Monday’s Assignment
Two articles to read...first from TIME Magazine: http://moneyland.time.com/2012/01/27/a-physics-professor-asks-are-no-name-batteries-a-better-value-than-major-brands/?iid=pf-main-lede
The second link is the actual article put up by a great blogger at Wired.com (check out some of his other stuff, you might like it): http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/are-expensive-batteries-worth-the-extra-cost/
We are going to expand on his experiment in class.
Last Note on the Midterm
Our midterm is tomorrow! The way I'm running the test is such...you will be given 3 free response problems and 10 multiple choice problems. They will contain all sorts of goodness from this chapter. There are 87 total points available on the test. I will give you 2 points for each IB point you get on the test (maximum of 100 points).
You can access the Equation Sheet I'm giving you here: Equation Sheet for IB Midterm
Also, refer to the IB Command Terms document...this helps you distinguish between "derive", "state", and "solve": IB Command Terms
Looking over the test, here are a few things you might want to make sure you understand well:
- Power (rate at which work is done, Fv, W/t)
- Efficiency (energy out/energy in *100)
- P-V Diagrams
Band students, it's just bad luck that our exam fell on the day after the band concert...them's the breaks sometimes. Just study the best you can when you can.
You are allowed an index card of notes on the test...fill it with whatever you want.
IB Homework for Monday 12-5
You have two things due on Monday, December 5th.
- Read the first two sections in Chapter 12 and in the back of the chapter answer questions 3, 6, 10, 14
- Finish the lab writeup from the Absolute Zero Lab and submit via Turnitin.com
Thermodynamics Update – 11.30.11
We are nearing the end of our first semester of IB Physics. I know you, as I do, wish we could just go back in time and take it all again. Fear not! I've got plenty of Physics left including, after the break, electricity and waves! Get excited!
Some random notes to keep you warm on a cold winter night:
- Don't forget that I want the write-up to the absolute-zero lab we did on Wednesday in the "Turnitin.com" box by Monday. I want you to write up the last half of a report (I set up the experiment for you). You'll need to state data, show anything you did with the data, make a graph, analyze, form a conclusion, look at errors, etc... The standards by which I will grade the submission are IB's standards, and they are listed on the assignment handout. Remember that while you can use the same data as your partner (obviously)...everything else must be your own. The Internal Assessments are done completely individually so you must get used to figuring these things out by yourself.
- Our test on thermodynamics will be Thursday, December 8. It will cover pressure, thermodynamic changes, work done by an ideal gas, and the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics. You got a handout on the first day of the chapter that you should be referring to to make sure you keep up with all the standards.
- I found a really good site that has good information on Thermo (and everything else we cover)...it's at http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?doctype=3&filename=Thermodynamics_GasProcesses.xml. Check it out!
- As we are in parts of Physics that I'm not as familiar with as others, I've been relying on the book to help refresh my memories on a few things. I have found the study guide I recommended earlier MUCH more helpful than the book. This is the link to the Amazon page. It's tough to find this book in the States but I can't recommend it any higher.
- Finally...our midterm is Wednesday, December 14. This is a memorable day because not only is it the midterm day, it's also my birthday. Please shower me with gifts. The midterm will be a comprehensive test that covers everything we have talked about thus far. We will certainly prepare for this on Monday and Tuesday of that week.
Thermodynamics Assignment – 11.21.11
We will be going over the Thermodynamics chapter after Thanksgiving...looking at what changes in temperature/pressure/etc... actually do. Since we have two days before Thanksgiving, we will be using this time to preview the chapter.
What is our assignment?
Four of the standards from the upcoming chapter are:
- 10.1.2 - Describe the difference between an ideal gas and a real gas.
- 10.2.4 - Describe the isochoric (isovolumetric), isobaric, isothermal, and adiabatic changes of state of an ideal gas.
- 10.2.5 - Draw and annotate thermodynamic processes and cycles on P-V diagrams.
- 10.2.6 - Calculate from a P-V diagram the work done in a thermodynamic cycle.
What do I need to do?
- Create a powerpoint addressing all of the topics above.
- In the powerpoint, define all words you come across that might not be common knowledge.
- List all references and helpful sites on the appropriate slide (so if other students need help, they can click on that link and it will lead to more information).
- Create a 1-page worksheet that features questions that would test someone's knowledge of the above standards.
How will this be graded?
- 30% - All topics are covered with an appropriate level of detail and depth for an IB class
- 10% - A wide variety of references are listed on the slide that contains the information.
- 20% - Slides are professional-looking, with pictures and graphics, appropriate for an IB classroom
- 20% - Members of the group work collaboratively.
- 20% - Worksheet provides appropriate questions that cover all aspects of the chapter
Who can I work on this with?
You may partner with one other person for this assignment. You don't have to...you can go it alone if you wish.
When will I do all of this?
We will be working on this during class on Monday and Tuesday. It will not be due until the next Monday so you will have time to finish over Thanksgiving Break if it is needed.
How do I turn this in?
Attach, in an email, the powerpoint and worksheet. I will respond that I received it. If you don't hear back from me in a day, the email system might have kicked your email out for being too big. Email me with that news and I will tell you how to submit via an alternative method.
IB Post-Test Assignment
Part of being an active learner is to be self-reflective. To that end, you assignment over the weekend is to give feedback on the following questions. This feed back will be turned in at Turnitin.com (see instructions to how to use that below). The feedback will be graded based on the thoughtfulness and completeness of the answers. I'm not looking for an essay...just complete answers. This will be a daily grade.
Things to address...
- What about this chapter was easier than other chapters? Why is this?
- What about this chapter was more difficult than other chapters? Why is this?
- Do you feel that you did a good job as a learner in this chapter...what are the things that you did well or poorly?
- Are you satisfied with your performance in this class to this point?
- What is one thing that will change for the next chapter? (don't say "nothing"...that means you are perfect and we both know that's not the case!)
Superheated Water
I mentioned this in class...here's a link to the YouTube video. For extra credit, by the test time, turn into Turnitin.com a short paper on what is happening with the whole superheated water thing.
Also...I've mentioned several times a supplementary book to IB Physics. The link is here. They are out of stock at Amazon but you can buy a new or used version of the book from the site. If you want to look at it to see if its for you, let me know and you can check it out and see what it's like.
Weekend Assignment – IB
This is an optional assignment that can be done to offset your grade on the Kepler's Law Lab. If you are happy with your Kepler's Law Lab grade...don't do this.
After grading your Kepler's Law graphing activity, I was dismayed to find that your Excel skills are lacking. We went over how to use Excel to solve this type of problem the other day and I want to offer you a do-over because I think it is valuble that you know how to do this and I assumed too much in giving you the assignment in the first place. What I want is a Word file with Excel tables and charts copy and pasted in when necessary. This is due by the time we start class on Tuesday. You will turn it in using www.turnitin.com.
What do I need to do?
- Explain the concept of Kepler's Third Law and explain how to derive it using the equations we've used in class (we've derived it probably 5-6 times in class and a few times on homework).
- Explain why (using energy concepts), objects with a smaller radius tend to move quicker.
- Write an equation (use "insert", "object", "equation editor") that relates r^3/T^2 to the other constants, including the mass of Jupiter
- Create a table of the appropriate data (radii and periods) of the moons of Jupiter
- http://nineplanets.org/data.html - Great website to find information. Note that their radii on this site are in thousands of kilometers. You'll need to convert for the equations to work.
- Use only the moons that you have data for (16 on the site above).
- Be sure to list the raw data with column headers and units...then convert to the useful values.
- Plot the appropriate points to help you find the mass of Jupiter. Make a line of best fit and list the equation on the plot.
- Calculate the mass of Jupiter
- Find the given mass of Jupiter and calculate the percent error. Discuss whether or not your data agrees with given values.
How to turn this in:
Assuming you don't already have a turnitin account
- Go to www.turnitin.com
- In the top right, click on "Create Account"
- Click on "student"
- Fill in the information. The Class ID is: 4523486 The password is "ibphysics"
- Once you get signed in, there should be an assignment called "Kepler's Third Law Lab - Jupiter Edition"...upload your Word file to this site.
- Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Test Tomorrow
Our test is tomorrow! Get excited!
- If you are confused about what we have covered...check out the Round Things Chapter Summary.
- If you are curious about the equations...check out the IB Physics Data Booklet
- If you need some answers for the book problems I gave as extra review, see the Round Things Book Review Problems
Trouble Plotting Stuff?
Having trouble plotting data in Excel? Try these YouTube videos...
Plotting with Excel 2003:
Office 2007:
Once you've plotted the best-fit line and displayed the equation (and best-fit line), use your slope in place of the "whatever's on the y" divided by "whatever's on the x" term.