Week of May 7, 2018

Please read past the Cool Science of the Week to find your assignments.

Cool Science of the Week
Last week we discovered that meteorites from a planet, Theia, that was destroyed early in the life of our solar system have landed on Earth. It turns out that Theia was destroyed when it crashed into another planet, partially melting the planet and spewing gobs of both the planet and itself into space. Some of the bits in space congealed over time due to gravity to make one awesome moon that is, in fact, visible from Earth without a telescope. Why is it so easily seen from Earth? Because the planet that was hit (plus the bits of Theia that got mixed in) IS Earth, and the aforementioned moon is OUR moon. Hence, not only do we occasionally get meteorites from Theia’s destroyed remnants that soar through space, but some of Theia’s mass stayed behind here on Earth and the moon, mixing in imperceptibly over time. You’ve been walking around on another planet your whole life and never knew it!Earth - Theia collision

This Week in Physics
State testing schedules are now behind us, so hopefully we can move at a more normal pace. On Monday we will finish assignment 4 and goal set 4. This is due Tuesday regardless of whether you are taking the AP Psychology test on Monday. Our unit 7 test will take place on the date decided upon by your class. We will then begin unit 8 with podcasts due as announced. Remember that your Electric Fields Lab is due as announced in your class period (3rd: Tuesday, 8th: Friday, 11th: Tuesday.) Details on the lab report are in last week’s blog entry.