Physics Past Assignments

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Year End Physics:

1.       Study for the final or complete & present your project on June 4

2.     Return your text book on June 4

3.     Take home catapult pieces or other materials left here

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Due May 28

1. Read chapter 38 and either outline or answer 8 questions.

2. Choose your final project and talk to Mrs. Marshall about it before Tuesday May 27.

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Due May 22

1. Read either chapter 35 or 37; outline or answer 8 questions.
2. Do one of the applied electricity projects below and bring to class to share:
   1. Build and test the solar motor, two coil motor, gum wrapper thermostat, or light bulb that there were handouts for in class.
   2. Construct, test and draw the schematic diagrams for a series circuit and a parallel circuit using switches. (ch.35)
   3. Request a test from Mrs. Marshall covering the chapters 32 – 36, for which you may use note cards.  This test will involve the mathematical calculations of electricity.
   4. Build a working model of a turbine (ch.37)
   5. Develop an electricity related project and have it approved by Mrs. Marshall.

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Due May 14

1. Read chapters 34 and 36 on electrical current and magnetism. Do either an outline or 8 questions on each.

    2. Prepare for a quiz

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Due May 7

1. Read Chapter 33 and either outline or do 8 of the questions.
2. Make as electric circuit game box with the materials handed out in class. 
   1. Glue a plain piece of paper on the top.
   2. Neatly write the words: Volt (or Voltage), Watt (or Wattage), Amp (or Amperage), and current down the left side of the box. If there is room you may add other related words to the list.
   3. Write the definition of each word, in your own words, on the right side of the box…..not in the same order.
   4. Follow instructions on the paper in the box for hooking up the brads.

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Due April 30

1. Study for your wave test. Use your study sheet, outlines and chapter end questions to review the major concepts in chapters 25 – 31. Some of the questions will come from the chapter end ….not the “Think and Solve.”  You may use your note cards.
2. Read Chapter 32 and do the 8 questions or the outline.
3. Bring an example of static electricity.

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Due April 23

1. Study for your < 1 page quiz on chapters 28 & 29.
2. Prepare for your Demonstration of an applied light or sound concept.  Yes these may be done in pairs if you wish, so long as they are excellent!!
3. Read or skim chapters 30 & 31 to understand concepts listed on demonstration sheet.

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Due April 16

1. Read the chapters on color (28) and reflection (29). Do the 8 varied questions or the outline. Yes there will be a quiz.
2. Quiz postponed 1 week due to WASL!!
3. Complete your Sound and Light Project, attached. 

Note: The morning of March 26 you will have an all morning work session with Mrs. McClintic to do most or all of this and work on your chapters together.

 To get to the stereograms go to this website: http://www.mrfreefree.com/free_software/free_tools_for_creating_stereograms.html#  then click on

Sound and Light Project

 Purpose: To understand how a specific sound or light instrument works and explain it to others.

 Due Date: April 16!!!      You will have all morning March 26 to work on it.

 Assignment: Choose one of the items below (or suggest your own) to explore. Research the workings of this item and:

1.     Draw and label a clear detailed picture of the item and its parts

2.    On another diagram show and explain the flow of energy in your item.

3.    If possible build your item.  If not build a model that shown its workings

4.    Write a short description of the inventor of your item

5.    Include a biography that has both book and internet sources.

6.    Prepare a 2-3 paragraph explanation for the class of how your item works

These may be presented in poster of report format.   Neatness is Important !

 Some suggested Items:

        Flashlight              Light Bulb               Camera              Clock             Incandescent           Pendulum    

        Fluorescent           Electronic               Low energy        Quartz crystal              Guitar or violin

        Piano or Pipe Organ        X-rays           Lasers               Radio          Bugle          Surfing

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Due March 19

1. Read Chapter 27 on Light and do either the outline or questions… whichever you learn best from.
2. Be ready for a short quiz on the chapter.
3. If you got below a 60 on the test correct the questions that you got wrong for a better score.
4. Test out your speaker or research what you need to do to insure that it will work. The website that it is from is http://www.josepino.com/other_projects/index.php?homemade-hifi-speaker.jpc

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Due March 12

1. Read Chapter 26 on Sound and either answer 8 questions (some from each section) or outline the major concepts. If you outline the chapter, please also do problems 33 and 36 to practice calculating sound waves.
2. We will be building speakers next week.  Please try to bring a small strong magnet and a 10-12 Lego blocks or two small blocks of wood.
3. If you have a metronome and could loan it to us for a week, please let me know.
4. Develop an experimental question about sound for which we can use the tuning forks.
5. If you wish to launch or re-launch your hot air balloon bring it on the 12th.

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Due March 5

1. Study for your small test on heat.  Yes you can use note cards.  Do you know how to go from Fahrenheit to Celsius or Kelvin?**
2. Read Chapter 25 on waves slow…….ly or twice and either do 8 questions or outline.  Many new vocabulary words here for your cards.
3. Choose and complete one of the following:

a.      Read the recent Scientific American article http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-solar-grand-plan

on the viability of solar energy as a basic energy source for our country. Write a persuasive editorial on whether you agree with the main ideas in this article or not. (3 – 5 paragraphs)

b.      Using the plan attached and making adjustments you can explain create a “hot air balloon” that will travel as high as the gym roof. We will launch these next Wednesday.  These must be carefully made and cannot be started Tuesday evening.

c.      Research Doppler radar and how it helps with weather forecasting.  Make a one page visual explanation of how it works using pictures and words.

d.      Make one of the improvements to your home or lifestyle that you discovered in the energy audit.  Take pictures and explain in writing what you did.  Share with the class.

**What to study for the small Heat Test:  Experimental process,  Chapters 21, 22, 23 and a couple of concepts from Chapter 24

    This means: heat and how it moves, temperature and how it is measured (C., F., K.), thermal equilibrium, calorie and Kcal, specific heat capacity, conduction, convection, radiation, insulation, Greenhouse effect, cause and effect of phase changes in  water, entropy, adiabatic process, and absolute zero.

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Due February 27

1. Read Chapter 23 and either outline it or do 8 questions, some from each section.   Focus on the movement of energy.
2. Catch up your 3 X 5 cards on the 3 chapters on Heat (21 – 23) if you have not done so already.  Out test will be March 5.
3. Choose either:
   1. Read chapter 24 on Thermodynamics.  Outline or answer 8 questions.  Choose one concept to demonstrate or explain to the class. Tell Mrs. Marshall which one you want to do.

                                     OR

2. Do an “Energy Audit of your home using the form handed out in class and the questions below.  Fill out the form and make a list or paragraph style description of the improvements that would help with energy efficiency.

 Additional Energy Audit Questions:  Lifestyle

1.       Number of people in the house:

2.     What temperature is the thermostat set at when people are home:           When everyone is gone or asleep:

3.     If available, what is the approximate annual energy cost for this residence:

4.     Type of energy used for:

a.      Heating air: 

b.     Heating water: 

c.      Cooking: 

d.      Other:

5.     Number of light bulbs in sockets: 

6.     Average number of light bulbs on at 7:00pm (average 3-4 days)

7.     Number of laundry loads per week: 

8.     Approximate number of hours shower is run per week: 

9.     Which appliances are “low-energy” rated:

10.  Other observations of energy use or savings: 

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Due February 13

1. Read chapter 22 and either outline or answer 8 questions.
2. Using the form we started in class, design an experiment to answer a question you develop about heat or heat transfer.
3. Be sure it is an experiment in which you will generate a data table.  Fill out the front side of the form only.
4. You and a partner will choose and do one of your experiments in class next week.  If you need materials not available in the class, please let me know by Monday, February 11.

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 February 6

1. Read Chapter 21 in your physics book.
2. Either do 10 questions or outline the chapter.  This will be turned in.
3. Do either:

        A. Develop an experiment to answer the question: 

Which Common Household Material Keeps Water Cold the Longest?

             Perform the experiment and bring in your results typed in a format like the one below.

OR

B.     Get a preprinted “heat experiment” from Mrs. Marshall. You will collect materials practice the process and do a demonstration in class, explaining what is happening and why.

Scientific Method Write-Up

1.       Question: ________________________________________________________________

2.     Hypothesis: _______________________________________________________________

3.     Materials Needed: __________________________________________________________

4.     Procedure: ________________________________________________________________

5.     Data:  Drawings, Measurements, Graphs, etc.

                   6.     Conclusions:  _______________________________________________________________

7.     Questions:

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Semester’s End Checklist and Assignment Sheet

First Semester Ends:

            In Physics, Art & Drama on January 23

            In Western Civilization and English on January 24

            In Math and Spanish on January 28

So……

 For Physics:

            Complete your PowerPoint and speaker notes.  The PowerPoint will be shown on January 23.  The speaker notes will be turned in.  Remember, there should not be many (more than 35 – 40) words on each slide. The slides should have bullets of information that connects to your notes.  Presenters will not read their slides.  Mrs. Mayfield and I will be in the computer lab at 8:15 on Wednesday to help you add pizzazz and finish. With 18 presentations to complete on that day, please practice yours to be sure that it is no more than 7 minutes long and that the technology works here.

For Conferences: January 25 – February 1

1.       Add up your hours in each class you will be getting credit for and bring to the conference

2.      Organize your work into your portfolio binder

3.      Come to your conference with a parent and documentation for credits done outside of PARADE.

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Due January 16

 1.       Complete your PowerPoint except from finishing touches.  We will have 45 minutes with Karen Mayfield to work on these touches.

2.     Complete the attached org. chart of the universe

3.     Choose and do either:

a.      Read Puzzles of the Polestar and either:

                                                                          i.       find true north and magnetic north using a plumb bob (if we have a clear enough night)

                                                                       ii.      or find out how the Egyptians and Celts used the stars to orient their pyramids and Stonehenge.

OR

b.     Get the pattern from Mrs. Marshall and assemble (and label) a model of the Hubble Telescope.

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Astronomy PowerPoint Topics

1)                   Nebula - Andrea

2)                  Super Nova - Anton

3)                  Black Holes, White Holes and singularity – Joseph*

4)                  Red Giant - Steven

5)                  Blue Dwarf- Marina

6)                  Big Bang Theory - LJ

7)                  Moonscape - Esther

8)                  Mars Rover - Ross

9)                  Search for extra-terrestrial water- Brendan*

10)                Telescopes and binoculars -

11)                  Gravitational and Lunar affects on tides – Katy*

12)                Layout of our solar system – Jacob*

13)                Air Glow and Northern Lights –Annika*

14)                Galaxies and their shapes

15)                The International Space Station - Chloe

16)                True North and Magnetic North

17)                Meteors and other things falling from the sky - Calvin

18)                Sunset, sunrise, and the colors of twilight – Ana*

19)                Alternative Theories – Brian

20)               Space Travel faster than light - Willie

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Due January 9

1. Research and select visuals for your Astronomy PowerPoint described below.  Bring to class.
2. Read Chapters in Secrets of the Night Sky entitled:
   1. It’s About Time
   2. Baa Baa Betelgeuse
   3. Moonstruck
   4. Two Dog Night

           Take notes or outline major concepts

3. Continue going outside on clear nights.  Look for:
   1. Betelgeuse
   2. Rigel
   3. Sirius
   4. Polaris and their constellations

           Be able to locate them on a sky map

 Astronomy PowerPoint

 Because the field of astronomy is almost as vast as the sky, we will each study one aspect in depth and present a clear (ish) understanding of it to the class in PowerPoint form.

1. Sign up for a concept on the list or have your idea approved.
2. Sign up to present your PowerPoint on January 16 or 23.
3. Research the concept in at least three sources, including one book, one magazine, and one internet source.
4. Select 5-10 visuals that clearly show your topic and bring to class either on a zip drive, by e-mailing them to your self, or by writing down the links so you can find them easily.
5. We will start work on the PowerPoint presentations in class January 9.

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Due January 2

 1.     Look at the sky at night on a clear night (if we have one) and:

a.     Figure out what stars you would use to determine North, South, East, and West in the December sky.

b.    Find and identify the 5 brightest stars in the sky.

2.    Read at least one chapter in “Secrets of the Night Sky” and find the stars discussed in that chapter.

3.     Bring 2 questions to class about the night sky that you would us to discuss as a class.

 All of these observations and bits of information should come to school on one neatly written sheet of paper.

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Due December 19

Physics: Each of these requires something to be turned in.

1. Read Chapter 12 and either do 8 questions or outline the major concepts in 1-2 pages.
2. Research your constellation. Make a ½  to 1 page clear handout about your constellation that includes:
   1. A diagram of the stars in your constellation with the major ones labeled
   2. An explanation of where it is in the December sky
   3. The Greek story of how it got its name
3. Explain your plane.  Do a write up of your plane as if you were Boeing Co. trying to get people to buy your latest design. In your 1 page advertisement include:
   1. Factual Data: size, average distance of flight, average speed, construction materials
   2. Strong selling points: What it does best, practical uses, why I should buy it.
   3. Mechanics: How it uses lift, drag, thrust, and weight
   4. Areas still being improved:  What didn’t work and how you might redesign it.

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Dec. 12

1. No Chapter this week, because we have not yet discussed rotational mechanics.  However we will read chapter 12 next week, so you can start it now if you wish.

2. Check the website to see if you have any missing assignments and turn them in. Last day for all September - December work is December 19.

3. Work on your airplane design and be able to explain why and how it works.  We wil work on improvements to these in class.  If you want/need materials other than paper, let me know by Monday.

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Due December 5

1. Turn in your permission slip by Thursday November 29.
2. Come prepared to the field trip with questions about flight
3. Read chapter 11 about rotational mechanics.  Complete either 8 questions or an outline.
4. Practice designing and making simple arm powered airplanes
5. Go to http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/forces.html  to learn more about the forces on airplanes.

The Mechanics of Flight

Question: What makes airplanes fly?

Challenge: To create the fastest or longest flying hand powered simple airplane

          Conditions:

                   Choose from materials below

                   No motors or propellers

                   Must be thrown from either playground climber

                   No models    Must be designed and created by the team.

          Materials:

                   Paper                    Fabric                             Plastic

                   Wood                    Metal                    String

                   Weights                Glue

 Schedule:

          Nov. 28: View Video, Develop Baseline speed and distance, make teams

Start research.  Homework: develop design ideas and questions

           Dec. 5: Visit Museum of Flight        Homework: Develop Planes

          Dec. 12: Test Planes…modify…retest…Demonstrate

          Dec. 19: Show off   Start Astronomy

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November 28

1. Read Chapter 10 and either outline or answer 6 questions.
2. Choose and complete one of the following:
   1. Create a “mouse trap car” that goes further or faster than Anton’s.

2. Go to www.mypyramid.gov  and watch the online short video.  Then click on my pyramid plan, follow the instructions, print out 2 worksheets like the one on the back of this sheet.  Follow it for 2 days to understand your energy intake and output.

3. Look up the career field called Kinesiology.  Find out what they do and how it applies to physics.  Draw or demonstrate one example of how physics is applied to the body using a skeleton or muscle chart.

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November 21

1. Read chapter 9 and either do 2 questions from each section (6 total) or outline the main ideas.
2. Choose one:
   1. Research, write a page on, and present a minute on one type of energy.
   2. Calculate your personal energy input and output for 2 days.
   3. Find a small machine and explain, with diagrams, the energy input and output involved in its use.
   4. Develop an experiment to measure energy input and output of a system.
   5. Develop a model to show centripetal and centrifugal force or simulated gravity.

Each of these require a one-two page explanation and a one minute description.  Examples from your text may not be used.

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Due November 14

1. Read Chapter 8 on Energy.  Add several new terms to your 3 X 5 cards.

2. Answer 2 questions from each section at the end of the chapter for a total of 8.  Explain your answers completely.

3. Choose one of the problems below and complete it alone or with a partner for "Show and Tell."

    a. Design a roller coaster.  Using the following websites and information from the lab done in class, design a fun and safe rollercoaster.  Draw your design to scale on graph paper or build a simple model.  Write a one page justification fro your design, explaining the (physics) reasons for your choices.  Websites:

          www.learner.org/interactives/parlphysics/coaster/

           www.library.thinkquest.org/2745/data/loops.htm

           www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/

     b. Provide "expert written testimony" for the accident reconstruction handed out in class.  This is a good choice for those who like math.

     c. Develop an "energy-related" question that you would like to test, have it approved and test it.  Draw and write-up your results.

     d. Use the collision cars from class or a mouse-trap car of your own design to demonstrate kinetic and potential energy. Draw and explain how they both show types of energy.

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Due October 31

1. Study for your midterm. You may use your 3 X 5 cards with definitions and formulas on them.  The test will cover Chapters 1 – 6 and the work we have done in class.
2. Read chapter 7 on momentum and either, answer 5 questions from the chapter or take notes in outline form and hand in.
3. Plan a short (1 minute ) demonstration of momentum in action. 

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Due Oct. 24 

1. Read chapter 6. Complete questions 12-15, 25, 29, 34, 38
2. Ride your bicycle or your skateboard.  Observe how Newton’s laws are at work when you ride.  Make a list and/or a diagram of how each of the laws applies to your bicycle.
3. Because we were not able to test all catapults on Oct. 16, we will try them all out in their very finished form on the 23rd.  On that day there willbe no work time.  Each group will have to arrive with a finished catapult and a manual for its use. I have manuals here for:  1. Katy, Chloe, and Chelan  2. Heidi, Andrea, and Esther  and 3. Steven, Anton, and Kevin.  I still need the rest. 

    4 .Review the concepts on the list below:

Formulas and skills

Average sped = total distance/ total time                                                Acceleration = change in velocity/ time interval

Distance vs Time graphs                             Acceleration = net force/ mass                            Pressure = force/ area of application

Observation Physics

How to limit the speed of falling objects

Hooke’s Law

How to develop maximum projectile speed and distance

Determining acceleration

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Due October 17

  1. If any of the terms in the Jeopardy game on Oct. 10 were difficult for you, review them .  We will have another review game next week.

  2. Be sure that all back work is turned in including last weeks Elastic lab and questions and this weeks Chapter 5 questions.

  3. No new chapters this week....May I suggest rereading any one that is not clear to you.

  4. Complete your catapult and manual.  You will have about 45 more in-class minutes next Wednesday to wrap up your assembly, manual, and to prepare for testing.

Catapult Manuals

Purpose:

              1. So someone else can use your catapult successfully

              2. To begin learning technical writing

 Parts of Manual:

1.       Clear drawing(s) with all parts labeled

2.     Safety Precautions

3.     Care and Maintenance of the machine

4.     Set-up for use

5.     How to use it with a rubber ball

 Format:

1.       Typed

2.     Small booklet or pamphlet

3.     Name of Model on Front

4.     Clearly Drawn

5.     Designer’s names and contact information on back

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Due October 10

1. Read Chapter 5 and complete 4 challenging questions with complete answers. Memorize Newton’s first two laws.
2. Be sue to include the “key terms” on pages 56 and 71 in your cards.  Study all of your vocabulary cards for a review game next week. Nothing to turn in.
3. Checkout the www.physicsclassroom.com for any difficult concepts or to watch short visuals of many concepts. Nothing to turn in.
4. Design your prototype catapult and prepare to built and test it next week.  If you need any materials from Mrs. Marshall. be sure to e-mail her your list by Monday morning October 8.  Consult the list on page 42 of your Catapult Binder for common choices of materials.
5. If your group did not turn in their graphs and analysis questions from Wednesday's elasticity lab, they will be accepted until next Wednesday.

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Due October 3

1. Read chapter 4 about Newton’s First Law. 
2. Answer 4 of the questions completely
3. From the “Quick Build” we did in class today, draw an improved model you might try next week.
4. Read the attached article on the 6 types of simple machines. 
5. Search around your house and yard to find examples of the simple machines below.  Fill in the chart with descriptions and pictures.
6. Bring in one small tool that has more than one simple machine in it (hint: there are usually a lot of these in the kitchen).  We will share these in class next week.