January 17-February 3

We are now heading into the last 2 weeks before final exams. Make sure that you check your grade and look for missing assignments. The deadline for late work and extra credit is Friday, January 27th by 3:30 pm.

• Tues 1/17:  Finish Ballistic Pendulum Lab.  Start Chapter 7:  radians.  Reminder about Physics in Motion Project guidelines.  Project due this Thursday!
• Thurs 1/19:   Set up Physics in Motion Projects in the back of the room and do a gallery evaluation of 4 posters, including your own.  Go over 5+6 Review.  Chapter 5+6 Test on Monday 1/23.
• Mon 1/23:  Turn in 5+6 Review.  Take 5+6 Test.  Simple rotational motion equations.  Hand out Semester Review Packet.
• Wed 1/25:  Check off radian problems and go over.  Go over Chapters 1-3 of Review Packet.  Guidelines for Semester Final Exam.
• Fri 1/27:  Late work and extra credit deadline is today by 3:30 pm!!  Finish going over Review Packet.  Jeopardy Review. 
• Mon 1/30:  We see all classes today for short class periods.  Last minute questions.  Go over end of semester calculations.
• Tues 1/31:  Finals in Periods 1, 4, and 7.
• Wed 2/1:  Finals in Periods 2, 5, and 8.
• Thurs 2/2:  Finals in Periods 3 and 6.
• Fri 2/3:  Teacher Work Day.  No School.

Egg Drop Time!!

On Friday, January 6, we will be doing an Egg Drop Contest.  The only exception will be if there is some serious rainy/windy weather going on.  You may work in groups of 1-3.  We will drop the contraptions from the back of the Lincoln stadium, which is a fairly big fall.

There will be 2 categories that you can compete in:

Open:  anything goes, but don't use food, explosives, or anything that will make a mess.  You will be responsible for any mess made.

Limited Materials:  you may use up to 20 straws, 1 meter of clear or masking tape, and string (amount not specified).  This may not sound like much, but you can do some very good designs with a handful of straws.  See what you can come up with!

As a class, we will vote on the winner in each category.

The Write-Up: (only 1 needed per group):
1)  A well-labeled diagram including measurements (do this before you drop it as it may be destroyed!)
2)  Description of 3 physics principles involved (at least 2 sentences explanation for each)
3)  What you would do differently next time
*Note, you will not be graded on whether or not your egg survives.  I want you to have fun, challenge the laws of physics, and make the most efficient/interesting design you can come up with.

Preferably turn in by the end of class Friday, but if time is limited, I will accept on Tuesday of next week.

January 4-January 13, 2012.

Welcome to the New Year!  I hope that you had a relaxing Winter Break.  I know that I sure did.  We will be busy this January as we wrap up the first semester!  Remember that your Physics in Motion Project is due Thursday, January 19th.

• Wed 1/4:  Check off Power Problems.  Impulse-Momentum Theorem and all of its applications.  Introduce Egg-Drop Contest.  Make up rules and start planning.
• Fri 1/6:  Build Egg-Drop contraptions and do drop.  Egg-Drop write-up due by the end of the period (should include well-labeled diagram, description of 3 concepts involved, and what you would change).  If time, more on momentum.  Problems 1-8 on Chapter 6 Problems (#8 is extra credit)
• Tues 1/10:  Check off Problems and go over.  Conservation of Momentum.  Problems 9-17 of worksheet (17 is extra). 
• Thurs 1/12:  Ballistic-Pendulum Lab.  Each group takes data and then each individual completes calculations.  Check off problems 9-17 and go over.

Physics in Motion Project due Next Thursday!
No School on Monday 1/16 due to Martin Luther King Day.

December 5-December 16 (revised on Dec 13)

Can you believe there are only 2 weeks left until Winter Break?!  This is a very good time to tie up loose ends, make up any missing assignments, and plan extra credit if you would like to do some over Winter Break (check document "extra credit opportunities" for ideas).  Physics in Motion Project is due Thursday, January 19, 2012!!

• Tues 12/6:  Finish going over Chapter 4 Review.  Turn in Review and take Chapter 4 Test.  Pick up "Physics in Motion Project" and start planning.  Discuss Air Resistance Inquiry (2nd draft due Thursday).  Begin Work.
• Thurs 12/8:  Go to Library to work on Physics project for the first half of class.  Return to class, exchange labs, and "color-mark" each other's Air Resistance Labs.  Final Lab due before winter break (turn in color-marked version with final draft).  Do Problems 1-6 on Chapter 5 Problems.
• Mon 12/12:  OAKS testing for Juniors.  Types of energy and conservation of energy.   Work-kinetic energy theorem.  Problems 1-11 on Chapter 5 worksheet.
• Wed 12/14:  Check off problems 1-11 and go over.  Power, running stairs lab.  Problems 12-16.
• Fri 12/16:  Turn in Air Resistance Inquiry Lab if not already.  Planning for Physics in Motion Project.  Check off problems 12-16 and go over.  Power Problems 17-23.   Impulse-Momentum.  What is the meaning of the yellow line at the front of a Tri-Met bus?

Have a very relaxing Winter Break!  See you in 2012!

Answers to Chapter 4 Review

1.  430 N
2.  49 N
3.  250 N
4.  .331
5.  a)  .883 N   b)  14. N
6.  51 N
7.  a)  -0.981 m/s^2   b)  98.3 m     c)  16.4 m
8.  4990 N
9.  -1.48 m/s^2

Answers to Chapter 4 WS

1. a-f  do in class
2.  a)  23.8 N,  b)  7.73 N
3.  a)  see in class   b)  30.0 N left     c)  330. N up    d)  331 N at 84.8 degrees left and up from horizontal
4.  23. m/s^2
5.  1.4 m/s^2
6.  14 N
7.  2.1 kg
8.  37 N
9.  Fa = 3.6 N, Fb = .4 N
10.  98.1 N
11.  51.0 kg, 112 lbs
12.  mass stays the same, weight decreases
13.  -4.2 m/s^2
14.  5 kg
15.  a)  981 N, b)  640 N
16.  730 N
17.  3.73 m/s^2
18.  0.444
19.  a)  -.981 m/s^2    b)  29.4 m
20.  68 degrees 

Parent-Teacher Conferences Next Week--Parents Please Read!!

Next Monday and Tuesday, November 21st and 22nd, will be a chance to come in and discuss your student's progress.  The sessions will be held 8:30-11:30 am, 1:00-4:00 pm, and 5:30-8:30 pm on both days.  I want to let you know that on Tuesday, November 22nd,  I will not be available until 10:00 am because I will be meeting with the teachers of my own children across town.  I hope that I will still be able to meet with all parents who want to conference.  You are more than welcome to bring your student with you.  It is frequently very helpful to have their voice present at the conference.

I look forward to meeting with many of you next week!