Physical Science 20 - Feb 28

Today, we did another example related to molar conversions.  We did an example where we found the mass of a certain number of atoms of the substance.  This example involved 2 steps, first converting our given information into moles and then converting from moles into the required.  Students then had a chance to work on Assignment C18. We will take this up tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will continue learning about other quantities we can convert to and from moles.

Physics 30 - Feb 27

Today we started our second unit on dynamics.  We learned what forces are, general types of forces as well as some of the specific forces that we will be studying.  We also learned what a net force is as well as how to determine the net force.  A new type of diagram was introduced which was the free body diagram.  The FBD for short, will be a vital component to solving problems involving forces.  Assignment 2.1 was assigned and we will take up this assignment on Wednesday.  This was all covered on slides 1-15 on the new powerpoint in the Unit 2 folder.

Reminder that tomorrow is your in class assignment for unit 1.  Know all assignments from Unit 1 to prepare.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 27

Today in class we began to look at how to convert information using the idea of the mole.  This involved using the molar mass to convert from the mass of a substance to moles of the substance and visa versa.  As well, we can use Avogadro's number to convert from the number of particles of a substance to the moles of the substance and visa versa.  We just did a couple of examples (slides 16 - 18 in the powerpoint called The Mole) outlining the process.  Students then had a chance to work on Homework C19.  We will go over this tomorrow and then work on Homework C18.

Physics 30 - Feb 17

Students today wrote the quiz for Lab 1.1.   Afterwards they had time to work on Assignment 1.7.  This is the last assignment of the unit.  After the break we will begin into Unit 2.  Students can print off the notes if they want and bring them when we return after the break.  Over the break, students should be preparing for the first in class assignment.  To do that, they can make sure they have done every assignment in the unit, 1.1 - 1.7.  Have a great break everyone!

Physical Science 20 - Feb 17

Today students began class by reviewing the conversion technique we will be using in class.  We then moved on to learn the concept of the mole.  I introduced this concept to the students and then we learned how to calculate a substance's molar mass.  At the end of class I assigned Homework C17.  Over the break, students are to work on the Metric Conversion Homework as well as Homework C17.  We will take these up after the break.  There is a new powerpoint that we are using.  It is called Chemical Quantities and today we did slides 1-12.  It is found in the Notes folder of the chemistry link in the physical science 20 course notes folder.

Physics 30 - Feb 16

Today we went over example 14. Students mostly did this by themselves.  After this, they had time to work on Assignment 1.7.  We will get more time to complete this tomorrow. Reminder that tomorrow students will be writing the quiz for Lab 1.1.  After the break we will begin Unit 2 on Dynamics. If students wish, they can print off the notes handouts from the Course Notes link along the right hand side of the webpage.  

Physical Science 20 - Feb 16

Today in class students wrote their quiz on nomenclature.  Afterwards we finished up the math review by looking at scientific notation and unit conversions.  This was covered on slides 20-49 in the math notes powerpoint.  The unit conversion section is extremely important moving forward in class as pretty much the rest of chemistry is about converting from one quantity into another.  Students should focus on that portion of the notes.  As well, students should really try to understand the technique of unit analysis and multiplying by a conversion factor.  At the end of class, I assigned the Metric Conversion Handout.  Students can work through that.  We will go over the answers tomorrow.  I also assigned a review on reactions today called Assignment C2.  This is a hand in assignment that is due tomorrow.  As well, tomorrow we will get into the concept of the mole and molar mass.

Physics 30 - Feb 15

Today we pieced everything together.  We learned that if we add the components of separate non-collinear vectors together, we will get the components of the resultant vector.  We can then piece those components together to get the resultant vector.  We went through the process with example 13 in the notes.  Tomorrow we will look at the process again with another example and then have some time to work on Assignment 1.7.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 15

Today we went over Homework C15.  Afterwards, we then started to review math skills important for science.  This included a discussion about significant figures and scientific notation.  Tomorrow we will finish this will a discussion on unit conversion.  This is all located in a new powerpoint called Math Notes located in the Chemistry folder of the course notes link.  Today we covered slides 1-19.

Reminder that students have their quiz on nomenclature tomorrow.  They should study Assignments C1 and Homework C5 if they want to prepare.

Physics 30 - Feb 14

Today students were taught the mathematical approach of working with vectors.  It is called vector resolution.  This involves breaking a vector into 2 component vectors - one that is horizontal and one that is vertical.  These components are perpendicular to each other.  This is done using trig functions.  We also learned how to turn components vectors into a resultant vector using pythagoras theorem.  We went through a couple of examples and then students got a chance to work on Assignment 1.6.  Tomorrow we will look at putting all of this together by looking at relative motion problems

Physical Science 20 - Feb 14

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  This was a special day as students were given most of the class to work on Homework C15.  We did a couple more examples of how to complete double replacement reactions.  Then students were given time to work on Homework C15.  We will take this up tomorrow.  If students finished early, they then worked on Assignment C2.  This will be handed in on Thursday.  Tomorrow we will begin looking at math skills that will be required for chemistry.

Physics 30 - Feb 13

Today we reviewed what was taught on Friday and then went over how to draw and analyze graphs for science labs.  The lab reports that came in last week had many errors in them.  The errors were pretty consistent.  I figured I needed to spend some time to go over the errors and discuss why they happened.  Tomorrow we will continue on with vector analysis but looking at a technique called vector resolution.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 13

Today we learned about double replacement reactions and ionic equations.  We also learned how to determine whether or not an ionic compound would be soluble.  This was covered on slides 54-68 of the powerpoint. Tomorrow we will look at some examples of double replacement reactions and how to make a net ionic equation with it. There was no assignment given at the end of class today.

Physics 30 - Feb 10

Today we started learning about vectors and how to work with them.  We learned about direction systems, types of vectors and doing vector addition and subtraction.  We then learned how to work with vectors by drawing them to scale.  Assignment 1.5 was assigned at the end of class.  We will take this up on Monday.  As well, we will learn a mathematical approach to working with vectors. Have a good weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 10

Today we learned how to predict the products of a chemical reaction.  We spent most of the time working with single replacement reactions and how to determine whether or not a reaction will occur based on the activity series. This was all covered on slides 43-53 on the reaction notes powerpoint.  Students were then given some time to work on Assignments C13 and C14. On Monday we will learn how to predict the products of a double replacement reaction.  

Physics 30 - Feb 9

Students were introduced to writing lab reports today in class.  I discussed some of the details about writing a formal lab report and we also talked about the lab we did yesterday.  The lab report for Lab 1.1 is due tomorrow.  Tomorrow we are going to work on analyzing vectors.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 9

Today in class we continued looking at the different types of chemical reactions.  I showed the students some demonstrations of the different types and I made students identify what reaction I was showing.  After I did the reaction, students then tried to predict what was formed from the reaction.  At the end of class I assigned Homework C12.  We will go over this tomorrow and start learning how to predict the products of a reaction, particularly focusing on single replacement reactions.

I handed back Assignment C1 today.  Students are reminded that they have to hand back the corrections tomorrow for the assignment.

Physics 30 - Feb 8

Today we did a new lab called Lab 1.1 - the acceleration due to gravity.  Students measured the motion of a cart down a ramp and then will analyze that motion to determine the acceleration due to gravity.  Today they simply took measurements.  Tomorrow we will learn how to write a lab report.  If someone was missing today, there is some sample data available under the course notes link in the Unit 1 Folder.  It is called Lab 1.1 Sample Data.  Use that to do the lab.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 8

Today I continued on with chemical reactions and showed how to transform a paragraph describing a chemical reaction into a word equation and then from there into a balanced chemical equation.  We also learned abou the five different types of chemical reactions.  This should be review from last year.  This was covered on slides 27-41 in the notes.  Students spent the remainder of class working on Assignments C10 & C11.  We will go over these tomorrow and look at some demos of the different types of reactions.

Physics 30 - Feb 7

Today in class we learned how to solve free fall problems.  These are just special kinematics problems that have a constant acceleration of gravity, which is 9.8 m/s/s.  We went through one example and then students had the rest of class to work on Assignment 1.4.  We also talked about the course project.  Students were given a handout about the project and were tasked with discovering a topic they would find interesting to present on.  Topic selection will happen next week.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 7

Today we went over Homework C7. This marks the end of nomenclature for us.  To mark this, I assigned Assignment C1.  This is a review of all of the nomenclature stuff.  This is the first assignment that I will be marking.  It is due tomorrow.  We then started looking at chemical reactions and the different parts of one.  We talked about the Law of Conservation of Mass and what that directly relates to.  We then moved into balancing chemical equations.  This was review for most people but we did learn some tricks for balancing equations more efficiently.  Students then worked on Homework C9 for the remainder of the class. We will go over this tomorrow.

We began a new powerpoint today called Chemical Reactions.  It is located in the Notes folder of the chemistry unit in the Physical Science 20 Course Notes link on the right hand side of the webpage.  We covered slides 1-25 today in class.  Tomorrow we will look at how to write a chemical equation from a word equation.

Physics 30 - Feb 6

Today I gave students time to wrap their minds around the example we did yesterday by giving them time to work on Assignment 1.3.  We will take this up on tomorrow and move on to look at free fall problems.

Physical Science 20 - Feb 6

Today, after we went over Assignment C5 and C6, we then learned how to name organic compounds and draw those structures.  This was an introductory lesson into organic nomenclature, as we only learned how to name aliphatic hydrocarbons.  Slides 61 -75 were covered in the powerpoint but these are all in your notes package that you picked up at the beginning of the semester.  Students then worked on Assignment C7.  We will go over this tomorrow.  As well, tomorrow we will start learning about chemical reactions and balancing chemical equations.

Physics 30 - Feb 3

Today we looked at a particular tricky example called a twin object problem.  This type of problem involved looking at the motion of two separate objects that are linked somehow.  We ended up developing new equations based on kinematics and would have to employ the quadratic formula to solve these new equations.  Assignment 1.3 was assigned but students will be given some time on tomorrow to work on it

Physical Science 20 - Feb 3

Yay Friday!  We made it through the first week of school everyone.  Congrats!  Today we went over the homework from yesterday.  The answers are posted online in the answer folder of the chemistry unit in the Physical Science 20 course notes.  We then learned today how to name hydrated compounds and acids.  Both types of compounds have very specific rules for how to name them.  This was covered on slides 61-67 of the Nomenclature powerpoint.  Students were assigned Homework C5 and C6 today.  They were given a lot of time to work on it today in class.  We will take this up on Monday and move on to organic nomenclature.  Have a good weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - Feb 2

Today I introduced the kinematic equations to students and we went through examples 3 - 6. The kinematic equations apply in situations where an object is undergoing constant acceleration.  The notes were all taken from slides 13-21. Students were assigned Assignments 1.1 and 1.2, however they do not have textbooks yet to do these questions.  Students can access the pdf version of the textbook found in the Physics 30 course notes link if they want to get started on the questions.  I will handout textbooks next week after schedule changes end. Tomorrow we will be doing a particularly difficult type of kinematic problem called a twin object problem.