Exam week is finally here! Please use the unit overview documents on each unit’s web page to guide your studying. Spend time re-watching podcasts while creating graphic organizers. Be sure to practice copious amounts of sample problems. Come prepared with #2 pencils, a calculator with fresh batteries, and (for astronomy) star maps. Take these exams seriously, juniors. This semester’s grades are the last grades on your transcript before college applications go out. Do right by yourselves and work hard this weekend and during the week. You deserve to do your best. 🙂

Cool Science of the next few months: Did you know there was science to summer? Check out this National Geographic special called The Science of Summer!

This week we say goodbye to our seniors as you head off to exams. Best of luck to you in your futures!!! Congratulations!

This week in physics: On Monday we will take a quiz over the concept of the electric field, which was covered in Electrostatics Podcast 4 – Electric Fields part 1 and
Electrostatics Podcast 5 – Electric Fields part 2 as well as  assignment 3. On Monday or Tuesday (depending on your double lab period) will  we will do the Electric Fields Lab in which you’ll map out an actual electric field and use Excel to create an image of the field. Very cool! No lab report…you should use the time instead to prepare for exams. For either Tuesday or Wednesday (as announced) you should take notes on Electrostatics Podcast 6 – Electric Potential Energy and Electrostatics Podcast 7 – Electric Potential Energy Examples for a podcast quiz. We’ll go over these in class, do some cool demos, and then work together on assignment 4. A quiz will follow.

This week in astronomy: We will finish our unit on The Universe by looking at galaxies, dark matter, dark energy, and quasars. SO strangely weird and weirdly strange.

Cool science of the week: FLYING.CAR. 

Seniors, this is your last week of school before exams! Congratulations! Juniors, we’ve still got more to go, so let’s finish strong!

NOTE TO ALL AP STUDENTS:  Due to the large number of students who missed class due to AP exams, we are a little off-schedule. AP students, it is your responsibility to check Gradebook Wizard for assignments you need to make up. Please see me on your first day back to class to make arrangements.

This week in physics: On Monday we will do assignment 2 followed by a quiz on Tuesday. Electrostatics Podcast 3 – Electric Force will support your work. If you’ve missed class, please try to take notes from this podcast over the weekend UNLESS you have an AP exam on Monday. (APs come first! :)) Please take notes on Electrostatics Podcast 4 – Electric Fields part 1 and Electrostatics Podcast 5 – Electric Fields part 2 by Tuesday for a podcast quiz. Next we will do assignment 3 followed by a quiz.

This week in astronomy: Ohmygoshthisisthebestpartofthesemester. Two words only: THE UNIVERSE

Cool science of the week: Speaking of the universe, NASA is building a new space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, to find the first galaxies that formed in the early Universe, connecting the Big Bang to our own Milky Way Galaxy. Check out NASAs page, which includes a webcam showing the telescope’s construction and a “Build it Yourself” game.

Congratulations to our seniors who are departing on senior project! We will miss you! The remaining seniors have exams during the week of May 20th, and juniors have exams the following week. Please use the unit overviews under each unit page on this website to guide your studying.

This week in physics: On Monday we will finish methods of charging. Please take notes on Electrostatics Podcast 2 – Conductors, Insulators, and Charging for a podcast quiz on Tuesday. On Monday and Tuesday we will also do assignment 1 and will take a quiz on Wednesday. On Wednesday we will also take a podcast quiz over Electrostatics Podcast 3 – Electric Force and will quickly dive into assignment 2. Expect a quiz over this on Thursday or Friday. We’re close to the end, folks! 🙂

This week in astronomy: We will finish our study of our solar system and will take a unit test by the end of the week. Solar System Podcast 1 – The Motion of the Inferior Planets, Solar System Podcast 2 – The Motion of the Superior Planets, and Solar System Podcast 3 – Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets will support your work. Remember that on May 16th your Unit 3 – Outdoor Lab is due.

Cool science of the week: Saturnian weathermen and women are having a field day reporting on the wild storm at Saturn’s North Pole. This hurricane beast is 30 times larger and two times faster than a category five Earth hurricane. Thanks to 10th period’s own TB, EG, AL, and JU for bringing this cool news piece to my attention!