Physical Science 20 - April 28

Today student handed in their assignment from yesterday,  Assignment P1.  Today we learned how to find the image and its characteristics mathematically using a set of formulas.  We talked about how to use the formulas and how to interpret the results.  We then went through a couple of examples, one for a converging mirror, one for a diverging mirror.  After this students had some time to work on Homework P4.  We will take this up on Monday and then start into refraction.  The notes today were on slides 32-37.

Physical Science 20 - April 27

Today we learned how to draw ray diagrams for the two different types of curved mirrors.  This involved drawing a set of three different rays of light and determining the image characteristics based on those rays of light.  I guided students through these diagrams today and then let them work on Assignment P1, which students will hand in tomorrow.  Students who were absent today have these notes on a handout called Drawing Ray Diagrams for Curved Mirrors.  The instructions are there, students just have to follow them.  Tomorrow we will examine how to find the image characteristics using a set of equations.

Physical Science 20 - April 26

Today in class we started to learn about how curved mirrors work.  We looked at some demonstrations of these mirrors and then took some notes on some of the terminology we will be using to study curved mirrors.  These notes were on slides 27-31.  There was no assignment today.  Tomorrow we will begin finding images in curved mirrors.

Physical Science 20 - April 25

Today students handed in their labs from yesterday and then we learned about image characteristics and the laws of reflection.  We discussed the difference between specular and diffuse reflection and then students were assigned Homework P3.  This will be checked tomorrow.  Students are to start to bring a protractor and a ruler to the class on a regular basis.  Tomorrow we will begin to look at curved mirrors and how to find images in them.  The notes today were on slides 18-26 of the Physics Notes powerpoint.

Physics 30 - April 24

Welcome back from the break everyone!  I hope you are ready to finish of the rest of the semester and your high school career!!  I know....exciting and scary all at the same time.

Today we reviewed the end of unit 3 which we finished before the break.  This was about collisions and particularly 2D collisions.  Students were to work on Assignments 3.7 and 3.8 over the break and we took up questions from those assignments today.  After which we got started on Unit 4 which is on gravitational motion.  We first will begin by looking at how gravity effects motion close to the surface of the Earth and then move beyond the Earth.  This starts with looking at projectile motion at the Earth's surface.  We took some notes today and looked at some examples of this motion.  We will continue this tomorrow.

Reminder that this week we have 2 major assessments.  On Wednesday, you will have your 2nd in-class assignment for Unit 3.  This one will be on momentum and cover assignments 3.6-3.8.  Then on Friday we will be having the Unit 3 Exam.  Study the review questions that were posted at the end of the notes for Unit 3.

Physical Science 20 - April 24

Welcome back from the break everyone!  I hope you had a relaxing time and are ready to finish up the course.  Today we reviewed what we started before the break.  We were talking about the properties of light and reviewed the 2 properties were learned before Easter.  We went over the homework from the break, Homework P1 and P2.  We then examined the property of reflection.  We did this through a quick activity called Lab P2 - Reflection from a Plane Mirror.  If students were absent today, they will need to do this at lunch sometime.  It is a simple activity but requires some specific equipment.  Students will be handing in their results to this activity tomorrow and we will continue to discuss the results of this as well as learn more about reflection.

Physics 30 - April 13

Today in class we finished up Unit 3 by looking at 2D collision problems.  These are particularly tricky problems to solve but we learned a technique to solve them.  We worked through 1 example yesterday and 2 examples today.  After we finished Example 26, I gave them Assignment 3.8.  Work on this over the Easter Break and we will take this up when we get back.  Have a great break everyone and stay safe!

Physical Science 20 - April 13

Today students learned about another property of light.  This one is called the rectilinear propagation of light or simply put, the fact that light travels in straight line.  We learned this with the use of a piece of technology called a pinhole camera.  This allowed us to discover the magnification equation.  We went through an example involving the magnification equation.  This was all covered on slides 9-16 of the Physics Notes powerpoint.  I assigned Homework P1 today as well as Homework P2.  Work on those over the break and we will go over the answers to them after the Easter Break.  Have a great break everyone!

Physical Science 20 - April 12

Today students wrote their exams for the heat unit.  Tomorrow we will continue looking at the properties of light.

Physics 30 - April 11

Today in class we finished looking at collisions in one dimension.  We went through examples 21, 22 and 23 in class and then students were given assignment 3.7 as homework.  Tomorrow we will continue this by looking at collisions in two dimensions.  Reminder that tomorrow students will have their quiz on Lab 2.1.

Physical Science 20 - April 11

Today in class we started to look at the properties of light to see what light can do.  The first property we examine was the speed of light.  We did a little activity where we measured the speed of light and then compared that to the known value for the speed of light.  We learned that we do not have the capabilities in our classroom to accurately measure the speed of light.  We then learned how to use the speed of light to measure large distances.  This led to looking at astronomical distances.  We learned about the definition of a light year, an astronomical unit, and a parsec.  We went through an example about how to convert these units to meters and then had time to work on Homework P1.  We will take this up on Thursday.  Tomorrow students will be writing their exams on heat.

We have a new powerpoint to go along with our physics unit.  It is called Physics Notes and found in the Physics folder of the Physical Science 20 Course Notes link along the right hand side of this web page.  Today we covered slides 1-7.

Physics 30 - April 10

Today in class we finished up the notes on momentum and impulse and started looking at conservation of momentum in one dimensions.  We solved a couple of examples involving an explosion, where 1 object breaks into 2 or more.  We then also began looking at collisions.  We classified them as either elastic or inelastic but we didn't begin to solve any problems related to collisions.  We will do that tomorrow.

Physical Science 20 - April 10

Today in class we went over Homework H5 on enthalpy and discussed the exam on Wednesday.  Afterwards, we started into physics with a little introduction activity.  The purpose of this activity was to get students to think about some of the topics of physics and the different things that physics can examine.  There was no homework with this lesson.  We will continue tomorrow by examining light and seeing what light can do.