Category: Physics - Mr. Powell Science

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

3/21/2018

Having made and investigated batteries the last two days, it was time to put our knowledge to the test. In class we watched an episode of Gilligan's Island called "X Marks the Spot" in which the castaway's island is in the path of an experimental warhead launched by the US government. The climax of the first act is after the radio batteries go dead, the Professor (a former science teacher :) figures out a clever way to recharge the batteries using pennies, metal strips, and coconuts. After watching the episode, students completed a summative assessment in which they had to explain whether or not they think the Professor's coconut battery charger would work and what kind of energy transfers occur throughout the missile launch, from pressing the ignition to its eventual deactivation. If you missed class, you can download this assessment below and turn it in when you return to school. The episode we watched is Season 1 Episode 18 available on amazon.com

gilligans_island_energy_quiz.pdf
File Size:	571 kb
File Type:	pdf

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

1/31/2018

Today, we explored balanced and unbalanced forces with an all class tug of war. Our activity sheet is attached below.

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces.pdf
File Size:	699 kb
File Type:	pdf

Your Weight on the Moon

1/30/2018

Today we discussed the difference between mass and weight. Mass is how much matter is in an object and measured in kilograms. Weight however is force, which means it is mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (on the planet where are currently standing). We solved several more force problems using Newton's second law (F=ma) as well as calculated our weight on different planets (on different planets your mass is the same but your weight will change based on the amount of gravity).

weight_on_other_planets
File Size:	81 kb
File Type:	pdf

Calculating Force

1/29/2018

Newton's second law states that the force on an object is equal to the objects mass multiplied by its acceleration. Or more simply: F=ma. Click Here for some example problems and help solving for force. In class we added newton's second law to our notes, as well as solved several force problems and began our discussion of gravity.

calculating_force.pdf
File Size:	89 kb
File Type:	pdf

Speedy Lab Part 2: Graphing and Data Analysis

1/24/2018

Today was all about graphing. We graphed Distance vs. Time and Speed vs Time for all of our Speedy Lab trials. Tomorrow we will finish this lab with a conclusion that ties together our tests, data, and graphs.

Speedy Lab: Calculating Speed and Acceleration

1/23/2018

Today we raced! Students ran and race-walked across the gymnasium, while their peers timed them at distances of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 feet.
Once we had all of our data recorded, we began to analyze it by calculating speed from the distance and time measurements.
Tomorrow we will graph and further analyze our data as well as conclude our lab.

speedy_lab.pdf
File Size:	211 kb
File Type:	pdf

Calculating Acceleration Continued

1/22/2018

We continued our study of acceleration by trying a bunch more practice problems. If you want to watch another version of how to solve acceleration problems, watch this video from Flipping Physics. Something important to learn from the video is that before you can calculate acceleration, all of your units (or dimensions as Mr.P says) must match. If you are solving for acceleration in m/s/s then your velocity must be in m/s and your time must be in seconds.

motion_graphs_speed_problems_acceleration_problems__practice_packet.pdf
File Size:	132 kb
File Type:	pdf

Calculating Acceleration

1/19/2018

Mr. Houde took the reins today and helped students learn how to calculate acceleration, as the change in velocity divided by the change in time. One of the more difficult concepts to understand is, why is acceleration measured in meters per seconds squared? Using algebra we were able to show that when dividing velocity (m/s) by time (s) we get: m/s/s or meters per second squared.

Gold Tape Question: If you step off a 30m high dive, and you fall (accelerate) for 2.47 seconds, what will your velocity be when you hit the water? (Hint: look up the acceleration of all falling objects on earth first)

Kinematics

1/17/2018

Kinematics is the fancy word for the the study of how things move. In class we analyzed and interpreted a Distance vs. Time graph and used that graph to describe the motion of an object, whether it was accelerating, moving with constant speed, or at rest. We were even able to calculate the speed of the moving object based on the coordinates of the graph. In our notebooks, we wrote down definitions for velocity (speed and direction of an object) as well as acceleration (the change in velocity of an object. We finished class with a short video that applies kinematics to a real life situation, in our case, football.

Use this video and the links in today's post to check what you know and maybe extend your own understanding of how things move.

Speed and Velocity

1/16/2018

We wrapped up Hot Wheels Hustle at the beginning of class then we read about and discussed the difference between speed and velocity. We also watched a music video about speed and velocity by the band They Might Be Giants.