This week we begin the second half of fourth quarter. Keep your spirits and your energy up to finish strong!

This Week in AP Physics
On Monday we will take the electric circuits/magnetism/electromagnetism test. For Tuesday please do homework 1 from Unit 13. We will complete this unit on waves and sound, along with all homework assignments, this week. Please also do your review practice sets for units 7 & 8, which are due on Friday. Two more review sessions run this week from 3:00-5:00 on Tuesday and Thursday.

This Week in Physics
We will take the important “End of Course” test on Tuesday. Bring a #2 pencil and your calculator. We will complete assignment 1 from our electric circuits unit on Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on your class period) and take a quiz over the introductory topics and Ohm’s law (covered in podcast 1 and podcast 2) the next day. We will spend the rest of the week conducting an additional virtual lab and exploring the properties of series circuits. When assigned, please take notes on Podcast 3 – Series Circuits and Podcast 4 – Series Circuits Sample Problem. We will then do assignment 2.

This Week in Astronomy
We will continue to explore the universe by looking at ways astronomers predict the universe might end. We will also explore how stars are born and how they die. (This will include black holes, supernovas, and pulsars!) We’ll take a quick look at the different types of galaxies and will finish up with a survey of the creepiest, coolest stuff of all: dark matter and dark energy. Super fun! Expect a unit test next week. Also, be sure to continue working on your outdoor lab on the moon, which is due on May 12.

Cool Science of the Week
This is a repeat of our CSotW from January, but I’m reposting for the benefit of this semester’s astronomy class. We spoke in class about the shape of the universe, namely that there is no “outside” and that it is finite, yet without an edge. Brain-numbing stuff! Here are the first two parts of a three-part series of short, fairly understandable videos explaining different theories about the shape of our mysterious home. (Part 3 isn’t released yet.)

We’re reaching the mid-point of the quarter, so keep going strong!

This Week in AP Physics
We will likely finish all of our unit on magnetism/electromagnetism along with the associated homework assignments, but I don’t anticipate us being ready to test by Thursday. It is likely we’ll start our exploration of wave motion and sound on Friday and test electric circuits and magnetism/electromagnetism next Monday. Things to remember: We have a quiz on Tuesday over magnetic force on moving charges. The review sets for unit 3 and unit 4 are due on Monday, and this week’s review sets for unit 5 and unit 6 are due on Friday. Also on Friday: During lunch periods we will be taking a practice exam with a full-length MC section and a partial FRQ section. Bring your lunch, your calculator, and your happiness! 🙂

This Week in Physics
We will begin our unit on electric circuits. Please take notes on Podcast 1 – Circuits and Current and Electric Circuits Podcast 2 – Resistance and Ohm’s Law by Monday. We will discuss the podcasts and then complete assignment 1, followed by a quiz, as announced. I will not assign any more podcasts for the rest of the week and will, instead, cover all material in class so that you can use your time to study for the big End-of-Course Exam, which we will take on Friday. Remember that your electric fields lab report is due on April 29 with an upload to TurnItIn.com by 3:00 on April 30.

This Week in Astronomy
On Monday we will begin our unit on the universe. Remember that your unit 2 outdoor lab is due on Monday. On Tuesday we will take the moon unit test. The three podcasts on our unit 3 webpage will help you review. Be sure to do the unit 3 homework and turn it in before the test. Your next (and last) outdoor lab on the moon is due on May 12.

Cool Science of the Week
Innovation is the cornerstone of progress! Check out the best inventions of 2014 as chosen by Popular Science magazine’s Invention Awards.

Week three of fourth quarter!

This Week in AP Physics
We will take a big electric circuits quiz on Monday in which you’ll be given an FRQ to complete in a limited amount of time. The FRQ can cover anything from this unit except for capacitors. We will do homework 3 for Tuesday and will then cruise through Unit 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetism. Be sure to work your review practice sets using the review workbook for units 3 & unit 4 which are due on Thursday. One month to go! 🙂
(P.S. On Tuesday during 3rd period you will attend a meeting with all AP students to fill out the paperwork for your tests.)

This Week in Physics
If you’re in third period, you will do the awesome Electric Fields Lab on Monday. If you’re in sixth period, you won’t…because you already did it, and doing it twice would be silly. On Monday/Tuesday we will finish covering the material in Podcast 6 – Electric Potential Energy and Podcast 7 – Electric Potential Energy Examples and will do assignment 4. The electrostatics unit test will be Wednesday. When announced, please begin the next unit on electric circuits by taking notes on Podcast 1 – Circuits and Current and Electric Circuits Podcast 2 – Resistance and Ohm’s Law. We may also do unit 8 assignment 1 by the end of the week.

This Week in Astronomy
We will continue with (and possibly finish) our unit on the moon. Those of you who did not finish Lunar Phasing Activity 2 should do so for Monday when we will debrief it and then thoroughly cover the phases of the moon, including their timings and alignments with Earth and the Sun. Expect a big quiz late in the week. Podcast 2 – Lunar Phases and their Appearances and Podcast 3 – The Phases and their Timings will help you prepare. Once we finish the quiz, we’ll explore the “lunology” of the moon. The unit test will be the week of April 21. Remember also that on Monday, April 21 the Unit 2 – Outdoor Lab is due. This requires you to go outside for many observations over a couple of weeks. Be sure to work on this regularly.

Cool Science of the Week
We’ve been exploring electrostatics in physics. Flames (and smoke) contain ions that can respond to electric fields. Check out this cool video demonstrating what happens to a candle flame when it’s exposed to a 20V potential difference between two oppositely-charged metal plates. You might also enjoy checking out the other videos from the same science video blog, Veritasium. (A big thanks to Rachel O. for pointing out this video!)

Week two of 4th quarter! Remember to check out the school musical beginning on Thursday. Lots of our classmates are in it, and it looks like fun!

This Week in AP Physics
On Monday we will play multiple puzzles of series, parallel, and compound circuits and do homework 2 for Tuesday. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will work in analysis of batteries, voltmeters, ammeters, and capacitors and will do homework 3 for Wednesday or Thursday. By Tuesday we need to decide as a class whether to have the unit 11 test next week on Monday or combine it with the unit 12 test to save some time. Give it some thought. 🙂

This Week in Physics
On Monday we will take a quiz on Coulomb’s Law. For Monday please also take notes on Podcast 4 – Electric Fields part 1 and Podcast 5 – Electric Fields part 2. We will spend Monday and Tuesday working on electric fields and will do assignment 3 followed by a quiz. Next up will be one of the most fun labs of the year, the electric fields lab! If time permits, we will take notes on Podcast 6 – Electric Potential Energy and Podcast 7 – Electric Potential Energy Examples, if announced. Expect a test the week of April 14.

This Week in Astronomy
We will collect and analyze data of the moon’s appearance and rise/set times to recognize the pattern of and develop an explanation for the changes in the moon’s appearance over a lunar cycle. Expect a quiz mid-week and a test the week of April 14. Remember to work on our second outdoor lab, the Unit 2 – Outdoor Lab. This takes many days to complete, and it is due on on Monday, April 21. (Do not delay starting, because you need to take multiple measurements spaced days apart.) HEADS UP: If you need to finish the data collection and analysis for the lunar phasing activity, here is the document. Remember there are questions on page two.

Cool Science of the Week
In astronomy this week we had the pleasure of Skype-ing with Ken Aird of the University of Chicago’s South Pole Telescope team to discuss the recent big news about the discovery of evidence for the enormous inflation that occurred in the first 10^-35s of the universe’s existence, according to the inflationary model of the Big Bang.* He sent along this article and video that do a terrific job of explaining the discovery in plain terms. Enjoy!

*As always, remember my disclaimer that since this is a science class, we explore the universe by offering the perspective of science. All world views are respected.