Monday, January 31, 2011

Snow (ice?) Day Optional Assignments

Since we aren't in class, here's something you can do to review and get a boost for your grade. Points for this will show as another optional assignment, so they will boost your grade.
Should take about 10 minutes, less if you already have Java installed.
To get points, you may turn in answers:
typed in an email to me (freemanm@fox.k12.mo.us) Make sure to include your name if I wouldn't recognize the email address.
OR
handwritten, in person, on the first day we go back to class.

Click here for instructions


I will probably assign one of these each day that we are off school, so plan on checking back tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

1-25

Today we went over homework, took notes on charge, and had some hands-on fun with induced charge.
Notes from today here.
Homework for Thursday: Read p.400-403. Tomorrow (and some Thursday) we'll be using some big guns of electricity fun: the Wimshurst machine and the VanDeGraaff Generator. Be ready for a shocking experience.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

1-19

Today: Learn about Electricity -->basis of charge
Reading Quiz - want to see all the questions that were asked in all hours? (would be a good place to go for some ideas of future test questions!!!) HERE
Electricity Notes: Basic atomic structure / Components
-stuff in atoms - table of e-, p+, n0 and their names, masses, charge, and location.
Electroscopes demonstration / hands-on experimentation - viewing and manipulating charge by transferring electrons OR by exerting electric field force (induction)
Notes - copy down diagrams of electroscopes, try out scenarios, explain what happens
Discuss: gaining / losing electrons - how does it affect your charge?

Homework: Read p. 396-399; p.399#1-7

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

1-18

Today in class we spent time (some more than others with the weird schedule) on reviewing answers to the Astronomy exam and making sure things were graded right and understood.
Tomorrow we'll embark on a new chapter that will have much in common with first semester concepts and those of our next units. (learning about Electricity)
Tonight's homework: Read p. 579, 584, 392-395
There will be some sort of reading quiz tomorrow.

Monday, January 10, 2011

1-10

Today's warm-up: How long would it take for a radio signal to go to the Moon and back?
(distance from Earth to Moon = 3.8*10^8 m).
Answer: about 2.5s

Today: 3 categories of stars:
Main Sequence stars - our sun is a main sequence star, a little larger than average (most stars, by sheer number are very small) - powered by Hydrogen Fusion --> creates Helium. The smallest ones may last 200 billion years, while the largest may only last 200 million years.

Red Dwarfs - from about 50% the mass of our sun and smaller - these appear red because their surfaces are cooler than other stars, about 2000C. These stars have the least Hydrogen (fuel) but last the longest because the low pressures inside them results in slow processes of fusion.

Red Giants - as a main sequence star runs low on Hydrogen, the growing Helium core begins to fuse to create bigger atoms. Helium fusion makes the star's core increase in temperature, and begin to overcome the star's gravitational pull (which had been a delicate balance between gravity and thermal expansion...) When this happens, the star expands to a huge size; sometimes 100x the radius of the previous star. Since the thermal E from the core is spread over such a large area, the temperature on the star's surface is lower and it looks red. Eventually the helium core is left as a neutron star. (our star will share this fate in about 5 billion years)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

1-6

Homework (now due Monday): p. 246 # 1-34, skipping #s 2,3,6,21,22,24,25,28. I will work #31 in class; the answer is "1/4 of the way through its orbit"

Today's warm-up: Doppler Effect;
1. a sound source that's moving toward you has a _____ pitch (higher/lower?)
2. a light source moving toward you is ____shifted (red/blue?)
3. A wave from something moving toward you has a ______ wavelength (shorter/longer?)

Today in class - grade/discuss homework
Finish movie: Extreme planets
Light speed & light years notes: Distances in space

Tomorrow:
Star life cycle
Test review
Grade conferences with Freeman

Want to start studying for next Wednesday's exam?
Astronomy notes
TGT review game

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1-5-11

Today's agenda:
Reviewed contributions to astronomy of:
Kepler
Gailileo
Copernicus
Ptolemy

Video: Extreme Planets - formation of planets and solar system, characteristics and theories for why planets are different, and how we know what we do know. Good review of topics covered before break, with excellent visual aids - both real and animated.
Tonight's HMWK: Read p. 238-241; p. 241#1-7
Also, review notes from before break - we will have an exam on Astronomy next Wednesday.
Tomorrow we will finish the video, then continue learning about distances in space and do some math involving light speed.
Homework for Friday: p.246#1-20, (skip 2,3,6), 23,26,27,29-34. The answer to #31 is 1/4 of the way through its orbit. (use this to help you with #33).

Monday, January 3, 2011

Optional Assignment: Energy Resource Conservation

Here are some options to boost your grade; you may elect to use them for this semester (fall) or next semester.

Option#1: work through the survey at : myfootprint.org and when you complete it, either print out the last page that shows you how many Earths we would need if everyone lived as you do, or save a screen-shot image (if you know how) and email it to me.

Option#2: set up a persuasive presentation to get your parents to change some aspect of you resource/energy usage for the better. 3 things for you to accomplish this:
1. list of ideas (feel free to peruse)
2. presentation prep sheet
3. scoring guide sheet (parents)

Turn #2 and #3 in to me and you will receive not only points in the gradebook, but also a FREE CFL! (swirly lightbulb)
If you want to purchase light bulbs from me, bring 50 cents to class this week!