Force-Mass Lab

Today I checked the homework (Worksheet 1), but we didn't have time to go over it.  The answer key can be found here.  The link to the animated powerpoint for the worksheet can be found here.  Your responsibility is to correct it at home and attend tutorial to ask questions about problems you don't understand.  I will give a quiz on selected problems from this worksheet on Friday.  I have a brief review activity before the quiz to answer questions as well.

The majority of the lab was spent collecting data and discussing the Force-Mass lab.  One of the important things we will do in this class is collect data, plot it, and analyze the relationship between the two.  Here is a cute little cartoon about relationships and graphing variables:

HW: Correct Worksheet 1, study for quiz, finish lab

How to Draw Force Diagrams

We continued playing Who's Who, checked materials and corrected the quiz on the Green Sheet.

Most of the period was spent discussing different scenarios of motion and the forces that act on the object at a particular instance in time.  Once students were fairly comfortable discussing the forces involved, I demonstrated how to draw a force diagram.  Students had about 15-20 minutes to work on the homework in class.

HW:  Finish Unit I Worksheet 1

More Forces

We got to know our classmates a bit better by playing the Who's Who game.  I also collected the getting to know you assignment.  We took a quiz on the green sheet and I collected the green sheet and lab fees from people who had them.  I also discussed the Newton's First Law Lab and showed the Mythbusters episode "Table Cloth Chaos."  The last third of the class we discussed types of motion and which ones constitute the motion described by Newton's First Law.  We expanded on these two types (no motion or constant speed in a straight line) and the forces acting on objects experiencing this type of motion.  Most importantly, there is no net force!  This is definitely one of the hardest concepts for students to understand.

HW:  Get materials, lab fees and parent signatures if you haven't already done so

Welcome to Physics!

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year.  I am really looking forward to this year and helping you change the way you see the physical universe.  Believe it or not, physics is EVERYWHERE!  I spent a good portion of the class discussing the logistics of the class, introducing myself and answering the questions posted here.

The second half of the period we discussed forces and did the Newton's First Law Lab.

Homework:
Due Thursday: Getting to Know You, Quiz on Green Sheet (open note)
Due Monday: Get materials (I can give you a lot of the materials if you come in to tutorial on an orange day), Green sheet signed; get $10 lab fee