Daily summary: Click here to find out what we did on a particular day, what the homework was and any news items you may have missed. It is a google docs spreadsheet with tabs at the bottom for each different class.
Welcome to physics! This is the class to learn how to do practical things like pull cars, light bulbs, and design functional replacement hips…
LPS Physics Diff Objectives. These are the concepts that you will be learning and the concepts you will be tested over. Do yourself a favor and get very familiar with this list!
LPS Safety Contract. If you have lost your safety contract please print one and bring it to class.
Description of daily activities:
Tuesday Sept 18 – Hand back exam. Group problem solving leads to discussion about what we know about physics from our last lab. You should now be able to derive the equation Vf = Vi + at. Practiced going from p-t to v-t to a-t graphs and back again. Complete rest of packet for next class. Turned in today: constant velocity lab, car down ramp lab, notes for past video assignments Homework: watch 5 “khan” videos and take notes: 1.Acceleration: http://www.khanacademy.org/video/acceleration?playlist=Physics 2.Newton’s First Law: http://www.khanacademy.org/video/newton-s-first-law-of-motion?playlist=Physics 3.Newton’s Second Law: http://www.khanacademy.org/video/newton-s-second-law-of-motion?playlist=Physics 4.Newton’s Third Law: http://www.khanacademy.org/video/newton-s-third-law-of-motion?playlist=Physics 5.Acceleration Example: http://www.khanacademy.org/video/airbus-a380-take-off-time?playlist=Physics
Friday Sept 14 – Exam 1. Then work on “Cart down a ramp” lab.
Tuesday Sept 11 -Today we started the second major “model” in physics: “a particle with constant acceleration.” Group work to complete the lab: analyze the motion of a cart down a ramp. Prepare for exam next class.
Fri Sept 7 – This is a review day. There will be an exam next class over a) scientific thinking & methods and b) Model 1: Constant Velocity. Review packet for scientific thinking & methods. Review for Constant Velocity. Please look here for Answer Keys to review packets and Unit II Worksheets 2, 4 and 5.
Wed Sept 5 -Review motion maps. Describing motion using motion maps, descriptive words & equations. Slope of a p-t graph = velocity. Speed = d/t, velocity = change in position / change in time. Velocity is a VECTOR. Quiz. HW watch the first 18 minutes of Intro to Kinematics on MIT Online Physics site. Watch Vectors & Scalars on khanacademy. Complete the Graphing packet at home.
Friday August 30 – Fake Pop Quiz on graphical methods & general information. Grading lab reports. Significant figures. Graphical Methods. Quiz next class ( a REAL one…)
Wednesday Aug 29 – Complete “Battery Car” lab. Lab report is due on Friday.
Monday Aug 27 – Discussion: revolutions in physics. Review: Graphing assignment. Handout: Lab Report Checklist, Setup for car lab next class. HW: Significant Figures reading and worksheet.
Thurs Aug 23 – Completed collection of data from pendulum lab. Groups then analyzed data and reported to the class with a graph and a statement of findings. Discussed what it means to “line data.” Homework: Linearizing data reading and worksheet. This is due next class (Monday). Here is a brief and somewhat simplified example of what you should be doing EXCEL FILE.
Tues Aug 21 – Grade pre-test. Turn in essay & video blurb. Discuss: handling labs successfully. Lab: Exploring the pendulum. We will finish data collection for this lab next class. HW: Watch MIT Professor Lewin’s lecture on Measurement, Error & Scaling. Watch “Powers of 10” video. Take notes on both. Handout for today.
Thursday 16 August – Why we use “Modelling Physics”, what your experience will be like (driven by data you collect yourself), Pre-Test. Homework: Safety Contracts, find an interesting video on KhanAcademy.org, Define key revolutions in physics, differentiate “pre-newtonian” thought from a “newtonian” understanding of physics.