 2/7:  Questions on Machine Worksheet?  Due tomorrow.  Work on Machine Project.  Identify your group members to Ms. Kenny and your basic plan.
Tuesday 2/8:  Turn on Machine Worksheet.  Work on Machine Project.
Thursday 2/10:  Complete Machine Project and demonstrate to class.  
Friday 2/11:  Turn in Machine Write-up.  Results of 2nd Semester Survey.  Video "Conservation Laws in Zero G" from the 1970's Skylab.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Machine Project

Machine Project

What:  Build a Rube Goldberg type “machine” with a minimum of 4 different parts.  At least 3 different simple machines must be identifiable.

When:  To be completed Thursday, February 10 and demonstrated in class.

Groups:  No more than 4 people.  Talk today and decide what materials you need to bring.

The Write-up:
1)            Labeled diagram including metric measurements
2)            Mechanical advantages (probably ideal) for 3 simple machines
3)            Discussion of 3 other Physics principles that are involved in your machine.  Explain them
4)            Write a paragraph describing the challenges and successes you experienced in doing this project.  What would you change?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Week of 2/1-2/4

Welcome to the 2nd Semester!

Tuesday 2/1:  Return Final Exams and recollect.  2nd Semester Survey.  Notes on Simple Machines.   Video:  "The Way Things Go."
Thursday 2/3:  Notes on Mechanical Advantage and Efficiency.  "How to make the perfect lever lab."  Another machine video.  Introduce machine project.  Brainstorm with group.
Friday 2/4:  Problems with mechanical advantage and efficiency.  Work on machine project.