Physical Science 20 - May 28

Today we started looking at the wave model and learning about wave behaviour.  We started by learning what causes waves.  Waves are periodic motion caused by vibrations or disturbances in a medium.  We learned about characteristics and key terms including period and frequency and how they are related.  This was covered on slides 97-105.  We didnt quite get to the homework today.  We will do that tomorrow.

Physics 30 - May 28

Today we started looking at collisions in 2D.  These problems just turn out to be momentum conservation problems with vector analysis.  We went through Examples 24 and 25.  Tomorrow we will go through the last example in the unit.

Physical Science 20 - May 27

Today we studied the remainder of the properties of light as well as looked at the particle model for a viable option of explaining these properties.  Students copied down notes on a summary sheet and we came up with the conclusion that the particle model doesn't adequately explain the properties of light.  This was all covered on slides 83-96.  Tomorrow we will start looking at the wave model after we get an understanding of what waves are.  This will happen however after your quiz.  Reminder of your quiz tomorrow on refraction.

Physics 30 - May 27

Today in class we continued looking at collisions and how to solve them in one dimension.  This involved mostly using the law of conservation of momentum and determining what type of collision we were working with.  We then worked through 3 different examplkes to get the technique down.  This was all covered on slide 53-58.  Assignment 4.7 was given at the end of the class as well.  Please have a look at that before tomorrow.  Tomorrow, we will begin to look at collisions in 2D.

Physics 30 - May 26

Today in class we moved on despite the fact that the school celebrated the Box Lunch Auction today.  We began to look at the conservation of momentum and how we can apply that to different situations.  We went over a couple of examples related to explosions and how to solve them with the conservation of momentum and then we also learned about the different types of collisions.  This was covered on slides 49-53.  We will looking at collisions tomorrow with an examination of collisions in one dimension.

Physical Science 20 - May 25

In Period 2, I checked Homework 3.5 and then we learned how to draw ray diagrams for lenses.  Students worked on Assignment 3.2 and I will be taking this in on Wednesday as tomorrow is the box lunch auction.

In Period 4 today, we started looking at the rest of the properties of light with some demonstrations and then we started to match those properties to a scientific model.  This model assumes light is made up of particles and we call this model the particle model of light.  Students took notes on slides 83-94.  

Physics 30 - May 22

Today we started to look at momentum, what it is and how we measure it.  We also learned about the impulse momentum theorem.  This means that in order to change an object's momentum, one needs to apply a force to an object for an amount of time.  The product of the force and the time is called the impulse.  We went through examples 16, 17, & 18 and I assigned Assignment 4.6 at the end of the class.  

Reminder that on Monday we will be having our first in class assignment for this unit on energy and work.  Know how to do Assignments 4.1-4.5.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - May 22

Today in period 2 we looked at how to find the image using the lens and magnification equations.  Students worked through a couple of examples and then they worked on Homework 3.5.  I will check this on Monday.

In Period 4, I checked Homework 3.5 and then we learned how to draw ray diagrams for lenses.  Students worked on Assignment 3.2 and I will be taking this in on Monday.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - May 21

Today in class we finished up our notes on Conservation of Energy.  We did examples 13-15 and then the students had the remainder of the class period to work on Assignment 4.5.  This is the last assignment that will be included on the next in class assignment on Monday.

Tomorrow we are going to start to look at momentum and what we can learn from motion with that.

Physical Science 20 - May 21

Today in Period 2, we started to learn about lenses and optics.  We were able to understand the difference between converging and diverging lenses.  We also learned the different definitions that are important when studying lenses.  We did quite get to learning about the lens equation today.  We will save that for tomorrow.

In Period 4, students wrote their quiz on speed of light and reflection.  They then had the remainder of the period to work on Homework 3.5 from yesterday as well as Part C of the Refraction Practice Problems.

Physics 30 - May 20

Today we started to look at the conservation of energy by going over a couple of examples.  We did example 12 and saw some demonstrations about the conservation of energy.  We didn't quite get through examples 13-15.  We will finish these tomorrow and work on Assignment 4.5.  This was covered on slides 30-34.

On Monday next week we will have our first in class assignment for this unit.  It covers Assignments 4.1-4.5.  Even though I didn't assign anything new today in class, students should still be working ahead to get caught up on any assignments that they are behind on.

Physical Science 20 - May 20

Today in Period 2 we learned about the phenomenon of total internal reflection and the concept of the critical angle.  We saw a couple of demonstrations about the critical angle and total internal reflection and learned about how fibre optics work.  This was covered on slides 57-62.  Students then worked on Part C of the Refraction Practice Problems.  I will go over this tomorrow.

In Period 4, I was away, but the sub should have started to look at optics and lenses.  Students learned about the different types of lenses as well as how find images in the different types of lenses mathematically.  This was covered on slides 64-77.  Reminder that tomorrow students will be writing the quiz on the speed of light, magnification and the mirror equation.  We will finish the notes on the lens equation tomorrow and students will then get into Homework 3.5

Physics 30 - May 19

Today students learned about potential energy and how to calculate it.  The concept of defining a reference level is important in understanding potential energy.  Students were given Assignment 4.4 to work on. Tomorrow we will begin to look at the law of conservation of energy and how to work with it.

Physical Science 20 - May 19

Today in Period 2, students wrote the quiz on Speed of Light, Magnification and Curved Mirrors.  After they finished, they had the rest of the class to work on Assignment 3.1 and Part B of the Refraction Practice Problems.  Students will hand in Assignment 3.1 and I will go over Part B tomorrow.  In Period 4, we moved on to look at critical angle and total internal reflection.  Critical angle is a special incident angle where the refracted angle will be 90 degrees.  If light tries to exit a substance at an angle greater than the critical angle, it wont be able to and it will just reflect around inside.  This is called total internal reflection.  They copied notes from slides 57-61 and worked on Part C of the Refraction Problems for the remainder of the class.  These will be due on Thursday.  Tomorrow we will start to look at optics and lenses.

Physical Science 20 - May 15

Today students learned about the laws of refraction.  In particular a law called Snell's Law.  This law tells us how the angle of incidence relates to the angle of refraction.  We did a couple of examples where we applied this law.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Part B of the Refraction Practice Problems.  Students in Period 4 also worked on Assignment 3.1 which was on refraction diagrams.  I will be checking these 2 things on Tuesday for Period 4.  Students in Period 2 will get a little bit more time to work on these.  However, those students are going to be writing a quiz for me on Tuesday. Study Homework 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6!! It is on speed of light, magnification and mirror equation. Period 4 will be writing this quiz on Thursday.

Physics 30 - May 15

Today we looked at the concept of energy and learned how to calculate kinetic energy.  We also learned how to about the work-energy theorem, where you can calculate the work done by figuring out the change in kinetic energy.  This was covered on slides 15-23.  Assignment 4.3 was given at the end of class. We will go over this on Monday and then learn about potential energy.

Physics 30 - May 14

Today in class we talked about power and how to calculate it.  We went through a coupkle of examples covered on slides 10-14 and students had the remainder of the period to work on Assignment 4.2.  We will go over this tomorrow and start looking at energy.

Physical Science 20 - May 13 & 14

Yesterday in class we went through how to draw ray diagrams for curved mirrors.  This method involved drawing three separate light rays and allowed us to discover the image characteristics.  We went over how to draw ray diagrams for both converging and diverging mirrors.  I then assigned Assignment 2.3 which I gave students more time to work on today.

Today we started looking at the property of refraction.  We learned about the terms of optical density and index of refraction.  I assigned Part A of the Refraction Practice Problems.  We will go over it tomorrow.  This was all covered on slides 39 - 51.  Tomorrow we are going to learn about the laws that govern refraction.

Physical Science 20 - May 12

Today in class we learned how to find the image of an object in a curved mirror using equations.  Two equations were introduced, the mirror equation and a revamped magnification equation.  Using those 2 equations, we were able to discover all of the image characteristics.  We went through a couple of examples and then students spent the rest of the class working on Homework 2.6.  We went through slides 32-37 today.  Tomorrow we will look at a graphical approach to discovering the image characteristics.

Physical Science 20 - May 11

Today in class we reviewed image characteristics and what they are.  We then learned about the characteristics for images in a place mirror and what a real image is.  This then lead into an introduction into curved mirrors and some terminology for curved mirrors.  Eventually we are going to be determining the characteristics for images in curved mirrors as well using one of 2 methods.  But we will save that for tomorrow.  Today students had to complete Homework 2.5 on reflection diagrams and finding the reflected rays.  We worked through slides 24-33 on the powerpoint.

Physics 30 - May 11

Today we started out new unit on energy and momentum.  We began looking at the physical definition of work and what work is.  We did examples 1-3 and looked at some special situations where work is zero.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Assignment 4.1. We will take this up on Wednesday because tomorrow is your Unit 3 exam.  

We are also having the lab quiz for Lab 3.2 on Wednesday before the band trip.  Make sure to study your lab report as well as the supplemental lab worksheets that you handed in today.

Physical Science 20 - May 7

Today in class we learned about the laws that govern reflection as well as the different image characteristics.  Students took notes from slides 18-24 in the powerpoint on physics.  We didn't start Homework 2.5 today as time ran out because of the shortened day.

Tomorrow there will be no class due to the fact that I am away at a conference.  Make sure to have Lab 2.3 done for Monday.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - May 6

Today we learned about Einstein's view of gravity.  We learned about the general theory of relativity.  Einstein believed that gravity wasn't a force itself, but an effect on space itself.  We watched a couple of videos that are linked below to try to explain this idea a little bit better.  If you were absent today, please watch the following videos to get a sense of general relativity.

Physical Science 20 - May 5

Today in class we started examining the property of reflection.  Students did Lab 2.3 on the reflection of light in a plane mirror.  They were just learning how to anaylize their data before the bell went to end the class.  We will finish up the analysis on Thursday.  Tomorrow we have our exam on heat.  Make sure you are prepared for it.

Physics 30 - May 5

Today in class students handed in Lab 3.2.  We then went on to learn about an extension to this lab, the existence of something called dark matter.   We learned in the lab that more mass causes more speed for the centripetal motion.  This applies for simple motion that we see on Earth, like a stopper spinning around on a string, as well as the motion of stars in galaxies.

We learned about a currently anomaly in physics.  This was the fact that stars in a galaxy are moving much faster than they should be.  The mass that consists within the galaxy that we can see is not enough to make the stars move so fast.  This is the basis for the search for dark matter.

We watch a video today to explore these ideas a little further and to learn more about dark matter research.  Students answered a worksheet that went along with the video.  The worksheet is found here.  It is called Lab 3.2 Supplemental Worksheets.  The video is linked in 3 parts in the Course Video Youtube playlist.  It is called the Mystery of Dark Matter.  If you were absent today, please watch the video there.

Tomorrow we are going to learned about another view of how gravity works.

Physical Science 20 - May 4

May the Fourth be with you! What a great day!

Today in class we learned about the magnification equation as well how a pinhole camera works.  We took some notes and one example covered on slides 9-16 in the powerpoint.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Homework 2.4.  I will check this tomorrow.  Tomorrow we are going to look at another property of light - how it reflects.

Physical Science 20 - May 1

Today in class we learned about the next property of light, called the rectilinear propagation of light - this means that light travels in straight lines.  Students did the Activity called Lab 2.1 and most students handed it in by the end of the period.  This lab does not require a formal lab report; students just need to hand in the sheet the accompanied the activity.  After that students worked on Homework 2.2.  This I will check on Monday.  Have a good weekend everyone!

Physics 30 - May 1

Today in class I went over the analysis for the lab that we did yesterday.  For students who were absent, you can check the document called Lab 3.2 Analysis Aid for what was described today in class. It is in the Unit 3 folder in the course notes link.  On Monday we are having our next in class assignment for this unit.  Know Assignments 3.5-3.8.  Have a good weekend everyone!