Category: Physics

August 25, 2015

180: Day 2: Learning whiteboards

Today my AP Physics C students got through creating whiteboards for the bouncy ball lab, and it’s clear I didn’t give quite enough instructions…but it is only their first “modeling” whiteboard. Items for me to work on with them: Graph axis are labeled with variable and units. Equations are ‘translated’ from ‘math’ (e.g. y=3.6x+1.2) to ‘science:’ x and y are...

180/Modeling Comments: 2

August 24, 2015

180: Day 1: Lab design and rubric

OK, I gotta remember to take photos of my students in action…so for today I just have a photo of my lab grading guidelines and metric prefixes that hang all around my classroom. As you can partially see on my “Day minus 3” post, my room is designed with no “front.” Here are a couple of comments from students today:...

180 Comments: 0

August 20, 2015

180: Day -2: Updating the physics mechanics inventory

Like many physics teachers, I use a pre and post “test” Concept Inventory to help me understand how and where my students are learning and struggling. The concept inventory is an amazing tool, but the images in it are of poor quality (think ’90’s computer art). I decided this year to update many of them, as well as tweak some...

180/Modeling/Science Education Comment: 1

August 19, 2015

180: Day “Minus 3”: Getting the classroom ready

This is the first of my attempt at a “180” blog. 180 blogs aim for “a picture a day” from a teacher’s classroom, along with a short reflection. The “180” comes from, I believe, the fact that there are about 180 teaching days in a year. If you’d like to watch my 180 posts without any other posts, you can...

180 Comments: 0

August 16, 2015

Solar system model for your classroom ceiling

In my physics classes at Carondelet High School, I had mostly seniors and a few juniors in each class. Seniors graduate two weeks early, so I’m always looking for a project for the juniors to work on during this time (the juniors take their physics final with the seniors). In the spring of 2013, I decide to create a model...

Geology/earthquakes/Math education/Physics/Science Education Comments: 2

July 31, 2015

How close are you? The “Why” behind Percent Error

There’s an old saying, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” People would say this in response to someone saying “Well, I was close.” So, why does close count in horseshoes and hand grenades, and why is this the introduction to a science paper? Horseshoes: If you’ve never played before (I bet most of you haven’t), the goal is...

Chemistry/Math education/Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 0

July 26, 2015

Bouncing Ball Lab Introduces Models and Foreshadows Future Physics Concepts

I use this lab as an introduction to my physics class at all levels: First year and AP. The goal of the lab is to introduce students to the role of physics in making predictions, and for me to see where they have strengths and weaknesses in lab procedures and data analysis.

Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 9

October 14, 2014

Frictional force on a block on a ramp that has a wall holding it up

Today in class, students were asked to draw a force diagram for the drawing shown on the right. The drawing shows a block on a ramp with a “wall” holding it back. The question that we couldn’t answer easily is, ‘Does the friction between the ramp’s surface and the block need to be accounted for in the force diagram.’ Then,...

Modeling/Physics Comments: 0

March 27, 2014

If a nucleus is full of positively charged protons, why doesn’t it fly apart?

In my physical science class this week, I realized the textbook was introducing the structure of the atom and positive and negative charges, but not answering addressing the clear question that follows the presented information is “what the heck keeps all those protons together in the nucleus?” The book does get around to the nuclear forces, but not until many...

Chemistry/Physics/Science Education Comments: 0

January 11, 2013

Next Generation Science Standards, second draft published

The second draft of the Next Generation Science Standards were released this week. You can find them all here: www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards You can search them here: www.nextgenscience.org/search-standards-dci I have exported pages containing all DCI Arranged Standards – Public Release High School only.

Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 0