Inertia

Inertia activity: pull the cloth from under the dishes (and, yes, they will break!)

Constuction

Students were pretty inventive on ATV and racer design. Check it out.

Rubberband Cars

This is a picture of the rubberband all terrain vehicle course; a flat surface leading to a water hazard that leads to a rocky slope and then to a slick surface slope.

Oops, My Bad!

Please disregard the dates on the photos--I forgot to reset the date on my camera when I switched the batteries.

Cause and Effect

I am including a photo taken during class that shows the basic set-up of the class room with 3 of the 6 lab stations on the perimeter in use. Currently, we only have 3 sets of equipment, but we hope to have the funds to purchase 5 more. I would like to get a grant for flip cameras so that students can film their experiments for posting.

Experimental techniques

Today students used the timers, photogates, cars, weights and ramps to determine and modify the variables in a self designed experiment. Students varied the slope of their ramps, added weights to their cars, varied the distance between photogates, and practiced different release techniques. The class then established degree of slope as their independent variable, and made all other variables constant.

Time Flies Like an Arrow

...and fruit flies like a banana (OK, it's an old joke, but I'm a geezer).

Today we learned to use the CPO digital timers and photo gates. Students learned how to operate a single photogate and tandem photogates. The students discovered that an object must be large enough to completely sever the photobeam in order to start or stop the interval clock.

Today we covered safety rules for the lab. Students will present their illustrated rules Monday . Students may post comments on the activity this weekend. Remember that a safety quiz will be given Monday.

Physical Science Blog

Duncan High School is re-vamping its physical science classes in order to incorporate more hands-on activities and experiments. As the facilitator, I have decided to try blogging certain aspects of the class: activites, self/team evaluations, still pictures, and videos of class work.

All students must have signed internet agreement forms on file with Duncan High School.

All students must have signed media release forms on file also.

Students will be referred to by initials or team designations. Comments should be kept to the topic, and not be personal. If a team member is not performing at an acceptable level, see me after class and we will resolve the problem.

Questions to be answered on the self/team evaluation forms include:
1. What is one interesting observation you made during the investigation, or one thing that surprised you?
2. What is one thing you learned?
3. Why is the information you learned important to your studies, your life, or to others?
4. What question do you have after completing this investigation? What would you like to know about?
5. How would you explain this investigation to someone else through writing, a conversation, or with a drawing?

Mrs. Roberts