Monday, April 28, 2008

Vector Analysis Portfolio

Your vector portfolio is due May 2, 2008.

As you know, a vector quantity is any quantitiy that has both magnitude (with units) and direction. In this portfolio you are to discover how vector quantities may be represented, combined graphically and broken down into component parts. From there you are to apply what you have learned to solve word problems.

Lunchtime tutoring will be available all week during lunch. I wont even break for tea!
After school help will also be available if needed but the day has to be arranged with me ahead of time.
Please ask any and all questions here. I will be checking periodically everyday.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Mousetrap Car Report

Now you are ready to write a comprehensive essay that details your process when building your car and learning the Physics behind it.
The written assessment for the mousetrap car lab project is due Friday, April 4.
Include the following in you report:

1. An introduction(2 paragraph minimum) on the background about the project, which includes a statement of purpose and your preliminary ideas.
2. A methods and materials section that describes and includes insights into how you designed your vehicle, what made your vehicle work or as the case may be, not work.
3. A data section with your results and class results.
4. A conclusion which should contain all physics principles involved in making the mousetrap car move starting from the time you pulled back the handle until the car stopped moving. Principles include Newton's laws, friction, work, potential energy, and kinetic energy. If you could do it over again what would you keep the same? what would you change?

The report must be typed, 12 font, Times New Roman. You are encouraged to add pictures and or diagrams to you report. The final grade on this project is a combination of the grade earned for your vehicle and the grade earned for your written report and will be included in your third marking period grade.
Please make a comment if you have any questions. I will be checking for questions tonight and tomorrow night.