Solving Projectile Motion Problems

Today we went through a process for solving projectile motion story problems.

Notes: Projectile Motion Problems

Here is the work for the airplane problem:

Here is the work for another problem in which someone jumps with a speed of 11 m/s at an angle of 20 degrees above the horizontal. We found the time it took to reach max height, the jumper's max height, and the horizontal distance the jumper went before coming back to his/her original height.


Homework is —Ch.3 (p. 80) #25, 27, 29, 30, 48, EXTRA CREDIT: #47. We'll be doing this lab on Tuesday (no school Monday).

Motion in 2 Dimensions

Motion in 2 Dimensions (Projectile Motion)

I could not get my videos to embed in my Powerpoint - sorry! - so here are links to the ones we saw:

Three Balls Roll Off a Table
Mythbusters Bullet Drop
MIT Monkey Problem

Homework: Projectile Motion TIPER #1 (email miss.volkening@gmail.com for a copy)

Relative Velocity

Bellwork is was a small half-sheet called ESA Practice: Vector Components. We used it to review yesterday's material and to look at the Evaluating Student Answers category of question, which will show up repeatedly in the future. You did not turn in this little paper.

Later we talked about relative velocity. There aren't a lot of notes; here is what ended up on the board first period:



Mythbusters did a pretty cool experiment showing the forward velocity of a truck cancelling out the backward velocity of a cannonball so that the velocity of the cannonball relative to the ground was zero: Mythbusters Frame of Reference.

Section 3.5 in the textbook also talks about this, albeit with a lot more math than we used.

Homework is in two parts tonight:

A.) Kinematics TIPERs #4 (email miss.volkening@gmail.com for a copy)
B.) p.82 #41 & 44

Please note that this means you will be turning in two different things tomorrow.

Vectors

Today we talked about adding vectors in general. There is very little physics today - just math that we'll need from now on.

Notes: Vectors


Homework: p.78 #1, 17, 18


Also, your test scores are now in the computer, though they are not yet actually affecting your grade. I will make them “count” on Friday. You can retake a test if you got less than 80% - just come in after school/lunch/conference.

You will have a graphs-only MC quiz (20 min) sometime before next Wednesday.

1-D Kinematics Test

Today is your test! Your Free Fall Lab is due the next time I see you.

Practice Test Time

Today you had time to continue working on your practice test. Below are pictures of the abridged key.



Test tomorrow, lab due first thing next week.

Practice Test

Today was your last day to work on your practice test. I also took a few minutes to go over how to maximize points earned on my tests:



I will post a key to the practice test tomorrow.

We also talked about what to do if Synergy says you're missing something that you are sure you turned in. Do these things in this order:

1. Check the no-name papers (top tray in the returned work trays)
2. Retrieve your returned work. Sometimes I put the score in the wrong column or row. If this has happened, just find the graded and returned paper and show it to me so I can fix it.
3. You turned in the paper, but later than the due date. These will take me longer to get to. In the meantime, Synergy will show the assignment as "missing." The only thing to do is wait a bit longer.
4. Check your stuff. Maybe you completed the assignment but didn't actually turn it in.

Free Fall Lab

Today we are working on the Free Fall Lab. First I went over exactly why we are doing this lab and introduced the idea of linearization. The rest of the period was yours to take data, including about half an hour of the whole class going outside to drop the balls off of the bleachers.

To save time (and prevent the loss of the Koosh balls through a certain fence) the whole class timed the ball drops from the tallest bleachers as a group.

You have no additional homework tonight. This is due in one week (your next modular day). Please remember that you have a test scheduled on Friday.

Problem Solving Method

Today we went through a problem solving method for story problems. You don't have to use this method, but I recommend using it at least at first.

Notes: Solving Kinematics Word Problems

Homework is p.52 #37, 43, 46, 51, 54.

We will be doing a lab on Monday/Tuesday. Please read over the lab instructions this weekend and bring your lab notebook to school.

Part of the lab will be outside. You may want to bring sun protection.

1-D Motion Equations

Today we finally got some equations that will let us solve for position, velocity, and acceleration at a given time.

Notes:1-D Motion

Homework is p.52 #31, 33 a&b, 45

Graphs of Motion - Backwards!

More graphs! Just going from acceleration to velocity to position instead!

Notes: Graphs of Motion-Backwards

Homework is Kinematics TIPERs #3. Email me for an electronic copy if you need it.

Acceleration and Graphs of Motion

During bellwork we talked about your Constant Velocity labs (due tomorrow) and also made our first velocity vs. time graph. Then we defined acceleration, looked at how it affects motion diagrams, and made acceleration vs. time graphs out of velocity vs. time graphs.

Here is the Powerpoint: Acceleration and Graphs of Motion

Homework is p.51 #24 and p. 55A # 1&2 (55A is a special page only in the "AP Edition" of the textbook. You might not have it in your textbook; contact me if you do not and I will send you a picture)

Below are the answers for the bellwork.

Constant Velocity Lab

Today you worked on the Constant Velocity Lab! Your individual write-up is due next Wednesday. Remember, you can only use one car at a time, so no trial and error!

You may hand write your paper, or you can type it and email it to me.

Velocity and Graphs

Today we used graphs to find both average velocity and instantaneous velocity. The notes about instantaneous velocity included a graph on the whiteboard.

Notes (Powerpoint): Using Graphs to Find Velocity
On the board:

Homework tonight is the half-sheet HW: Velocity. It contains copyrighted material, however, so I cannot post it on the internet. If you need a copy, email miss.volkening@gmail.com and I can send you a PDF scan.

We also received the instructions for the lab we're doing tomorrow, Constant Velocity Lab. You will have all day tomorrow to work on this.

Displacement, Average Speed, and Average Velocity

Today we started our actual physics content with position, displacement, average speed, and average velocity.

Notes: Displacement, Average Speed, and Average Velocity

You may have started your homework at the end of class. Please finish it and turn it in tomorrow: Kinematics TIPERS #1. Email miss.volkening@gmail.com if you need a copy.

Mini Labs

Today we are playing with the equipment from upcoming labs so that you can figure out the best way to take data.

 No homework!

Measurement and Error

Today we talked about standard units of measurement, why we have significant figures, and the two types of errors.

Notes: Measurement and Error

This weekend please get a lab notebook, preferably with graph paper pages.

Next week we’ll be doing little labs to get familiar with equipment. For homework, think of ways to measure the following that would reduce errors the most:

• Time for a ball to fall a certain distance
• Distance a projectile travels
• mass of small objects

Welcome!

Welcome to AP Physics 1 with Ms. Volkening! Today we went over the class policies and procedures, passed out all the paperwork, etc.

Here is the Powerpoint used in class: Day One

You received copies of  a letter for your parent/guardian, a safety contract, and an equation sheet. To save paper, I did not print out the syllabus, but it can be found here: syllabus.

You need to bring back the safety contract signed by you and your parent/guardian.

Please also take this survey to help me with preferred names and seats:

Volkening Beginning of the Year Survey