Ms. Shumway

week of 1/17 - 1/20 - Mr. Blythe's physics classes

This week  we have spent several days working problems and then on Friday the classes completed a lab - colliding carts!  All data for the lab should have been collected on Friday and the completed lab is due on Monday, Jan. 23.  Students did a good job on this lab and many lab reports were completed and turned in Friday.

Also due on Monday is the project -  this will count as a test grade for the unit. 

A quiz will be given on Wednesday, Jan. 25.  This quiz will be made of problems like the ones in we have worked on for the past week - impulse, momentum and conservation of momentum.  

1/13/12

On Friday, 1/13, Mr. Blythe's physics classes worked on a lab - building a "lunar" landing module!  Students designed and built a landing module from paper cups, index cards, straws, marshmallows, tape and rubber bands.  The data was collected and the lab handout should be completed over the weekend.  It is due on Tuesday, 1/17.     Also due on Tuesday are problems #1-6 in the packet(at least the first two were completed in class on Thursday) and also the four problems on the worksheet given out on Friday. 

Answers to problems #1-6 are listed below.  I have not checked these answers with Mr. Blythe, so there may be some mistakes!  I will post another blog entry if I need to make corrections. 

Just a reminder that the project is due Monday, 1/23 and there will be a quiz made up of problems that will be given 1/25.

Answers to Exercises #1-6 in the packet

1. 4,906,800,000 kg-m/s  or 4.91 x 10⁹ kg-m/s

momentum was so great that it would have carried the ship into the iceberg anyway

2.175,000 N

3. 3750 N

    1,500,000 N

    400 times greater (let's hear it for seatbelts!)

4. the Earth would move 3.61 x 10^-16 meter

5. 11.25 m/s

6. 24,000 N

1/11/12 Momentum Unit

Today we started the unit on momentum.  Notes were given, sample problems worked and packets given out.  This unit will not have a test for the final assessment, but a project.  The packet describing the project was given out and discussed today.  Students will need to hand in a paper tomorrow with their partner's name (if they are working with a partner) and the four assignments they have selected.  The project is due on Monday, January 23.  The projects will be presented over several days and a quiz will be given on Wednesday, January 25. The project will need to be completed outside of class.  There may some class time available to work on the project, but this time will be minimal.

 

First Day of 2nd Semester - Physics - Mr. Blythe & Ms. Shumway

Welcome Back!  We hope the break was fun and relaxing! 

Today we made introductions, handed out the syllabus and filled out schedule verification forms.  Everyone is encouraged to contact Mr. Blythe or Ms. Shumway with any questions at any point during the semester!  The best way is through email. We both check our emails many times a day, including during the evenings and weekends.  We also recommend that students ask for help as soon they need it - we are available mornings, afternoons, and during AO. 

william.blythe@cobbk12.org

jane.shumway@cobbk12.org

We also watched a video about momentum, collisions and impulse which introduces our first unit of study.  This semester we will also study: thermal energy, sound, light, electricity and magnetism.

**Please bring back signed syllabus as soon as possible.  We will copy these and give back the original for future reference.**

 

11/16/11 Terms to review

Attached is a list of terms to know for the test.  It is not all inclusive, but you will need to know and understand these terms.  The test will be 36 multiple choice questions. Download Physics Review of terms and concepts

11/1/11

Attached are today's notes from our new unit - Newton's Laws.   Also see Mr. Blythe's blog for another version (with drawings).  Download Newton's Laws notes 11-1 Blythe

10/26/11

Tomorrow is the 2D Motion Physics test in Mr. Blythe's classes!  Attached is a list of some vocabulary that you should know and some basic advice on working the problems.  I will be at school early tomorrow in Mr. Blythe's room for a bit of last minute review.  Also look at your CFA, your quizzes and your packet for study material.  The test will take the entire period for most people so come to class ready to get out your pencils and calculator right away.  The packet will  be turned in tomorrow. Download Prep for Physics Test

10/23/11

On Friday the students took the CFA.  The students kept their answers and we will be going through and discussing the answers this week in preparation for the CSA which will be on Thursday, Oct. 27. 

When solving problems in this unit, students must be able to draw an accurate picture of the situation first.  The picture is essential to determine which method is needed to solve the problem.  Practice problems have been completed in class (and at home) with solutions demonstrated on the board.  

Students who need extra help before the CSA on Thursday will need to arrange a time with Mr. Blythe or myself. 

 

 

10/15/11

The most recent quiz grades for Mr. Blythe's classes are now in pinnacle.  We will be continuing with projectile motion this coming week.  Continue working on the problems that we started in class. 

Terms to know for this unit:

vectors - a force defined by magnitude and direction

displacement - the difference between starting and ending points (defined by magnitude and direction)

horizontal component; how far from side to side or x-value

vertical component; how far from bottom to top or y-value

Using the following trig ratios you can put in the degrees of an angle (in your calculator after pushing sin, cos, or tan) and get a decimal which is put in the equation so you can solve for the opposite or adjacent sides or for the hypotenuse.  Please see Mr. Blythe's blog for examples that he worked in class.

SOH      sine(of an angle) = opposite

                      hypotenuse

CAH      cosine(of an angle) = adjacent

                          hypotenuse

 

TAN      tangent(of an angle) = opposite

                            adjacent

2D motion unit

This past week we have been studying vectors, 1D motion and 2D motion.  There will be a quiz on Tuesday in Mr. Blythe's classes.

Make sure you know/can demonstrate the following:

• what it means to solve a problem graphically
• what it means to solve a problem mathematically

• when and how to use the Pythagorean theorem

• magnitude means size or amount

• scalar means only magnitude

• vector means magnitude and direction (and your answer needs to include both)
• how to add and subtract vectors (show this graphically as well as mathematically)