Friday, Sept 11, 2009 - Block 3B

Homework:
1. Bring back completed Parent Notification form
2. Bring back completed Course Overview form
3. Cover textbook
4. Students randomly chose a number corresponding to a chapter in the textbook (ch 2-9) for next time, please
a. draw a concept map of the ideas of the chapter
b. identify important vocabulary
c. come up with 3 questions or problems that illustrate the main ideas of the chapter.
5. Log onto Quia and do the exercises:
a. Significant Digits
b. Rounding
c. Scientific Notation

Got textbooks - bring them to class on Tuesday with a structurally sound cover that is not taped to the book

Went over course expectation form.
Handed out Quia usernames and passwords.
Explained Quia assignments to be done for next time. These three are really an into into how to input answers into the fill in questions for Quia.

I mentioned the article I read on REM sleep and solving problems. It's all about making connections. I want the students in this class to make connections between the various concepts. Do not view the subject as entirely compartmentalized.

I am willing to hold after-school sessions to help students prepare for IB but these have to be initiated by the students. Students have to tell me what they would like to cover. I do not force students to come.

Students drew a number corresponding to a chapter in the text. Students were asked to review the chapter, prepare a concept map, identify vocabulary, and come up with 3 questions or problems that illustrated the important points of the chapter.

Showed set-up for iron wire demo. Asked students to describe what physics they say.
I will do this demo for my APS students but since it shows so much of what we will cover in IB Physics 2 I decided to show it here as well.
We touched on electric circuits, showing that you must have a closed circuit to conduct electricity. Showed that the ammeter (current measuring device) is hook up in series in the circuit. Showed the concept of pressure in using the C-clamps.

When I turned on the voltage, the wire began to sag as it heated. This indicates linear expansion with temperature. The class identified the important variables and we were able to derive an equation for linear expansion.

I had to keep increasing the voltage to maintain the current. The resistance of the wire increased with temperature. I = V/R

As the wire continued to heat, it turned red and then red-orange. It got hot enough to glow in visible light.

Students observed convection currents, or the affect of the convection currents on the refraction of light.

When the wire got hot enough, a magnet fell off showing that there was a change in the magnetism of the wire (ferromagnetism --> paramagnetism)

When the power was shut off, the wire cooled and shrank, but then suddenly expanded again before continuing to shrink. I explained that was a phase change between two crystal structures, the expansion occurred when it transitioned to the less dense structure as it cooled.

Cool demo.

Also demonstrated the diamagnetism of grapes. Asked for a hypothesis, will the grapes be attracted, repelled, or not affected? The grapes, connected by a straw, hung by a thread. They actually were repelled by the magnet showing it was not the same effect as ferromagnetism.

Finished by starting to show powerpoint for Topic 1. Didn't get very far before end of period.

Class went very well.