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Mr. O'Keefe's Homepage

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." - Mark Van Doren

General Physics / 2nd Period / 2007-08 / 2nd Semester

Most recent update May 23, 2008 4:02 PM

Schedule

 

  • Week of Monday, January 7th - Unit V: Liquids & Gases
    • Day 1
      • 3rd Quarter - In this quarter we'll survey a variety of topics in physics using the foundation we built in the 1st semester. This means we'll cover these topics in less depth than we are used to.
        • Liquids & Gases
        • Simple Harmonic Motion & Sound
        • Light & Atoms
        • Nuclear Physics & Astronomy
      • 4th Quarter - In this quarter we will investigate, in depth, the physics of electricity & magnetism, including their applications in circuits & motors.
        • Electricity
        • Magnetism
        • Circuits
      • Introduce Unit on Liquids & Gases
        • Guiding questions for this unit:
          • 1) How do objects float?
          • 2) How do objects fly?
          • 3) How do hydraulics and car engines work?
        • Liquids & gases are both fluids (they flow) but gases are compressible whereas liquids are incompressible
        • Kinetic Theory of Matter
          • Demo: Mardi Gras Beads
      • HW: None // GEAUX TIGERS!
    • Day 2
      • Density: ρ = m / V
      • Objects float if they are less dense than water. Objects sink if they are more dense than water.
      • Lab: Will it float?
      • HW: None // GO 'CATS!
    • Day 3
      • Archimedes Principle
      • Buoyant Force
        • F_b = ( ρ_water)(V_displaced)(g)
      • HW: Ch 9 pg 343 #s 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14
        • answers to selected problems: 8) 0.611 kg // 9) 3.4x10^-5 m^3 // 14) 0.063 m
    • Day 4
      • Pressure
        • P = F / A
        • Demo: Bed of Nails
      • HW: Ch 9 pg 344 # 15, 21, 22
        • answers to 21) 1.01x10^11 N // 22) 1.9x10^4 N

 

 

  • Week of Monday, January 14th - Unit V: Gases & Liquids
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
      • Pressure increases with depth
        • Demo: Peeing Cylinder
        • P_tot = P_atm + (ρ_water)(g)(h)
      • Review of liquids.
      • Review guiding questions:
        • How do objects float?
        • How does hydraulics work?
      • HW: pg 344 # 18, 25, 27a
        • answers to 25a) 2.52x10^7 Pa // 25b) 1.78x10^6 N // 27a) 1.16x10^5 Pa
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • Ideal gas law (physics version)
        • PV = NkT
      • Heat Engines
        • extracting useful work from the transfer of energy (heat)
      • HW: HW Sheet - Gases (you can skip #4...we'll cover this on Day 1) // read pgs 417-418 on car engines

 

 

  • Week of Monday, January 28th - Unit VI: Waves & Sound
    • Day 1
      • Introduce Unit on Waves & Sound
      • Guiding questions for this unit:
        • 1) What are waves? What's "waving" & what's moving?
        • 2) What is sound? How do musical instruments work?
        • 3) How do we build earthquake-safe buildings and bridges?
      • Properties of waves
        • Frequency, Period, Amplitude
      • Where do we see waves and wave motion in nature?
      • Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) - summary sheet
        • Springs & Pendulums
      • HW: HW Sheet - Simple Harmonic Motion (skip #7 & 8) // Work on test corrections (Due Thursday) - you must have them signed off by a TA or instructor
    • Day 2
    • Day 3
      • Quiz 6-A
      • Introduce medium, wavelength (λ), wave speed (v)
      • Fundamental wave equation:
        • v =λ f
        • speed of sound // speed of light
      • HW: pg 457 # 1-5 // Test corrections due on Thursday (in the inbox) - signatures required
        • Answers to HW problems:
          • 1) wavelength is between 0.081 m and 12 m
          • 2) 3.00x10^8 m/s (that's the speed of light!)
          • 3) I'll go over this one in class -- write the question down on your paper so you have it in front of you
          • 4) You'll have time to finish this one in class -- write the question down
          • 5) a. 346 m/s // b. 5.9 m
    • Day 4
      • Light Waves
      • Wave Interference
      • Introduce Standing Waves
        • Demo: standing waves on a string; strobe light; introduce harmonics (visually)
        • This site does a great job of showing how traveling waves that interfere cause standing waves
      • HW: Quiz corrections // Get caught up if you have any missing assignments

 

 

 

 

  • Week of Monday, February 11th - Unit VI: Waves & Sound
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
    • Day 3
      • Exam - Waves & Sound
      • HW: None
    • Day 4
      • Introduction to Unit VII: Light & Optics
        • Properties of Light
          • Light as a wave & a particle
          • EM Spectrum - speed, frequency, wavelength, and energy of light
        • Behavior of Light
          • Absorption, Emission, & Scattering of Light
          • Reflection & Refraction
      • Properties of Light
      • Light as electromagnetic waves
      • EM Spectrum
      • Calculating the energy of light
        • E = h f
      • Absorption, Emission, & Scattering
      • HW: HW Sheet - Light (skip #2 for now but give the rest a shot -- you'll need this EM Spectrum as a reference)

 

 

  • Week of Monday, February 18th - Unit VII: Light & Optics
    • MONDAY - PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY
    • Day 1
      • HW Review
      • Introduction to Mirrors
      • Reflection
        • Demos: Mirrors, Lasers, & Images
      • Flat Mirror Ray Diagrams
      • Begin Optics Packet - Mirrors
      • HW: Ch 14 ppg 523 # 1-6 (this is mostly review from last week)
        • Answers: 1) 3.4m to 2.78 m // 2) 3x10^5 Hz // 3) 85.7m to 10.1m // 4) 1x10^-13 m // 5) 5.4x10^14 Hz // 6) 2.4x10^15 Hz
    • Day 2
      • Demo: Real & Virtual Images
      • Converging Mirrors
      • Ray Diagrams
      • Continue Optics Packet - Mirrors
      • HW: None tonight...hopefully I'll see you at the observation!

        LUNAR ECLIPSE - Observation is unfortunately canceled due to poor weather conditions*** Here's a nice one-sheet with information about the eclipse.

    • Day 3
      • Diverging Mirrors
      • Ray Diagrams
      • Continue Optics Packet - Mirrors
      • HW: Study for Quiz on Day 1 (this will not cover today's material) // Get started on test corrections

 

  • Week of Monday, February 25th - Unit VII: Light & Optics
    • Day 1
      • Quiz 7A - Reflection & Mirrors
      • Refraction
        • Demos: Test tube & beaker
      • Snell's Law
      • HW: Finish test corrections
    • Day 2
      • Finish Snell's Law
      • Critical Angles
      • HW: pg 567 # 1,2,3 & 1,2,3,4 (INCLUDE SKETCHES)
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • Quiz 7B - Refraction & Lenses
      • Short Lab: Measuring the Focal Length of a Convex Lens
      • HW: Finish Lab Sheet // Finish Quiz Corrections (keys posted on public folders) // Start studying for the exam next week use the review sheet posted on Day 3 (with answers)

 

 

  • Week of Monday, March 3rd - Midterms
    • Monday - Activity Schedule
    • Tuesday
      • Midterms (0,1,2,3)
        • Exam - Light & Optics
      • HW: None
    • Wednesday
      • Midterms (4,5,6,7)
      • HW: None
    • Thrusday & Friday
      • No Class - Faculty In-Service & Quarter Break
      • HW: None

 

  • Week of Monday, March 10th - Unit VIII: Astronomy & Nuclear Physics
    • Day 1
      • The solar system
        • The structre of the solar system
        • The composition of the solar system
      • HW: HW Sheet on Solar System (due Day 3)
    • Day 2
      • The Milky Way Galaxy & large scale structure of the universe
      • OUTCOME/GOAL: Become familiar with the Celestia program as a way to explore and learn about the Solar System, Galaxy, and greater Unvierse
        • Open the program Celestia (available in Program Files)
        • Go to Help - Controls to learn how to navigate in Celestia
          • Important controls include home/end (zoom in and out) and the arrow keys (including with Shift pressed to rotate the camera view)
        • Open the Word document below, type your name and save it (with your name in the filename) and make observations of the objects listed.
      • HW: Finish Celestia Observations (Due Day 4)
    • Day 3
      • The history of the universe
      • The life cycle of stars
        • nuclear physics
      • HW: Finish Celestia Observations (Due Day 4) // Study for quiz on solar system
    • Day 4

 

 

  • Week of Monday, March 17th - Unit VIII: Astronomy & Nuclear Physics
    • Holy Week
    • Day 1
      • Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe
      • HW: Here's a study guide (use your quizzes and HW Sheets as well)
    • Day 2
      • Exam - Astronomy & Nuclear
      • HW: None...enjoy the break!

    Week of Monday, March 24th - Spring Break

     

  • Week of Monday, March 31 - Unit IX: Electricity
  • Week of Monday, April 7 - Unit IX: Electricity
  • Week of Monday, April 14 - Unit IX: Electricity // Unit X: Electric Circuits & Magnetism
    • Day 1
      • Exam Review
      • HW: Study for Exam
    • Day 2
      • EXAM - Electricity
      • HW: Whew...Take a break!
    • Day 3
      • Introduction to Electric Circuits
        • The purpose of circuits
      • Current, I
        • current as the flow of charge
        • conservation of charge
        • current loops
      • Voltage, V
      • Resistance, R
      • Ohm's Law: V = I R
      • Demo: building a simple circuit
      • Using the PhET Circuit Construction Kit
      • HW: Begin this packet from the PhysicsClassroom: conceptual problems on circuits (and a key) which is due next week on Day 2. Do as many as you can (some of it we will cover later)
    • Day 4

     

  • Week of Monday, April 21 - Unit X: Electric Circuits & Magnetism
    • Day 1 (Activity Schedule)
      • Power, P
        • Power dissipation in resistors, P = I V = I R^2
      • Demo: GE power meter
      • Power / conversion of kW-hr to Joules / hair dryer
      • 1 kw-hr is 3,600,000 Joules; 1 kw-hr of energy costs about 13 cents in San Francisco
      • HW: pg 703 #s 1, 3, 5 // Finish this packet from the PhysicsClassroom: conceptual problems on circuits (and a key)
        • answers to pg 703: 1) 46 Ohms // 3a) 1.8 A, 3b) 2.5 A, 3c) 6.0 A // 5) 0.43 A
      • Extra-Credit Opportunity: Special Astronomy Lecture & Observation Session: 8:00 pm in the SI Choral Room.
        • Note: To the choral building at night, you'll need to come in on Rivera by the parking lot entrance and walk down along the football field. There will be a signup sheet.
    • Day 2 (Activity Schedule)
      • Resistors in Series
      • Hand out Circuits Worksheet 1 (due Day 2 next week...here's a key)
      • HW: pg 739 # 1, 2, 4 (for some problems, you can check your answers using by buiding the circuits and taking measurements with the PhET Circuit Construction Kit)
        • answers to pg 739: 1a) 43.6 Ohms, 1b) 0.275 A // 2a) 24 Ohms, 2b) 1 A, 2c) 1 A // 4a) 11.28 Ohms & 0.798 A, 4b) "potential difference" means "voltage," so 5.79 V & 3.21 V
    • Day 3 (Activity Schedule)
      • Announce Exploratorium Project
      • Resistors in Parallel
      • Continue Circuits Worksheet 1 (due Day 2 next week...here's a key)
      • Quiz 10A - Ohm's Law, Power, and Simple Circuits
      • HW: Finish test corrections and turn in tomorrow // pg 744 # 2 & 3
        • Answers to # 2a) 2.2 Ohms, 2b) 6.0 A, 3.0 A, 2.0 A // 3a) 2.99 Ohms, 3b) 36.0 V, 3c) 2.0 A, 6.0 A
        • Exploratorium Project
    • Thursday
      • Environmental Awareness Day
    • Friday
      • (No Class - Magazine Drive Holiday)

     

  • Week of Monday, April 28 - Unit X: Electric Circuits & Magnetism
  • Week of Monday, May 5 - Unit X: Electric Circuits & Magnetism // AP Exams this week
    • Day 1
      • EXAM - Circuits
      • HW: None
    • Day 2
      • Introduction to Magnetism
        • Relationship between electricity & magnetism
        • Moving charges (current) generates magnetic field
          • Demo: Ring Launcher
        • Magnetic field exerts a force on moving charges
          • Demo: Magnet near a TV
      • Magnetic Fields & North-South Pole Attraction
        • Demo: Bar Magnet & Iron Filings
        Magnetic Dipoles & Magnetic Domains
        • What are some things magnetic and others aren't?
        • Demo: Refrigerator Magnets & Magnetized/De-Magnetized Paper Clips
      • The Earth's Magnetic Fields & the Aurora (Northern & Southern Lights)
      • HW: Your homework tonight has two parts:
        • Part I: Read this article from NASA on the Earth's magnetic field and answer the questions below on a sheet of paper:
          • 1) What happens to the Earth's magnetic field every few hundred thousand years?
          • 2) What has happened to the strength of the Earth's magnetic field over the last 100 years?
          • 3) Where exaclty is the Earth's magnetic north pole?
          • 4) You learned that moving charges generate magnetic fields. How is the Earth's magnetic field generated?
        • Part II: Find a picture of the aurora that you think is cool and email it to me as an attachment or link. In your email, tell me two things:
          • 1) What causes the aurora?
          • 2) Why do you like the picture you chose?
        • Some pictures of the aurora on the internet are fake. This site has a good archive
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • TBA...depending on how many students are present.
      • HW: Work on Exploratorium Project!
      • Exploratorium Project

     

  • Week of Monday, May 12 - Unit X: Electric Circuits & Magnetism // AP Exams this week
  • Week of Monday, May 19 - Electric Circuits Project
  • Week of Tuesday, May 27: Final Exams Week
    • Monday - Memorial Day Holiday
    • Here's a final exam schedule
    • Tuesday
      • Final Exam (10:20 - 11:50) in Room 314
        • You need to bring a calculator
        • You can bring a 3x5 index card with whatever you want written on it.
        • You can also bring a straight edge if you want (or juse use your index card)
        • I'll provide you with this equation sheet on the exam