Physics with Perrone

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Aug 28 - Sep 1

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Syllabus
Lab Safety Contract (we will not be handling chemicals and seldom work with glassware)
Both you and a parent should read the syllabus and safety contract, then acknowledge that you have done so by completing this form within the first three days of school

Read and complete exercises in Chapter 1: An Introduction to Physics
Primary objective: study a mathematical model for average speed; define a vector (with its two representations) and the Cartesian coordinate system; discuss distance and displacement
See homework in Calendar above. Note: HW is posted on the date it is due! Not the date it is assigned.

Sep 5 - Sep 8

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2nd pd: complete the Reading Guide for Chapter 1 by Tuesday's class
2nd pd: Quiz on Thursday over Chapter 1 and Section 0.3 of Chapter 2
B day: complete the Reading Guide for Chapter 1 by Friday's class

Read and complete exercises in Chapter 2: Kinematics
Primary objective: differentiate among and calculate displacement, distance, velocity, speed, and acceleration; be able to explain the importance of a reference frame

Sep 11 - Sep 15

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B day: Quiz on Tuesday over Chapter 1 and Section 0.3 of Chapter 2
Extra Practice Problems for Chapter 1 and Section 0.3 of Chapter 2 (Acceleration)

Ball Toss Lab
Data Analysis Practice
More Data Analysis Practice
Read and complete exercises in Chapter 3: Free Fall and Graphing Motion
Primary objective: practice using the motion model x_f = x_i + v_it + ½ at²; discuss and measure the rate with which objects on Earth fall

Stop Motion Video Project

- instructions

due date: 9/27-28

Sep 18 - Sep 22

Begin reading Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Projectiles
Work on Stop Motion Video Project
2nd pd: Quiz on Thursday over motion graphs (B day quiz is next Tuesday)

Practice matching motion to graphs with this interactive
Find additional instruction and help on the webpage Kinematics 2, on this website
Find additional practice at dev.physicslab.org: page 1, page 2 and page 3
Primary objective: create position-time and velocity-time graphs from data; gain comfort "reading" graphs and drawing the corresponding velocity-time graph for any given position-time graph

Watch this excellent video on vectors by 3Blue1Brown.

go to current week

Watch this interesting explanation of vectors by Edward Frenkel in an episode of Numberphile.

data for 5th section of portfolio

sample portfolio page

helpful hints

Sep 25 - Sep 29

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Work on Stop Motion Video Project
B day: Quiz on Tuesday over motion graphs
Unit 1 Test on Friday/Monday(the 2nd)

Absent Wednesday or Thursday? Read this webpage before the test!
Unit 1 Test Review (Answer Key)
Primary objective: create position-time and velocity-time graphs from data; add trend lines and properly interpret those trend lines as motion models; complete the Stop Motion Video Project

submit your video here

(don't share it... copy and paste it)

or submit a YouTube link here

B day: Unit 1 Test
Review the test
Projectile Motion Video Analysis Lab
- download this video to analyze
Trend line interpretation worksheet (homework)

Primary objective: collect position-time data from a video of a moving object, graph that data, add trend lines, and interpret the trend lines to obtain high-level information about the object

Oct 2 - Oct 6

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Parabolas in the NFL: the physics of a football punt

Oct 10 - Oct 13

Complete Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Projectiles

Projectile Motion Practice Problems (with answers)
Thursday: B day: use Logger Pro to determine the acceleration of the "angry" bird in this video clip (set the scale so that the bird is 0.25 m tall), showing your work in your notebook; then read Chapter 4, section 0.5, in your booklet and do the following practice problems (pages 18-21); take home and complete the Conceptual Questions (linked at right but also available in class)

Find helpful instructional videos here. (See Chapter 3.) This "video book" is sponsored by the Texas Education Agency.
Primary objective: track the position and velocity of projectiles

Investigation of projectile motion (using a PhET simulation)
Discuss relative motion
Review for ~~test~~ quizzes (answer key) Note: There was a typo on the Review. The formula for initial velocity had the sine and cosine switched. The Review posted here has been corrected.
Kahoot review (in which free fall acceleration = -10 m/s/s)

Primary objective: track the position and velocity of projectiles; discuss relative motion

Oct 16 - Oct 20

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Conceptual Questions to master

Unit 2 ~~Test~~ Quizzes
Introduction to forces; begin reading Chapter 5: Laws of Nature and Forces
Newton's Second Law Lab
Incorporate Newton's 2nd Law into our Motion Analysis (answer key)
Use Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation

Primary objective: discuss the concept of inertia and the significance of Newton's Second Law of Motion, relating force and acceleration; use Newton's model for calculating gravity

Oct 23 - Oct 27

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What is science supposed to do? What is it for? Does science bring truth? The answers to these questions changed dramatically in the 17th century.

Quiz on Newton's 2nd Law of Motion and his Law of Gravity
Tuesday (2nd period): following the quiz, complete this simulation-based lab (link to the simulation); your homework is to complete this lab (if necessary) and to finish reading Chapter 5; I'll collect and grade the lab
Introduction to Egg Drop Project - the writing assignment
Calculating Force and Acceleration Worksheet (the one with the little drawings)

Primary objective: differentiate between mass and weight; find means of working out the electromagnetic forces on an object

Oct 30 - Nov 3

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Did you know?

The mass of an object is a measure of its reluctance to change motion – the extent to which it impedes acceleration.

Begin reading Chapter 6: Free Body Diagrams
Finding Forces, Finding Acceleration (static equilibrium, pushing at an angle) - answer keys
Quiz on Finding Forces, Finding Acceleration
2nd pd: apparent weight worksheet (answer key)

Primary objective: draw free body diagrams and find the unknown forces on various objects, including objects being pushed at an angle, objects on inclines, and objects in static equilibrium; differentiate between actual and apparent weight

Nov 6 - Nov 10

You Can't Touch Anything

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https://xkcd.com/1489/

Enroll in this Physics PreAP class on Turnitin. Class ID's are as follows: 2nd pd - 16736926, 6th pd - 16736930, 7th pd - 16736935, 8th pd - 16736943. Get the password in class.

Test Review (answer key)
Kahoot Review
Egg Drop Project due ( submit the written assignment through Turnitin by the start of class)
Unit 3 Test

Primary objective: discuss Newton's 3rd Law of motion; review for the unit test

Nov 13 - Nov 17

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drop egg containers
Circular Motion worksheet (answer key; I use the phrase "i component" to mean "x component")
Satellite Motion worksheet (A day) (answer key)
Absent? Need extra help understanding circular motion? Read Lesson 1 on this helpful website.

Primary objective: model how forces must act on an object to cause circular motion; define centripetal force and acceleration; equate centripetal force with gravity in a discussion of satellite motion

Nov 27 - Dec 1

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Log into Turnitin.com for feedback on your Egg Drop paper.

Satellite Motion worksheet (B day)
Review for unit quiz (optional) (answer key)
Writing assignment (Booklet of Student Essays on Physics) - due Jan 4/5
Unit 4 Quiz

Primary objective: practice proportional reasoning, then review for the unit quiz

Dec 4 - Dec 8

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Gravity and Black Holes

(PowerPoint)

Midterm Review
Explore kinematics and forces with Algodoo. [Install Algodoo from the Software Center on your school-issued laptop.]
- Lesson 1 (Friction)
- Lesson 2 (also Friction)
- Lesson 3 (try to make a car with the back wheel acting as motor; create a course for it to drive across OR play Bumpkin's Dippy Gravity Golf, available in the Algobox)

Primary objective: review for the midterm; begin taking the midterm

Dec 11 - Dec 15

From Newton to Einstein: Our Changing Perception of Gravity

Warning: Somewhat advanced but insanely interesting.

Understanding Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

Warning: One of these forces is fictitious!

Vsauce: All about spinning

Great illustrations and explanations of centripetal forces. Bonus: An explanation of gyroscopes and the Coriolis effect.

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Midterms (periods 2 and 6)

Dec 18 - Dec 19

Essays are due on Turnitin.com
Explore the definitions of and relationship between kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy
Energy Skate Park Lab

Primary objective: loosely define energy, carefully define two types of energy: kinetic and gravitational potential energy, and introduce the Law of Energy Conservation

Jan 4 - Jan 5

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Work through the Energy and Entropy booklet
Mousetrap-Powered Car Project (due Jan 29/30) - you can work with a partner
Energy Quiz (Fri/~~Tues~~Thurs)
Answer Key for pages 23-26; Answer Key for pages 27-29 in booklet
Answer Key for page 31, on power

Primary objective: practice calculating kinetic energy, gravitational energy, work, and related quantities; define and calculate power

Jan 8 - Jan 12

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Find an explanation of Elastic Potential Energy here. Elastic Potential Energy is the energy stored in a compressed or stretched spring.

Energy Quiz (Thurs: B day)
Thermodynamics PowerPoint

Primary objective: A-day -- define heat and internal energy and practice calculations using heat capacity, followed by a class discussion of entropy and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics; B-day -- take the energy quiz and discuss power

Jan 17 - Jan 19

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submit your video here

(don't share it... copy and paste it)

Review for Unit Test (Answer Key from Mrs. Pickle)

Primary objective: B-day -- define heat and internal energy and practice calculations using heat capacity, followed by a class discussion of entropy and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics; A-day -- review for the unit test

Jan 22 - Jan 26

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Mousetrap-Powered Cars and Videos are due Mon/Tues (turn in the videos here; include your name(s) in the title of the video)
Momentum Practice Problems (answer key) and a handout on impulse

Primary objective: define momentum and impulse and use the conservation of momentum to mathematically analyze collisions

Jan 29 - Feb 2

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Review of unit (answer key), and here's a better review from Mrs. Pickle (and the key)
Quiz over momentum on Thurs/Fri

Primary objective: review momentum conservation and impulse, then take the end-of-unit quiz

Feb 5 - Feb 9

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Electricity Booklet, pages 1-7 (for homework)
Static Electricity Lab
Electric Circuit Lab
Electrostatics Review - (answer key) quiz on Friday/Tuesday

Primary objective: define static electricity and calculate the electrostatic force of attraction/repulsion between charged particles; build simple electrical circuits and analyze their features

Feb 12 - Feb 16

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Click here for detailed instructions on how to use a multimeter.

Electrostatics Quiz - Tuesday
Electric Circuit Art Project - due March 8/9 [You'll need to bring your own foam board and batteries to class next week. You'll have at least two class periods in which to work on the project. You'll probably need to do some of the project at home.] - Grading Rubric
Electromagnetic Induction Lab (website, open in Internet Explorer)

Primary objective: use Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Laws to solve circuit problems; discuss electromagnetic induction

Feb 20 - Feb 23

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New Scientist Reader Question

Read about electricity generation and distribution
Magnetism PowerPoint
Project Work Time

Primary objective: build series, parallel and combination circuits, as part of a project; measure current and voltage within your circuits; calculate resistance and power in your circuits

Feb 26 - Mar 2

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Oxygen is magnetic?!

Need help solving circuit problems?

(I do a combination circuit at 19:00.)

View an illustration of Electromagnetic Induction here and also here.

Practice calculating total resistance (and other stuff) for combination circuits (and the key) - NEW!!
Project Work Time - the project is due Thursday (B day) and Friday (A day); the actual presentation of the project and one-on-one interviews will take place Monday and Tuesday after Spring Break
Test Review (omit #10 & #18); simple Quizzizz Review; less-simple Kahoot! Review
Unit Test (on Electricity and Magnetism)

Primary objective: complete the ElectricArt project and take the unit test

Mar 5 - Mar 9

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Reading guide

The Earth's Magnetic Field Might Reverse... Uh oh...

Present ElectricArt projects during class on Mon/Tues
Wave Basics notes packet, to be completed by reference to this site
PhET simulation handout (supplement to waves packet)
Slinky lab
Notes packet, for in-class lecture on WAVES

Primary objective: define the major characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves; discuss the "purpose" of waves, in terms of energy transport

Mar 19 - Mar 23

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Check out these great overviews of Simple Harmonic Motion!

And discover Hooke's Law using this simulation of a spring.

Discussion of sound waves, wave interference, beats, the Doppler effect, and resonance
The Physics of Musical Instruments (chapter from How Everything Works: Making Physics out of the Ordinary, by Louis Bloomfield)

Primary objective: discuss the nature of sound waves and the phenomena of beats, harmonics and the Doppler Effect

Mar 26 - Mar 29

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Find excellent visualizations of wave motion here.

And here is an overview of some basic properties of sound: pitch, loudness, & timbre

Questions

Vsauce: Will we ever run out of new music?

Online Sound Research (worksheet)
Extra Practice Problems involving springs
Waves and Simple Harmonic Motion Test Review (Answer Key)
Unit Test, on Wed/Thurs
Friday: begin unit on electromagnetic waves

Primary objective: review for and take a test on simple harmonic motion and waves

Apr 2 - Apr 6

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research electromagnetic waves
EM wave simulation; polarization simulation; refraction simulation
refraction PhET lab

Primary objective: discuss the origin of electromagnetic waves, their form, their speed, and how their frequency affects how they can be used and whether they're harmful to humans; discuss polarization and how 3D movie glasses work; discuss specular and diffuse reflection of EM waves; discuss refraction (Snell's Law)

Apr 9 - Apr 13

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Old army video on the workings of AM and FM radio.

4 practice problems on refraction (key)
concave and convex lens simulation; optics of the human eye simulation
packet on Light, Refraction, and Lenses
PowerPoint slides on Total Internal Reflection and Rainbows

Primary objective: discuss how converging and diverging lenses work and practice drawing ray diagrams of light passing through lenses; 2nd period will discuss dispersion, as well

Apr 16 - Apr 20

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PowerPoint slides on the Human Eye and Lenses in general
interesting pictures of a dissected cow's eye
quiz review
quiz over reflection, refraction and lenses; on Thurs/Fri

Primary objective: review converging and diverging lenses and discuss the workings of the human eye; B-day classes will discuss dispersion, as well

Apr 23 - Apr 27

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test review (the answer key)
B-day: bring a full-size Pringles can to class on Wednesday
Unit Test, on Thurs/Fri

Primary objective: discuss the fascinating phenomenon of color; construct pinhole cameras; take a test over electromagnetic waves: how they're made, how they travel, how they reflect and how they refract

Apr 30 - May 4

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AP and EOC Testing ongoing
Power Plant Project, culminating in a series of debates -- find resources with this LibGuide
Team Assignments for Project (log into your school Google account to access the file)
Additional Information about the Project (Q&A) - please read

Primary objective: research the pros and cons of the different types of power plants; as part of a team, defend the construction of a particular type of plant

May 7 - May 11

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You gotta see this!

AP Testing ongoing
Worksheet on Electron Energy Levels and Emission and Absorption Line Spectra; further reading
Photoelectric effect simulation

Primary objective: model an electron within an atom and discuss how its motion determines atomic emission and absorption spectra; define a photon and discuss the photoelectric effect; continue working on the Power Plant Project

May 14 - May 18

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I've shifted the dates around, so take note: The power plant debates will be Tues/Wed May 29/30. (The annotated bibliography will be due May 28 at midnight, through Turnitin.) The quiz will be the following class period, May 31/June 1.