Class photos

Hi folks,

Madison's mom took some fun photos at the end of class last week.  I thought you might get a kick out of seeing them.

Happy Holidays!

Jim

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Week 15 Physics Recording: Momentum transfer, conservation and impulse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15uuMu_Ra4

12/17 Physics Class update and homework due 1/7

Hi folks,

Lots of work today. For the first part of class, we focused on the concepts of conservation of momentum and transfer of momentum. We also got very mathy as we took a look at problems dealing with conservation and transfer of momentum.

After that, we took a look at the concept of impulse. Impulse is what makes momentum happen. It is the hit/kick/punch/push/etc. that changes the momentum of something. To explore this concept, we did a very complicated and serious lab where we went outside and shot spitballs. This brought us to my favorite equation ft = change in momentum. This is my favorite equation because it is the reason seat belts and airbags keep you safe in a car. Basically, the slower one's momentum changes the less force there is to do damage.


Homework:

Read Chapter 7 pgs. 86 to 99

Review questions #'s 1 - 9 Pg. 100
Plug and Chug questions #'s 1 - 4 Pg 101

Extra credit possibility. 2 pts for each think and solve on pg 102 (Sorry, not much fun I'm afraid.)

12/10 physics update and homework due 12/17

Hi folks,

Today we spent a bit more time with Newton's 3rd Law and also introduced the concept of momentum. We did a lab today looking at the effect mass and velocity have on momentum.

Homework due 12/16 is:

Read pages 74 - 82 in the text book.

Do Review Questions #'s 1 - 17

Also, take some time and take pictures or shoot videos of 2 examples of each one of Newton's Laws. So 6 pictures in all. I don't want you to necessarily set up the pictures, just find things that are examples of each one of the laws. Have fun with this! Feel free to email me the pictures or you can print them out and hand them in if you wish.

Recording of physics week 14 : Newton's 3rd and Momentum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA8YGZfYdq8&feature=youtu.be

Week 13 Physics Recording - Newton's 3rd Law

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PbnM0-3FKY

12/3 Physics update and homework due 12/10

Hi folks,

A fun day today as we pushed Ben's car in the parking lot to show Newton's 2nd law by seeing the affect of our force on the mass of the car (thank you Ben). We also investigated Newton's 3rd law by looking at what happened when we added mass to Matchbox cars that were being repelled by magnets.

Homework this week is to:

Read the text book pgs 59 - 70.

At the end of the chapter, do the odd numbered review questions 1-18

At the end of the chapter do the Plug and Chug questions #'s 1-5

11/19 Physics update and homework due 12/3

Hi folks,

Today we went did another fairly complex lab where I had the students find acceleration, terminal velocity, gravitational force and friction force of a system using a ball and a ramp.  The students had to really think about all the formulas we've been using, as well as think about last week's lab.  It was quite a mind bender and they did a great job.

Homework for 12/2 is to use the Phet simulation Forces and Motion to answer the following questions.

Here's the link http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-and-motion

Click on the picture of the crate and drag to the right.  Notice that as you do there are two force vectors.  One is for the force the man is applying and the other is the friction force.  

1.  What happens to the friction force the second the crate begins to move?  Why?

2.  What is the minimal amount of force you need to apply to get the crate, filing cabinet, sleepy dog, refrigerator, and textbook to move?   (You may want to use the "Applied Force" slider for this.)  How does this relate to mass?

3.  If you stop applying force to any of the objects what happens on wood?  How about on ice? (Use the radio buttons in the upper right hand side to switch.)  Describe what's happening there using Newton's First Law and then by using Newton's Second Law.

4.  Click on the radio button for sum of forces.  What is that green arrow showing?

Click on the "Friction" tab at the top of the screen and do the following questions.

5.  What happens to the pushed objects as you increase and decrease the amount of friction?

6.  What happens to the Fg and the Fn if you change the gravity?

7.  What happens to the Fg and the Fn if you change the object mass?

Click on the Force Graphs tab at the top of the screen for the following questions.  Click on the acceleration and velocity buttons in the bottom right to bring up those graphs.

8.  Mess with the forces a bit and then draw all three of the graphs that was created by something you tried.  Label the graph at any location where change took place.  Notice the correlation between force, acceleration, and velocity.

9.  Turn "ice" on and draw another three labeled graphs.  

10. With "ice" and "bouncy walls" on draw another 3 labeled graphs.

Recording for 11th week of Physics: Newtons 2nd law

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4hVgeGDRWk

11/12 Physics update and homework due 11/19

Today we took a look at some strategies to handle some more 2 dimensional motion problems. Also, we did a lab/practicum where we found out many different aspects of a lego catapult.

The homework for this week is to finish whatever data/calculations you weren't able to finish in class regarding the catapult lab. Here is the list of the data.

Top Horizontal Speed
Horizontal acceleration
Top Vertical Speed
Vertical Acceleration
Force
Mass
Distance
Acceleration of Throw
Time of Throw
Resultant Velocity


Also, complete the following .pdf. It will be using another one of those PHET simulations and it should be quite a bit of fun.

▶ Physics 2013 Week 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7cATVeWnrI&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share

11/5 Physics update and homework due 11/12

Hi folks,

Today we began our venture into Newton's Laws. To be honest, everything we've been working with so far has led up to this. Velocity, acceleration, vectors, linear motion has all been leading up to us gaining a strong understanding of Newton's three laws of motion. Today we began with Newton's first law, an object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest unless a force acts against them.

Homework for this week is to:

Read pgs. 43-55
Review Questions pg. 56 #'s 1-10

10/29 Physics update and Homework Due 11/5

Hi folks,

Sorry, I really thought I sent this already.

This week we got quite mathy as we dove a bit deeper into using our gravity formulas to solve some more complicated problems.

We also entered the realm 2 dimensional motion and I introduced vectors as we worked on understanding projectile motion.

Homework for this week is to do all 6 of the "Think and Solve" questions on page 42 of the Conceptual Physics book.

Week 8 Physics Video

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Physics 2013 week 7 recording

Hi folks,

Here's the recording for this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UA5pPkgpg0

10/22 Physics update and homework due 10/29

Hi folks,

Today we took another look at gravity and many of the very strange aspects of it. We also worked a bit with some formulas based on the gravitational constant.

Homework for this week is to:

Read Conceptual Physics pgs. 10 - 24
Do Review Questions on pg 25 and 26 #'s 4 - 14

Do the Plug and Chug problems on Pgs 26 and 27 #'s 1-8.

The link for this week's homework

Hi folks,

Here is the link to the webpage that will help you do the homework for this week. Have fun with this!

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-man

Recording for 10/15 Physics Class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwYfxBoT8fs 

10/15 Physics Class Update and Homework due 10/22

Hi folks,

Today we took a look at velocity, distance and acceleration graphs in order to get a better handle on reading graphs and understanding what they are really telling us. We also began our lesson on gravity which we will continue next week.

To continue working with graphs, I want you all to spend some time with the following simulation. I've also included a .pdf that I would like you to fill out using the simulation.

Homework for Physics

I am really sorry about this but somehow between all the cutting and pasting I STILL messed up the assignment.

Here it is.  This is the correct one...finally.

Read in the Conceptual Physics book pages, 10 - 16 and 21-23

Graph Data from Ramp Experiment 

I'd like 3 graphs.  

1. Feet as the horizontal axis and speed as the vertical

2. Feet as the horizontal axis and acceleration as the vertical

3. Seconds as the horizontal axis and distance as the vertical

Answer the following questions:

1.  When did the ball have the highest speed?

2.  What would the speed of the ball be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to  travel for one more second.

3.  What was the average speed of the ball for the entire ramp?

4.  When was acceleration greatest or was it constant?

5.  If it wasn't constant….why not?

6.  What was the average acceleration of the ball for the entire ramp?

7.  What would the acceleration be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second.

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

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Recording for 10/7 Physics Acceleration and Velocity

Here's the recording for this week's class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgH1hU0pPzs

10/8 Physics update and homework due 10/15

Hi folks,

Today we took a look at motion, velocity and acceleration.  We also did a lab where we measured the velocity and acceleration of a ball on a slope.  

Homework for this week is to:

Read in the Conceptual Physics book pages, 10 - 16 and 21-23

Graph Data from Ramp Experiment 

I'd like 3 graphs.  

1. Feet as the horizontal axis and speed as the vertical

2. Feet as the horizontal axis and velocity as the vertical

3. Seconds as the horizontal axis and distance as the vertical

Answer the following questions:

1.  When did the ball have the highest speed?

2.  What would the speed of the ball be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to  travel for one more second.

3.  What was the average speed of the ball for the entire ramp?

4.  When was acceleration greatest or was it constant?

5.  If it wasn't constant….why not?

6.  What was the average acceleration of the ball for the entire ramp?

7.  What would the acceleration be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second.

Remember you have 3 assignments this week, reading, graphs and questions from the email.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

Join my Facebook page!

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Recording for Scientific Notation, Significant Figures and more

Here's the recording for the week 4 classes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-32G5I0pCM

10/1 Physics update and homework due 10/8

Hi folks,

Today we worked on some basic math skills that will be necessary for the rest of the year.  Scientific notation, significant figures, metric prefixes, etc.

Homework for next week will be to do the enclosed .PDF.  Answers are included but please do the problems first and only use the answers to self-check.  The last few answers are in a strange order so don't panic if you get different answers from those.

Update for 9/24 physics class

Hi folks,

I sent this last week but it may not have gotten to everyone.  Please, if you get a chance, let me know if you saw this already or not.  If you didn't see this don't worry about doing the homework.  Time is just too tight. 

Hi folks,

Today we worked on two of the most important skills not only in science but in life in general, observation and communication.  One of my goals today was to show folks that both of those skills are far tougher to do well than they may have imagined.  Also, to show some ways to improve those skills and some things to beware of when using them.

I'm including my Bite-Size Physics: Scientific Method eBook.  This contains everything we've talked about the past two weeks and a bit more.  

Also, here's a recording of last weeks class on Variables.  I didn't record today's class due to the fact that most of the class consisted of activities.  I will be recording most of the classes for the rest of the year.   This recording was made during my Chapel Hill class but the material is the same.

Homework due 10/1

Do the activity "Communication Block" in the book on pg. 29 with someone.  Observe closely.  Write up a guide that would lead someone to being effective at giving instructions in this activity.  Examples: Which instruction is best to start with?  What are some things to look for? What do you need to be sure to tell listeners?  Is there a good order to give instructions in?  Various tips to instruction giving.  Think of this as an instruction manual for giving instructions.  :)  Good luck and have fun.

Never Stop Wondering

"Science Jim"  Mueller

(919) 929-9791

A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!

Sciencejim

Join my Facebook page!

Facebook | Science Jim