Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Tomorrow's Final Exam

Hello Physics Students!

First, let me say "Great job!" You all did wonderfully with your presentations yesterday, and we got some very positive feedback from Ocean Shore's principal. I'm very proud of what you all have accomplished this semester.

Now, for tomorrow's final exam: there will be 51 questions for a total of 54 points.  The questions are split roughly evenly between the following categories:

Thermodynamics
Waves and Sound
Light
Electrostatics
Current Electricity
Magnetism

You will be able to use your notes and your book, and you will have the full period to work. You may want to organize your notes tonight, and/or mark important pages in your book with sticky notes.

Please bring a book to read silently in case you finish early.

See you tomorrow!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Reminder for tomorrow's Ocean Shore visit

Tomorrow is our big day at Ocean Shore!  A few reminders:

You must be at Ocean Shore Elementary (411 Oceana Blvd) no later than 8:05am. Please plan accordingly.  If you would like to ride with Mr. Gould or Mr. Holthaus, you must be at Oceana High School by 7:30am.

If you are helping haul equipment (Joey, Rachael, and Joann), you must be at Oceana High School by 7:30am.

If you have not turned in a signed permission slip, you must turn it in tomorrow morning! If you lost yours, please email Mr. Gould and he will send you a copy.

Some of you have posters and equipment in the physics room.  We are only planning to move the Van de Graaff generator, the wave table, the microwave and plasma tubes, and the turntable/bicycle wheel. If you need something else for your presentation, you will have to make arrangements to get it to Ocean Shore!

See you tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Rubric for Final Project

You can get it here:
http://physics.ggould.com/Project_Rubric.html

Office Hours Today (5/7)

I will be holding office hours today after school--if you have any questions about the presentations tomorrow, need to make up lab work, or just want to talk physics, stop by!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Reminder for Great America tomorrow

If you are going to Great America tomorrow and you plan on doing the extra credit, don't forget to bring a calculator and a watch with a stopwatch function (or at least a secondhand!). You will also need a protractor to measure angles.

Don't forget sunscreen!

If you are not going to Great America, you still have the option for extra credit points by completing 1, 2, or all 3 of the following worksheets.

6 points:
http://www.cbakken.net/cga/packet/highschool/stayhomepacket/stay1.pdf
http://www.cbakken.net/cga/packet/highschool/stayhomepacket/stay2.pdf

3 points:
http://www.cbakken.net/cga/packet/highschool/stayhomepacket/stay3.pdf

3 points:
http://www.cbakken.net/cga/packet/highschool/stayhomepacket/whereisit.pdf

All extra credit is due this Monday, May 6.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Reminder: Download Apps for Great America

If you will be going to Great America and you have an iPhone, please download the free app called SensorLog. If you have an Android phone, please look for an app that can measure acceleration (g-forces). Ideally, you should be able to share the data you collect with the app to a computer so that you can graph the results.

Homework Due Thurs 5/2

On Thursday you will be bringing in a rough draft of your lesson plan for the final project. This will be worth 10% of your project grade. Please also bring in the supplies for your lesson; we will have time in class to practice.

Your lesson plan must have the following sections:

1. Objective (should start with "Students will be able to...")
2. Description of the science, and why it's important for your students to learn (1 paragraph)
3. Procedures (a table with 3 columns, one for time, one for what the teacher will do, and one for what the students will do)

We are going to add one more section, on safety. Are your students working with anything that could potentially hurt them, e.g. chemicals, sharp objects, electricity, etc.? Put this section right before your procedures.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Reminder for Tomorrow (4/30)

Please bring your project materials for tomorrow.

Also, don't forget to bring the schedule for your 20 minute presentation (e.g. 5 minutes introduction, 10 minutes student demos, 5 minutes conclusion)

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Please bring your project materials for tomorrow

Just a reminder to bring materials for your project tomorrow.

Also, don't forget to bring your transistor reading. You will need it for the homework harvest!

Reminder for tomorrow's quiz

Tomorrow's quiz will cover chapters 23-25.

Also, many of you have noticed that you are missing some assignments. Some of you have already turned in missing work, so thank you for that! Please check your grades--turning in missing work is one of the easiest ways to raise your grade!

Extra Credit Due Friday April 26

Here is an opportunity for you to get some extra credit and prepare for tomorrow's quiz at the same time! This assignment will give you some practice with transformer problems. Each question you answer will be worth 1 extra credit point.

Read Chapter 25, pp. 682-685
Do problems 74, 75, and 78

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Homework Due Wednesday April 24

Read Chapter 24 pp 648-653
Do problems 40, 52, 54, 64, 66

For the final project: submit a sheet of paper for your group with the following information:

Title of your presentation
1 key takeaway for your students
3 vocabulary words
List of materials you will need to give the presentation two times to groups of 8 students.

Think 2nd and 3rd grade, and keep the complexity at that level!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Project List of Materials

The Physics Lesson project handout states that you need to turn in your finalized list of materials tomorrow, however, since I haven't assigned the projects yet, you won't be able to do this! So, don't worry, there is nothing due for the project tomorrow.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Homework Due Monday 4/15

I have decided we will work on the right hand rule worksheets in class on Tuesday. Also, I will postpone the textbook homework assignment I was going to give this weekend until next weekend. So, the only thing that's due is your STAR practice exam, which is due in the office at 8am on Monday. I want you to be able to concentrate on these problems so you can get the full 25 points, and especially the Juniors, who will be taking the STAR test soon!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Ideas for elementary school demonstrations!

If you're looking for ideas for your final project, try these websites:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/demobook/intro.htm

If anyone finds other good sites, please share!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Extra Credit due Fri 3/22

Because there are no office hours this week, here is an extra credit assignment for Friday:

5 points possible


For 3 points:

Find out what processor your home computer has (Intel or AMD, model name/number? Should be something like Intel Core i5, Intel Core 2 Duo, etc.)

Find out the area (in square millimeters) of the processor die (microchip)

Find out how many transistors are on the processor, and calculate how many transistors per square centimeter


For an extra 2 points (5 points total combined with the above part):
Look up Moore's Law. Briefly summarize it (1-2 sentences)

How many transistors were on the first Intel microprocessor, the 4004? Does the processor in your computer obey Moore's Law? Why or why not?




Homework Due Fri 3/22

Read "The Transistor in a Century of Electronics."

- Write down three key points from the reading
- Write a one-paragraph summary of the reading. Include the following information in your paragraph:
- What discoveries led to the development of the transistor?
- What are some uses for transistors?
- What was the next advancement in transistor technology?

Monday, March 18, 2013

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Coverage for Tomorrow's Quiz

Hi All,

Tomorrow's quiz will cover chapters 20-22: static electricity, electric fields, Ohm's law, and current electricity. (See the homework assignment descriptions on the blog for 2/25, 3/1, 3/5, 3/7, and 3/11).

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Reminder: Tutoring After School Today

There will be tutoring after school today from 2:45-3:45pm in room 302 (or 203 if 302 is being used for Senior Ex).

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Homework Due Monday March 11th

Read Ch 22.1, pp. 595-600
To think about while you read: How does length, cross-sectional area, temperature, and material affect resistance? Does a lightbulb obey Ohm's law?

Do problems 18, 19, 54, 74, 76, 77

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Homework Due Thursday March 7th

Read Ch 22.1, pp. 590-593
To think about while you read: is electric current the same at all points in a closed circuit?

Do problems 21, 67, 69

Reminder, if you didn't have the homework for Tuesday, you can bring it in on Thursday for a stamp.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Homework Due Tuesday, March 5th

Chapter 20: Do problems 42, 44

Read Section 21.1, pp. 563-568
To think about while you read: What do you need to know about a test charge in order to determine the electric field at the location of the test charge?
Do Problems 14, 44, 47, 66

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Reminder: Tutoring Tomorrow, Thursday Feb 28

I will be holding office hours/tutoring tomorrow in Room 302 from 2:45pm-3:45pm.

Sound and Light Retake Instructions (Due Fri March 1)

Here are the instructions for the Sound and Light Quiz retake.  You are only eligible if you scored 15 points or below.

1. For every answer you got wrong, on a separate sheet of paper, write the number of the problem, your original answer, the correct answer, and 3-5 sentences describing why the answer you chose on the test was incorrect.  The sentences are the most important part of the retake; they will determine your retake score.  Your paper should look like this:

Problem:5
My Answer: B
Correct Answer: C
I answered B.  This is incorrect because...

2. Staple your retake sheet(s) to the front of your sound and light quiz, and turn it in at the beginning of class on Friday.

3. The paper with your corrected answers will be graded as follows:

        If you get everything right, including your thoughtful written responses to why your original answer was incorrect, your grade for the quiz will go up by one letter (to a maximum of a B)

        If you get at least half of the corrected answers right, your grade for the quiz will go up by one-half letter (to a maximum of a B)

        If you get fewer than half of the corrected answers right, your grade for the quiz will remain unchanged.

Homework Due Friday March 1

Read Section 20.2
To think about: How is charging by conduction different from charging by induction?  What happens when you bring a charged object near an electroscope that is already charged?  How is Coulomb's Law similar to/different from the Law of Universal Gravitation?

Do problems 15, 17, 19, 20, 36, 40, 54

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Reminder: Tutoring Tonight, Tuesday Feb 26

Just a reminder that I will be having a tutoring session/office hours in Room 302 from 2:45-3:45pm today.  If it's your first time at tutoring, you get 2 extra credit points.  Returning participants will get 1 extra credit point.  See you there!

Homework Due Wednesday Feb 27

Read Chapter 16.2, pp. 443-444, Polarization of Light.
To think about: What are two ways of creating polarized light?
Do problem 22

Read Chapter 19.1, pp. 518-523, Interference
To think about: For thin film interference, how is the thickness of the film related to the wavelength of light you see when you look at it?
Do problems 10, 11, and 14

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Homework Due Feb 25

Read Chapter 20.1
To think about: How is the electric force different from the gravitational force? What is happening at the atomic level when you rub two objects together to create a charge?

Do problems 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7

Have a great break!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Homework allowed on Thursday (2/14) Quiz

Here is the homework you will be able to have with you on tomorrow's quiz (just your homework, not the book!)


Homework Due Wed Feb 6
Read Chapter 15, pp. 402-416
Do problems 44, 46, 47, 48, 69


Homework Due Fri Feb 8
Read Chapter 15 pp. 417-419
Problems 17, 49, 55, 59, 70, 74


Homework Due Feb 12
Chapter 16
Read p. 440, Color. To think about: How is the wavelength of light related to the color?
Read pp. 445-447. To think about: How is the Doppler equation for light different from the Doppler equation for sound?
Do problems 21, 38, 39
Chapter 18
Read pp. 485-490. Be sure you understand the equations for Snell's Law and index of refraction
Do problems 7, 8, 74.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Peer-to-Peer Tutoring

I am going to start holding regular office hours for tutoring, lab make-ups, and quiz review sessions. The first session will be this Tuesday (Feb. 12) after school, from 2:45-3pm. For the first session you attend, you will receive 2 extra credit points. If you can't attend this Tuesday, don't worry--I will be holding more sessions! Come prepared with a question.

Homework Due Feb 12

Chapter 16
Read p. 440, Color. To think about: How is the wavelength of light related to the color?
Read pp. 445-447. To think about: How is the Doppler equation for light different from the Doppler equation for sound?
Do problems 21, 38, 39

Chapter 18
Read pp. 485-490. Be sure you understand the equations for Snell's Law and index of refraction
Do problems 7, 8, 74.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Monday, January 21, 2013

Heat Saver Contest Reminder

Hi All,

Just a reminder that your heat saver device is due this Wednesday, January 23rd.  The project is worth 20 points; here is the point breakdown:

12 points: Report (you do not need to include standards or a group number)
5 points: Your device meets the specified criteria (fits through 50cm hoop, holds 250ml water, etc.)
3 points: How well your device minimizes heat loss (top 1/3 of the class gets 3 points, next 1/3 2 points, etc.)

Please include the following text at the end of your report.  You will fill in the numbers in class.  Have your report completed before class on Wednesday, as you will have minimal time to work on it in class.

Initial Temperature (Ti)             ________°C
Final Temperature (Tf)             ________°C
Change in Temperature (ΔT)  ________°C
Heat Lost (Q = mcΔT)             ________Joules 
Rate of Heat Loss (Q/time)     ________Watts


Thanks in advance for your hard work!

Mr. Holthaus

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Chapter 12 Quiz Review Packet

Here is the review packet in case you were absent today:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1IH6SaYBYNTU2tGRkVGN2FOM3M/edit

Just a reminder, the quiz this Friday will be no notes, no book.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the review packet.

--Mr. Holthaus

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Homework Due Jan 14th

Read Section 12.2
Problems: 28, 29, 34, 53, 61, 62

Turn in labelled drawing of your planned heat saver device

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Heat Saver Contest: Container Due Jan 23

The Specific Heat Metal ID Lab

Heat Saver Contest

 

Purpose:    

Design and build acontainer which will:

1      Make your sampleof water have the smallest possible drop in temperature

2      Make your samplehave the lowest rate of heat loss (in watts)

3      Have the smallestmass

4       Prepareyour lab write up beforehand. Write down your formulas so you can plug in numbers in class.

 

Rules:

1.   Your container may be built of heatinsulating materials – but it must be constructed.  You cannot use a manufactured thermosbottle etc.  Foam materials, cups,cozies, packing materials, etc may all be used.  You can’t use your soup or hot chocolate thermos, etc.

 

2.   Your container must be built outside ofclass, no construction allowed during class.

 

3.   Your container must not be larger than 50cmon any side, including internal and external diagonals.  Your container must pass through a 50cmhoop unabated no matter which way it is oriented.

 

4.   Your container must hold 250 ml of waterwithout overflowing.

 

5.   Your container must provide for quick andsimple insertion and removal of a glass thermometer into the middle of yoursample.  The middle of your samplemust be no more than 25cm from the insertion spot.

 

6.   Your entire container must be at roomtemperature when the water is placed into it.

 

7.   The starting temperature of your sample willbe read and recorded at a specified time. The final temperature will be read 15 minutes later.  During this time, the container mustnot be disturbed in any way.  Itmust not be in contact with nor contain anything which might serve as a sourceof heat energy. 

 

8.   Your container must be supported only by thelab bench.  Any item touching thecontainer will be considered part of the container and added to the mass of thecontainer.

 

9.   Temperature will be measured at the bottomcenter of container.

 

Report

Your report is due15 minutes before the end of class in order to get a score and must include:

1)   Title

2)   Standards

3)   Group number

4)   Member names

5)   Date

6)   Period

7)   All data and calculations (heat loss inwatts)

8)   A briefstatement about how your design minimizes heat lost by each of thefollowing mechanisms: CONDUCTION,CONVECTION, and RADIATION

 

Judging –Equal weight will be assigned to 4 categories and highest points will beawarded for:

1)   Minimum temperature drop of water

2)   Minimum mass of container   

3)   Minimum rate of heat loss in watts

4)   Maximum Neatness, completeness, and accuracyof report

Homework Due Jan 10th

Read Section 12.1

Problems:
p. 322 #12, 15
p. 336 #47, 50
p. 337 #57, 63