9/26 Physics update and homework due 10/3

Hi folks,

Today we spent quite a bit of time on a lab in the effort to try to better understand acceleration. We will be spending quite a bit more time on acceleration in the coming weeks as it is key to much of Newton's Laws.

No recording this week since most of the time was spent with lab work.

Homework for this week is:

Make 3 graphs. Distance vs. Time, Velocity vs. Time and Acceleration vs. time
On each graph plot the points for the small slop and the big slope. So, in other words, each graph should have 2 lines on it.

Using those graphs answer the following questions.

1. At what point on either ramp did the ball have the highest speed?
2. What would you estimate the speed of the ball to be if the big slope ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second.
3. What was the average speed of the ball for the big slope ramp? How about the small slope ramp?
4. For both slopes, when was acceleration greatest or was it constant?
5. If it wasn't constant….why not?
6. What was the average acceleration of the ball for the entire ramp?
7. What would the acceleration be if the big slope ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second. (Estimate this using your graph.)

Recording of 9/19 Physic Class - Introduction to Motion

https://youtu.be/26LyLkiHXFg

9/19 Physics class and homework due 9/26

Hi folks,

Today we began our study on linear motion. Last week, we took a look at how all motion is relative and this week we continued that by exploring two ways of measuring motion, velocity and acceleration. We will be spending quite a bit of time on acceleration in the coming weeks as it is key to much of Newton's Laws.

Read 10 - 16 and 21-23 in your Conceptual Physics text
Do Review Questions on pg 25 #'s 1- 14
For Extra Credit do any one of the 3 activities on pg. 26

Physics Syllabus

Hi folks,

It's come to my attention that I posted the wrong syllabus earlier.  Here is the syllabus for this year's class.

Best,

Jim Mueller

Great article on bias in science

Hi folks,

This isn't homework but I thought you might be interested in this article that was sent to me by one of my student's mothers. It's a great article on how the sugar industry biased results to make fat seem more harmful to our health than sugar.

Take a look.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/well/eat/how-the-sugar-industry-shifted-blame-to-fat.html?emc=edit_th_20160913&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=42224446&_r=0

Recording of 9/12 Physics class - Why do we need science?

https://youtu.be/KlFY_JV_JeA

Classroom for physics

Hi folks,

I meant to mention this in my last email but I forgot.

The classroom space we are meeting in is just about right for lectures, but is a bit small when we get to lab work. However, not to worry! There are several other rooms in the location that we are allowed to use so when we get into lab work we will spread out into those other rooms.

Have a good week everyone!

Jim Mueller