Final Exam -- 10:45-12:45 on Monday, 6/19 |
Class
40:
Tuesday, 6/13/23
Warm-up: None
Today:
- Last day of Physics 100!
- Please fill out the
course evaluation
if you have time
- Final Exam for seniors and anyone else who wants to take it
early. Other students are still expected to be here on exam
day. You could use it as a study hall.
- Review
Materials
PDF
Homework:
- Seniors -- have a great summer!
- The rest of you -- get ready for your final exam.
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Class
39:
Friday, 6/9/23
Warm-up:
In order for this warmup to make sense, you
first need to know something interesting about light...
Fred is conducting a laser experiment on
a very, very, very fast train. He attaches a mirror to the
roof of the train car and shines a quick pulse of laser light
directly upward at the mirror. Hank is standing still
outside the train. The train car is made of glass, so Hank
can see the whole thing.
The pulse of laser light goes up, reflects off of
the mirror, and then goes back down to the floor. There's
enough dust in the air to make the laser pulse visible.
1) If Fred and Hank were to draw the
laser pulse's
"flight path" (as each of them sees it), what would each of them
draw?
2) Who would see light travel a greater
distance?
3)
Assuming that the speed of the laser light is the same for both
observers,
who sees it travel for the longest amount of time?

Today:
- Final Exam Review -- get ready for senior final on Tuesday.
- Review
Materials
PDF
- Time for optional retake of Waves/Sound test -- or making up
anything else that's missing.
Homework:
- Work on your final exam notes sheet. Senior final next
class.
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Class
38:
Wednesday, 6/7/23
Warm-up:
What's happening in the picture on the right?
Today:
Homework:
- Work on your final exam notes sheet.
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Class
37:
Monday,6/5/23
Warm-up:
The diagram below shows top views of the same boy
looking into mirrors. On the right, the mirror is a simple
flat mirror. On the left, the mirror is two separate mirrors
arranged at right angles. The boy has one blue eye and one
green eye.
When he looks in the mirrors, where will his
blue eye appear to be? Why?

Today:
- Return tests
- Review? -- but not the specific questions on the test -- similar
ones, like the practice test.
- Test for the rest; retake for anyone who already took the test
Homework:
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Class
36:
Thursday,
6/1/23
Warm-up:
ppt
Today:
Homework:
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Class
35:
Tuesday,
5/30/23
Warm-up:
Does the Airzooka send a wave through the air? How can we tell if
it's a wave?
vortex cannon
Today:
- Return quiz 2 and review answers
VIDEO
- Quiz 3 -- grade, return, and discuss
VIDEO
- Quiz 1 --
Video
- Prepare for Thursday's test.
Homework:
- Test next class over...
- 1) Information on p. 1 of the packet, and the definitions of
resonance and natural frequency. [This
will be part 4 of the test]
Unit 5 Handout
PDF
version
- 2) the information on quizzes 1, 2, and 3. Scroll down
for more information about those quizzes. [This will be parts 1,
2, and 3 of the test. Each part will correspond to one of
the three quizzes.] Here's a document with clean copies of
all three
Sound and Waves Quizzes.
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Class
34:
Thursday,
5/25/23
Warm-up:
I am going to submerge an open pvc pipe in water.
Then I will pull the pipe vertically out of the water, holding a ringing
tuning fork next to it. At some point(s) the sound of the tuning
fork will get louder and then quieter again.
1. Why will the sound get louder?
2. If we measure the pipe height at which the
sound gets loud, we can calculate the speed of sound. How?
Today:
- Another example of wave properties and resonance? -- the Tacoma
Narrows Bridge
- Check/review homework
- Quiz 2
-
Practice Quiz 3
PDF
Solutions
- Finish this later -- Play a specific note on an electric guitar (see directions in
Google Classroom)...
- Assemble a simple electric guitar.
- Strum a note and record its frequency.
- Mr. Stapleton will give you a new frequency to play.
Play the new frequency by pressing down the string at the
correct point and strumming. For full credit, your new
frequency must be within 10% of the correct answer.
Homework:
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Class
33:
Tuesday,
5/23/23
Warm-up:
This demonstration is like the demonstration
of standing waves in a string. This piece of metal resonates with
the speaker at a variety of natural frequencies.
1. Where are the nodes and where are the
antinodes?
2. What's your reasoning?
Today:
- Check/review homework
VIDEO
- Continue
More Waves Notes (PDF)
-- physics of string instrument pitch
VIDEO
- Play a specific note on an electric guitar (see directions in
Google Classroom)...
- Assemble a simple electric guitar.
- Strum a note and record its frequency.
- Mr. Stapleton will give you a new frequency to play.
Play the new frequency by pressing down the string at the
correct point and strumming. For full credit, your new
frequency must be within 10% of the correct answer.
Homework:
- "more practice" #5, on the "more waves notes" handout
- Quiz next class over the concepts represented in #6-24 on p.
11-13 of the packet
Answers
to p. 11-13
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Class
32:
Friday,
5/19/23
Warm-up: The red wave
is traveling rightward along a string that is tied to a post. When it
hits the post, the wave will reflect (echo) and travel backward through
itself.
What will it look like when two identical waves
pass through one another?
Today:
Homework:
- "more practice" 1-4, on today's handout
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Class
31:
Wednesday,
5/17/23
Warm-up:
If you're standing next to a race track, what do you hear as the
cars pass you?
a. The cars' pitches change from high to low.
b.
The cars' pitches
change from low to high.
c. There is no change in pitch.
Today:
Homework:
- #1-28 on the 2014-2015 test (packet p. 11-14)
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Class
30:
Monday,
5/15/23
Warm-up:
Is this a real photo of a string?
Today:
Homework:
- Prepare for the quiz next class
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Class
29:
Thursday,
5/11/23
Warm-up:
If you see lightning strike a point 1 mile away, how long
can you expect to wait before you hear thunder? Why?
Today:
Homework: Two things...
- #17-22 on p. 9 (and maybe #23, also)
-
#31-33 on Packet p. 14-15
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Class
28:
Tuesday,
5/9/23
Warm-up:
What is a wave?
What is a sound?
How do ears work?
Khan Academy Sound Waves
Today:
Homework: Complete practice questions on packet p. 7-8, except for number
9 and the wavelength on number 16.
Notes and homework answers
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Class
27:
Friday,
5/5/23
Warm-up:
How is an electric generator like an electric motor?
Today:
- Build your motor and make your motor video. In the video, show your
motor working and explain how it works. In your video, you
must answer the questions below. Everyone in your group (who
wants credit) must answer at least one question during the video.
If your explanations are correct, but your motor doesn't work, your
score will be 80%. If it will only turn a little bit you can
earn up to 90%. For 100%, your explanations must be correct,
and your motor must continue to rotate when you are not holding it.
You may come to FLEX to try to improve your score.
- As the coil rotates, sometimes current passes through the
coil. What path does the current follow at these times? Trace the path of the current from the
positive terminal of the power source to the negative terminal.
- Why does the motor move? What causes the force?
- This motor will only keep rotating if the current flow
constantly turns on and off. This turning on an off can
happen because you get lucky, and the electrical contacts bounce
up and down. It can also happen because of the way you
carefully sand the contacts on one side. What would this
motor coil do if
current were always (continuously) flowing through the coil?
- Disassemble your motor and return the materials.
- Correct your solenoid buzzer video and resubmit it in Google
Classroom. Instead of using your real buzzer, you can print
this picture of a solenoid buzzer and use it to make your video.
Make it clear who is answering each question. I can't always
identify voices.
Homework:
None
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Class
26:
Wednesday,
5/3/23
Warm-up:
How does this
electric motor work? How can it be improved?
Today:
- 15 minutes to get your buzzer working.
- 20 minutes to make and submit a video. In the video, show your
buzzer working and explain how it works. In your video, you
must answer the questions below. Everyone in your group (who
wants credit) must answer at least one question during the video.
If your explanations are correct, but your buzzer won't buzz, your
score will be 80%. If it will buzz only while you hold it, you
can earn up to 90%. For 100%, your explanations must be
correct, and your buzzer must continue to buzz when you are not
holding it. You may come to FLEX to try to improve your score.
- Show the solenoid. Explain what a solenoid is, and
what it does.
- How does current travel when the solenoid is turned on
(closed loop)? Trace the path of the current from the
positive terminal of the power source to the negative terminal.
- Show how the solenoid gets turned off, and explain why.
- Show how the solenoid gets turned back on, and explain why
this happens.
- Explain what causes the buzzing noise.
- Disassemble buzzers. Return wire for reuse next year.
- In groups of 3 or fewer, make a motor like the one in the
warm-up video. Pay attention and take notes when I give
directions and explain how the motor works. You will have to
make a video explaining how it works!
Homework:
None
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Class
25:
Monday,
5/1/23
Warm-up:
1. What is sound?
2. What's happening in the "Amazing
Water and Sound Experiment?"
Today:
- Return tests
- Make a solenoid buzzer: Watch this
instructional video showing how to make a
Solenoid Buzzer.
Draw a sketch of a solenoid buzzer design that uses
only the materials below:
- wood, nails, hot glue/glue guns,
drill/drill bits, sheet metal screws, enameled
wire (10m of 28 gauge), sandpaper (and belt sander), saw (not
really necessary), strips of springy magnetizable steel (approx 0.5"
wide, 3" long), and a D.C. power source (set betwen 3V and 6V).
- With those materials, you will have to make a working
solenoid buzzer, as shown in the video.
- Make a video. In the video, show your
buzzer working and explain how it works. Everyone in your
group (who wants credit) must explain part of this. Your video
must answer the following questions.
- Show the solenoid. Explain what a solenoid is, and
what it does.
- How does current travel when the solenoid is turned on
(closed loop)? Trace the path of the current from the
positive terminal of the power source to the negative terminal.
- Show how the solenoid gets turned off, and explain why.
- Show how the solenoid gets turned back on, and explain why
this happens.
- Explain what causes the buzzing noise.
Homework:
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Class
24:
Thursday,
4/20/23
Warm-up:
What is a solenoid? How does it
work?
Today:
-
Return quiz 2.
-
Test!
- Today -- make and test the solenoid for this
project...
- Make a solenoid buzzer: Watch this
instructional video showing how to make a
Solenoid Buzzer.
Draw a sketch of a solenoid buzzer design that uses
only the materials below:
- wood, nails, hot glue/glue guns,
drill/drill bits, sheet metal screws, enameled
wire (10m of 28 gauge), sandpaper (and belt sander), saw (not
really necessary), strips of springy magnetizable steel (approx 0.5"
wide, 3" long), and a D.C. power source (set betwen 3V and 6V).
- With those materials, you will have to make a working
solenoid buzzer, as shown in the video.
Homework:
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Class
23:
Tuesday,
4/18/23
Warm-up:
When electric current flows
through an electric motor, a force is produced, causing motion.
An electric motor forced
into motion generates electric current.
I have three identical corded drills and one driver bit. With
no additional materials, how can we power two of the drills by plugging
just one of them into the wall?
Today:
-
Quiz 2 -- Review answers. Next class, if you like your grade
for Quiz 2, you don't have to take that part of the test.
-
Return quiz 1 and review -- VIDEO
-
More circuit practice
-
BN?
Homework:
-
Test on Thursday, similar to the two quizzes and practice quizzes.
Prepare!
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Class
22:
Friday,
4/14/23
Warm-up: What happens
when you try to electrocute a pickle using a standard household 120V
outlet? Will this work on other things?
Today:
-
Return and look over Circuit Labs -- see if they follow the rules
for series and parallel.
-
Quiz
- Do the 2nd practice quiz from --
Practice Quizzes 1 and 2 (PDF)
VIDEO
- More practice?
Homework:
-
Quiz on Tuesday. Practice the practice quiz.
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Class
22:
Wednesday,
4/12/23
Warm-up:
Which batteries and pumps on the right push out the most current?
The least? How many amps of current flow from each battery?
Today:
Homework:
-
Quiz on Friday. Practice the practice quiz and last class'
homework.
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Class
21:
Monday,
4/10/23
Warm-up:
Can we create a circuit with an electronic dog collar as the battery and
people as the resistors?
Today:
Homework:
-
Finish the fill-in-the-blank circuit problems on the back of today's
handout.
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Class
20:
Thursday,
4/6/23
Warm-up:
1.
How can you start a fire with a 9 Volt Battery and some steel?
2. Ohm's Law says V = IR. Guess what
each of the letters means. Solve for I. Solve for R.
3. P = VI. Guess what each of the
letters means. Solve for V. Solve for R.
Today:
Homework:
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 Class
19:
Tuesday,
4/4/23
Warm-up:
The pictures on the right show breaker panels.
1. What is the purpose of a breaker?
2. How does an electrician decide how many
breakers are needed?
3. Why are there different kinds of
breakers?
Homework:
-
Finish the Phet activity -- if you didn't finish it in class
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Class
18:
Friday,
3/31/23Today:
Homework:
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Class
17:
Wednesday,
3/29/23Today:
Homework:
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Class
16:
Monday,
3/27/23Today:
Homework:
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Class 15:
Wednesday,
3/22/23Warm Up:
How does an electric fence work?
Today:
-
Return quiz 3.
-
Discuss the test review and get scores for Quiz 2.
-
Test!
-
Next week -- Mr. Stapleton is gone; video series on electricity,
electric current, circuits, and more.
Homework:
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Class 14:
Monday,
3/20/23 Warm Up:
None
Today:
Homework:
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Class
13:
Friday,
3/17/23Warm Up:
Why is the guy in the video wearing a
metal suit?
Today:
-
Another gas
station fire
-
Quiz
-
Check/review homework
VIDEO,
Part 1
-
Two last things:
- How to defeat a Van de Graff generator
(or keep your barn from burning down) -- and why it works.
- One way to stay safe in a lightning
storm -- and why it works.
-
Charge some conductors.
-
I will be gone on Monday. On monday, you will take the last
quiz, complete the test review, and check your test review answers.
The test will be on Wednesday.
Homework:
-
Quiz on Monday over Electrostatics notes part 3 and these two
additional concepts: (VIDEO,
Part 1.
VIDEO
part 2)
- The electric field inside a conductor is zero (there is no
electric field inside a conductor). This is why the inside of a
car is a safe place to be during a lightning storm.
- Smooth surfaces store build up charge, and pointy surfaces
leak charges. This is why barns have pointy lightning rods
(to leak built up charge into the atmosphere). This is
also why Van de Graaff generators are smooth and round.
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Class
13:
Thursday,
3/16/23Warm Up:
What do you think will happen if we make John
Travoltage rub his foot on the floor and then hold his hand by the
doorknob? Why?
Today:
Homework:
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Class
12:
Tuesday,
3/14/23Warm Up:
There is a "pith ball" hanging next to the Van de Graaff generator.
The pith ball is foam that is covered with a conductive, metallic paint.
What do you think will happen when the Vand de Graaff generator is
turned on? Why?
Today:
Homework:
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Class 11:
Friday,
3/10/23 Warm Up:
1. What events contributed to
this gas station
fire?
2. How could it have been prevented?
Today:
Homework:
- Quiz next class. Study your notes and the practice quiz.
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Class
10:
Wednesday,
3/8/23Warm Up:
How
does a Van de Graaff Generator Work?
Today:
Homework:
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 Class
9:
Tuesday,
2/21/23Warm Up:
Which of the following can we say with certainty? Why?
A) The balloons have the same net charge
B) The cat and the foam "peanuts" have
opposite net charges.
C) Both A and B are correct.
D) None of these answers is (are) correct.
Today:
Homework:
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Class
8:
Wednesday,
2/15/23Warm Up:
When you rub a balloon on your hair, why does
the balloon then stick to the wall?
Today:
Homework:
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Class 7:
Monday,
2/13/23Warm Up:
If you rub a balloon on your head and then hold it
next to your hair, your hair is attracted to the balloon, and both your
hair and the balloon are attracted to other stuff. Why?
Today:
- Return quiz 2
VIDEO
- Small Quiz (Practice) -- Quiz 3
VIDEO
- Test Review -- Test on Friday.
- Start
new unit -- Electricity!
Homework:
- Prepare for small quiz -- Quiz 3
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Class
6:
Thursday,
2/9/23Warm Up:
1. What's the purpose of pulley systems like these?
2. How do they work, in terms of work (W=Fd)?
Today:
Homework:
- Prepare for small quiz (quiz 3) next class, similar to the 2nd
part of quiz 2. See videos above.
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Class
5:
Tuesday,
2/7/23Warm Up:
Let's calculate the efficiency of a typical
arrow shot from a typical bow.
How can we do it? We can get our data from
the internet.
Today:
- Return and review quizzes --
Video
- Return labs and discuss -- Video
- Check/review homework --
Video
-- Short break! --
Homework:
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Class 4:
Wednesday,
2/1/23Warm Up:
A trebuchet's projectile is launched as its
counterweight falls, thereby turning PE into KE and accelerating the
projectile.
1. Does the projectile do work on the
counterweight or vice-versa? Or does each do work on the other?
Explain.
2. At which end of the trebuchet arm does
the work being done look like this
-- Fd
?
Today:
Homework:
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   Class
3:
Monday,
1/30/23Warm Up:
All of these "machines" work by changing the nature of work, but not the
amount of work. W=Fd.
1. Identify all of the machines that the user's work so that it
looks like... W=Fd.
Explain why anyone would want to change work in this way.
2. Identify all of the machines that the user's work so that it
looks like... W=Fd.
Explain why anyone would want to change work in this way.
Today:
Homework:
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Class
2:
Thursday,
1/26/23Warm Up:
1. Can you guess what the "Sisyphus train" does?
[Hint: it is an attempt to solve a big renewable energy problem.]
2. How did it get that nickname?
3. Starting from rest, a car travels 20m in 4 seconds. What
are its...
1) Initial Speed? 2) Average Speed? 3) Final
Speed?
Today:
Homework:
- Complete the practice quiz on the back of the notes (pdf)
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Class
1:
Tuesday,
1/24/23Warm Up:
What is this simulation supposed to demonstrate?
Today:
- Look at midterm exams.
- New Unit: Energy
- Unit 4 -- Energy
Homework:
- Complete #15 on today's handout. Follow the same process
as #14.
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