2/19 PotU: More about earthquakes

Warm up

Describe a tsunami, when they occur, and why they can be so destructive.

It looks like I’ll be back on Thursday. Still a rough throat, but the doc thinks I’ll be ready by then. I’ll probably have a wireless mic so I don’t have to strain my voice 😊 .

Today’s work

Read through the earthquake pamphlet and complete the worksheet. Remember to reflect on about both energy and waves as you complete the earthquake packet. That’s what earthquakes are all about.

Resources

Reading pamphlet

Worksheet

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2/10 PotU: More energy

image showing three energy bar charts and a system box

Hi all. I’m out for another day or two (extreme sore throat, no, not caronavirus!)

Warm up

Draw an energy bar chart set for the mousetrap car as it goes from (1) fully wound up to (2) moving across the floor and finally (3) stopped on the floor.

image showing three energy bar charts and a system box

Today you will have a reading and worksheet to practice on energy and working. Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow so we can start on the mousetrap cars.

If you do not complete today’s assignment in class (it’s a shorter day), please complete it for homework.

2/7 PotU: Designing your mousetrap car

cover image for mousetrap car video

Warm up

Using physics, explain why the first hill on a roller coaster always the highest.

Designing your mousetrap car

Next week you will build, test, and the mousetrap car. As you build it, you will also determine the work done by the mousetrap spring by measuring the force and distance the mousetrap arm moves.

Watch the following videos, and take notes about ideas that techniques you may use for your car (we will start with materials on Monday).

Record your notes in today’s exit ticket area and the “Three things I learned this week” section of your bookends sheet.

Before you leave today, turn in your bookends sheet (make sure your name is on it!)

Homework

Start thinking about how you might customize your mousetrap car. Each group will receive the following items, extras are are up to you. If you want to use special materials, collect them over the weekend so you can use them on Monday.

  • One small mousetrap (larger rat traps are not allowed)
  • A light board about 8″ long by 3″ wide (you may replace this if you prefer a different design)
  • Dental floss or similar string
  • One set of plastic wheels with axle
  • One pair of CDs
  • Hot glue
  • Paint stirrer stick (two lengths available), to extend your mousetrap bar and tie your string to.

More videos you might want to view

Another video showing many student-built mousetrap cars.

2/6 PotU: Video review for energy transformations and forces

photo showing riders on a roller coaster going down a steep hill

Warm up

Sketch the following roller coaster, then draw energy bar charts for Position A, B, and C.

image showing roller coaster with A at the top of a hill, B at the top of the the second, lower, hill, and C and D along a flat portion lower than the second hill.

No stamp today, but you will get credit for completing the warmup section for today.

Lesson

Video day. What the main video and answer the questions on the handout. You may ask the sub to pause the video if you need time to complete lengthier questions.

https://youtu.be/H3UQiuDej38

File Name: Roller-Coaster-Physics-video-notes.pdf

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Other energy videos you may enjoy

Is energy conserved on a galactic scale? Watch the videos below:

2/5 PotU: Kinetic and gravitational energy practice

photo showing riders on a roller coaster going down a steep hill

Hi all. I’m out sick today, so we’ll have to put off mousetrap cars. Today you’ll have some more practice with calculating kinetic energy.

Honors students, you’ll work with a new equation for gravitational potential energy in the second worksheet.

Documents

File Name: gpe-word-problems.pdf

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File Name: kinetic_and_potential_energy_worksheet.pdf

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1/30 PotU: Waves math

Image of a wave showing wavelength, distance and amplitude

From the Waves on a String packet, we were able to develop the wave equation:

speed = wavelength x frequency

or, using symbols:

s = λ x f

Units for each variable are:

  • speed in m/s
  • wavelength in meters
  • frequency in Hz (‘Hertz’)

Measurements of a wave are shown below.

Image of a wave showing wavelength, distance and amplitude
Wave properties and how to measure them.

Today’s practice worksheet

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1/23-24 PotU Sound waves: The Doppler effect and harmonics/harmony

Thursday: The Doppler effect

Warm up

Copy and complete the following sentence by entering one word: Water waves travel in the shape of a ______, sound and light waves travel in the shape of a _______.

Some notes you should have

  • Sound is a longitudinal (also called compression or pressure) wave.
  • In a wave diagram, the lines represent crests (areas of high pressure).
  • Sound is created by repeated changes in pressure.
  • Sound is really another way energy is stored (in the high pressure areas where more energy is stored in the kinetic energy of the particles.
  • Sound is called simple harmonic motion (more about that when we discuss harmony).
  • While we usually draw sound waves as expanding circles, the sound actually travels as spheres.
  • Doppler effect:
    • The sound wave doesn’t actually change, it is just the wavelength people hear that changes.
    • Long waves = low notes; Short waves = high notes.
  • The equation that relates wavelength, frequency, and speed is:

Velocity = frequency * wavelength

  • Frequency and wavelength have an inverse relationship.
  • Speed of sound is called Mach 1, fastest jet fighter is about Mach 3.
  • Speed of sound is about 750 MPH (343 meters per second).
    • Speed of sound changes with temperature: Hotter = higher speed.
  • “Ultimate Doppler effect” is Mach 1, the speed of sound.
    • At this point, each wave “piles up” on the wave crest before it, creating a sonic boom with very high sound energy.
  • Some airplane speeds:
    • Typical passenger jet: Between 0.5-0.7
    • The Concorde, the first ‘super-sonic’ (faster than sound) was developed in the 1980’s to lessen airplane travel time. They flew at about Mach 2.
    • Jet fighters can fly around Mach 3.

Sonic booms

When an object moves faster than the speed of sound, the air pressure ‘piles up’ and creates a very large boom.

Exit ticket

Copy and complete the following sentences by selecting one of the bold words: In the Doppler effect, we detect waves from a source moving towards us as higher/lower pitch, because their wavelengths are shortened/lengthened.

Friday: Standing waves and harmonics

Warm up

Copy and complete the following sentences by selecting one of the bold words: In a sonic boom, “the ultimate Doppler effect,” we the loud boom is created because high/low sound pressure builds up at the front of the jet, and the jet is moving faster/slower than the speed of sound.

1/21-22: PotU Modeling waves with online simulation

Resources for today and tomorrow

Tuesday, Jan 21

  • Complete Part 1 of the packet and turn in before you leave.

Wednesday, Jan 22

  • Complete Part 2, and work on Part 3
  • Part 2 is due today.
  • Part 3 is due by Friday.

If you do not finish any worksheets in the packet, be sure to turn them all in by Friday.

Here’s the simulation if you want to run it directly from this site.