Physics Trimester B Unit Outlines

UNIT 1 - Work & Energy

In this unit students will learn how to determine the work done and the power expended during mechanical processes. Students will review simple machines and investigate the efficiency and mechanical advantage that they offer. Students will review the five forms of energy and the various ways that energy is manifested and transformed in every day applications. Students will investigate the Law of Conservation of Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem, and apply them to solving complex real world problems. This unit offers several hands-on investigations and laboratory experiments to apply concepts learned. Readings for this unit can be found in Chapters 6 and 10 of the textbook.

Click HERE to download a Unit Outline
Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit
Click the links below to download daily Assignments
Readings: § 6.1 - 6.9 pp. 154-179 and § 10.1,10.3 pp. 274-277, 282-285

Discussion – Work, Negative Work, Work done when force is at an angle
Problem – Working to Build a Pyramid!

Discussion: Work done
By a changing force, Power
Activity - Horsepower of a toy truck

(video-Finding the output HP of a car)

Discussion: Simple Machines, Efficiency, and Mechanical Advantage
Activity – Efficiency of a Ramp

Activity - Horsepower of a toy truck

Discussion – Kinds of Energy Activity – Finding Efficiency and MA of a Pulley System

Activity - Simple Machines and Ramps

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
Examples - Solving Conservation of Energy Problems

Activity – Pulleys

Discussion: non-conservative forces, THE WORK-ENERGY THEOREM
Examples - Solving Work-Energy Problems

TEST – Work & Energy

UNIT 2 - Impulse & Momentum

In this unit students will investigate what happens when a force is applied to a body over a short period of time. Students will learn about impulse and momentum and will derive the Impulse-Momentum Theorem. Students will investigate the idea that momentum is “conserved” when bodies collide. Students will distinguish between elastic and inelastic collisions. As an application of concepts learned, students will construct an egg carrying device that will protect an egg from a two-story drop. Students will also perform a computer based laboratory experiment that will verify the Law of Conservation of Momentum. Readings for this unit can be found in Chapters 7 of the textbook.

Click HERE to download a Unit Outline
Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit
Click the links below to download daily Assignments
Readings CUTNELL & JOHNSON § 7.1 – 7.6 pp. 187 – 207

Discussion – Impulse, Momentum
Activity Intro – The Incredible Egg Drop!

Discussion – IMPULSE-MOMENTUM THEOREM
Demos: bouncy balls
Impulse, Mometum, and Bouncing

Demos: dynamics track, Newton's demo
Discussion – CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM, Types of collisions
Quiz – Impulse

Solving Cons. Of Momentum problems algebraically and graphically

Discussion: Conservation of Momentum in 2D, The Ballistic Pendulum, Center of Mass
Activity - Center of Mass
Quiz - Momentum

Activity - Solving Cons. Of Momentum Graphically

Online Activities:
Collision Carts, Exploding Carts
---------------------------------
Lab: Conservation of Momentum
Photogate Version
Motion Sensor Version

Activity - The Incredible Egg Drop
Go over online activities

Physics Interactives:
Collision Carts
Fish Catch

Calculations for The Incredible Egg Drop
Problem Solving Work Time

Physics Interactive:
Exploding Carts (XC)

Check Homework Sets
Egg Drop Wrap Up
Work on lab calculations

TEST – Impulse & Momentum

UNIT 3 - Static Electricity

This unit will start with a quick review of atomic structure. Afterward, students will investigate concepts of forces between charged objects, voltage, and electric potential energy. Students will investigate Coulomb’s Law and the Law of Conservation of Charge. Students will investigate electric field theory and as an application, they will map an electric field in class. This will be a "shocking" unit with fun demos of the Van de Graf Generator and the Tesla Coil. Readings for this unit can be found in chapters 18 & 19 of the text. Some very helpful online simulations can be found on the PhET web page.

Click HERE to download a Unit Outline
Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit
Click the links below to download daily Assignments
Readings Cutnell & Johnson § 18.1-19.6 pp. 522-577

UNIT 4 - Current Electricity & DC Circuits

We are currently investigating DC Circuits. This unit will cover concepts of resistance, voltage, and current in simple circuits. Students will learn Ohm's Law and Kirchoff's Rules in order to analyze simple circuits. Students will draw schematic diagrams, build circuits, and use a multimeter to measure current and voltage and compare experimental findings to theory. The readings for this unit can be found in the textbook in Chapter 20. Some very helpful online simulations can be found on the PhET web page.

Click HERE to download a Unit Outline
Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit
Click the links below to download daily Assignments
Readings Cutnell & Johnson § 20.1-20-15 pp. 587-617

UNIT 5 - Special Relativity

In this unit, students will leave behind the classical understanding of motion as offered by the likes of Galileo, Newton, and others, and we will look at motion, time, and even mass from a whole new perspective. Students will learn about Einstein's postulates and the stunning consequences of time dilation, length contraction, and mass increase. Students will apply concepts learned to the study of our cosmos, time and space travel, and how an objects speed changes the laws of physics as applied to that object. Buckle up and get ready for an amazing ride....Readings for this unit can be found in chapter 28.

Click HERE to download a Unit Outline
Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit
Click the links below to download daily Assignments
Readings Cutnell & Johnson § 28.1 - 28.7 pp. 865-887

Web Activity - The Expanding Universe [BYOD]

Discussion: Introduction to Relativity
Einstein’s Two Postulates
Video – The Michelson-Morely Experiment (scroll to #41 and press VOD)
Discussion: Consequences of relativity...Simultaneity and Time Dialtion
Video – The Lorentz Contraction (scroll to #42 and press VOD)

Discussion: Length Contraction, Mass Increase, The Gamma factor,
Video - Velocity and Time (scroll to #43 and press VOD)
Discussion: Relativistic Velocity Addition, Relativistic Energy and Momentum

Space and Time Travel???
The Twin Paradox
Homework Set Work Time

Correct Homework Sets
Study for Test

Unit Test – Relativity

FINAL EXAM REVIEW

Click the links below to download Assignments

UNIT 1 - Work & Energy In this unit students will learn how to determine the work done and the power expended during mechanical processes. Students will review simple machines and investigate the efficiency and mechanical advantage that they offer. Students will review the five forms of energy and the various ways that energy is manifested and transformed in every day applications. Students will investigate the Law of Conservation of Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem, and apply them to solving complex real world problems. This unit offers several hands-on investigations and laboratory experiments to apply concepts learned. Readings for this unit can be found in Chapters 6 and 10 of the textbook. Click HERE to download a Unit Outline Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit Click the links below to download daily Assignments Readings: § 6.1 - 6.9 pp. 154-179 and § 10.1,10.3 pp. 274-277, 282-285
Day	Lesson	Handouts	Assignments Due
1	Discussion – Work, Negative Work, Work done when force is at an angle Problem – Working to Build a Pyramid!	Homework Set - Work & Energy
2	Discussion: Work done By a changing force, Power Activity - Horsepower of a toy truck (video-Finding the output HP of a car)	Activity - Horsepower of a toy truck
3	Discussion: Simple Machines, Efficiency, and Mechanical Advantage Activity – Efficiency of a Ramp	Activity – Simple Machines & Ramps	Activity - Horsepower of a toy truck
4	Discussion – Kinds of Energy Activity – Finding Efficiency and MA of a Pulley System	Activity – Finding Efficiency and MA of a Pulley System	Activity - Simple Machines and Ramps
5	LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY Examples - Solving Conservation of Energy Problems	Worksheet - Three Situations Worksheet - Three Situations Explained	Activity – Pulleys
6	Discussion: non-conservative forces, THE WORK-ENERGY THEOREM Examples - Solving Work-Energy Problems	Work-Energy Problem Solving Flow Chart	Worksheet - Three Situations
7	Group Problem: Two Tracks… Homework Set work time	Group Problem: Two Tracks	Read Lab - Cons. of Energy
8	Lab – Conservation of Energy	Lab – Conservation of Energy Spring Diagram
9	Activity - The Energy of a Pendulum Quiz – Work & Energy Work on Lab Calculations	Homework Help, Ch10 #75 Homework Help, Ch10 #28
10	Check Homework Sets Review for Test	Lab – Conservation of Energy (rubric)	Homework Set
11	*TEST – Work & Energy*		Labs due on next school day

UNIT 3 - Static Electricity This unit will start with a quick review of atomic structure. Afterward, students will investigate concepts of forces between charged objects, voltage, and electric potential energy. Students will investigate Coulomb’s Law and the Law of Conservation of Charge. Students will investigate electric field theory and as an application, they will map an electric field in class. This will be a "shocking" unit with fun demos of the Van de Graf Generator and the Tesla Coil. Readings for this unit can be found in chapters 18 & 19 of the text. Some very helpful online simulations can be found on the PhET web page. Click HERE to download a Unit Outline Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit Click the links below to download daily Assignments Readings Cutnell & Johnson § 18.1-19.6 pp. 522-577
Day	Lesson	Handouts	Assignments Due
1	Charges and Interactions, Conductors & Insulators, Detecting Charges Demo: Charges attract/repel, the electroscope	Homework Set – Electrostatics PhET Java Applets (very cool!) PhET Java Applet - Charged Balloons PhET Java Applet - John Travoltage
2	Discussion – Methods of Charging, Coulomb’s Law
3	Activity – Get a Charge Outta This!	Activity – Get a Charge Outta This!
4	Discussion: The Electric Field & Field Lines, Electric Shielding Demo: The Van de Graf Generator		Activity – Get a Charge Outta This!
5	Activity – Electric Field Simulation PhET Java Applet - Charges and Fields PhET Activity - Electric Field Hockey	PhET Activity – Electric Fields
6	Discussion: Electric Potential and Potential Difference, Equipotential Surfaces Quiz – Electric Forces and Fields		PhET Activity – Electric Fields
7	Discussion: Work & Electric Potential, St. Elmo's Fire Various examples
8	Discussion: Capacitance Demo: Leyden Jars, Tesla Coil, and more fun with the Van de Graff Generator :-) PhET Java Applet - Capacitor Lab	PhET Capacitor Lab (doc)
9	*Quiz – Electric Potential* Homework Set Work Time		PhET Activity – Capacitor Lab
10	go over quiz Check Homework Sets Review for test	Chapter 18 #65 Solution	Homework Sets
11	*TEST – Electrostatics*

UNIT 4 - Current Electricity & DC Circuits We are currently investigating DC Circuits. This unit will cover concepts of resistance, voltage, and current in simple circuits. Students will learn Ohm's Law and Kirchoff's Rules in order to analyze simple circuits. Students will draw schematic diagrams, build circuits, and use a multimeter to measure current and voltage and compare experimental findings to theory. The readings for this unit can be found in the textbook in Chapter 20. Some very helpful online simulations can be found on the PhET web page. Click HERE to download a Unit Outline Click HERE to download Notes for the Unit Click the links below to download daily Assignments Readings Cutnell & Johnson § 20.1-20-15 pp. 587-617
Day	Lesson	Handouts	Assignments Due
1	Discussion: Voltage and Voltage Sources Demo: Voltage Sources	Homework Set – DC Circuits
2	Measuring Voltage and CurrentActivity - Combining Emf's	Activity: Combining EMF's
3	Discussion: Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law PhET - Resistance in a Wire PhET - Ohm's Law Demo: Tennis balls and the "magic ball"	Web Activity-Ohm's Law	Activity - Combining EMF's
4	Discussion – Electric Power & Energy, Circuit Components, AC/DC Preview: Activity – Measuring Voltage and Current in a Simple Circuit		Web Activity-Ohm's Law
5	Activity – Measuring Voltage and Current in a Simple Circuit	Activity – Measuring Voltage and Current in a Simple Circuit
6	Discussion: Series and Parallel Circuits, circuit diagrams Activity – Building Series and Parallel Circuits	Activity – Building Series and Parallel Circuits	Activity – Measuring Voltage and Current in a Simple Circuit
7	Discussion: Complex Circuits, Kirchoff’s Laws, Internal Resistance, Grounding	Kirchoff's Laws Example...	Activity – Building Series and Parallel Circuits
8	Kirchoff’s Laws cont'd PhET Investigations/Review Activity - Analyze It!	XC Activity - How Much Does it Cost?	Activity - Analyze It!
9	Quiz – DC Circuits Homework Set Work Time
10	Check Homework Set Review for test	Activity Analyze It	Homework Sets
11	Test – DC Circuits

FINAL EXAM REVIEW Click the links below to download Assignments
Day	Lesson	Handouts	Assignments Due
1	Trimester Exam Review	Trimester B Review	Solutions
2	Trimester Exam