This week in physics: We will take a quiz over the concepts related to velocity that we covered in podcast 3, podcast 4, the Analysis of Uniform Motion lab, and assignment 1. (Note: If you are in 6th period, you already took this quiz on Friday.) We will continue to look deeply into the concepts related to acceleration found in podcast 5 and podcast 6 by analyzing graphs of motion both with Moving Man and with an activity using PASCO. We’ll do assignment 2 and 3 in class in the middle of the week followed by a quiz. Next we’ll amp up the math by exploring the kinematic equations. To prepare you’ll watch and take notes on Motion in One Dimension Podcast 7 – Introduction to Kinematic Equations and Motion in One Dimension Podcast 8 – Kinematic Equations Sample Problem as homework (due date TBA.) Next week look for us to finish the chapter through our exploration of free fall. Be ready for a test at the end of next week. IMPORTANT: (CAPS LOCK IS ON!!!) IF YOU DO NOT HAND IN YOUR EXTRA MATH PRACTICE BY THIS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INCOMPLETE FOR EVERY ASSIGNMENT UNTIL YOU HAND IN THE EXTRA MATH PRACTICE ASSIGNED TO YOU AND EARN AT LEAST A 90%. You must master these skills to be ready for the kinematic equations. (Parents and Guardians, if you see a “Missing” or a score of 8 or lower in Gradebook Wizard for this assignment, your child has not fully completed the assignment.)

This week in astronomy: On Monday we will take a quiz over the celestial equator, celestial north pole, and the circumpolar stars. Two podcasts will help you prepare: Celestial Sphere Podcast 2 – Celestial Equator and Celestial North Pole and Celestial Sphere Podcast 3 – Circumpolar Stars Next we’ll explore diurnal and annual motion of the celestial sphere and differentiate between a siderial day and a solar day, exploring how this difference affects the stars we see. We’ll take a quiz over that topic and then spend 15 seconds exploring the teeny tiny concept of star magnitude. Spilling into next week, we’ll wrap up this unit with a culminating project, The Celestial Travel Agency in which you’ll practice creating meridian diagrams to express how a tourist would experience the sky differently at different latitudes. Expect a test late next week. 🙂

Cool science of the week: Snow on Mars?!? It seems that Mars, too, enjoys the quiet sweetness of snowfall! If you enjoy carbon dioxide snow (also known as dry ice, or the awesome stuff you can put in a cauldron to make it look cool on Halloween) then Mars may be the place for you!