NGHS AP Physics B

superposition assignment

2012-02-12T17:06:00.000-08:00

hi all - please do problems #12 and 14 on page 465, and read/cornell 16-7 on electric fields. also, complete MOP #10.

got questions? post them here...

how many words do you know?

2012-02-09T19:27:00.001-08:00

found a neat site that you might like...

http://dynamo.dictionary.com/

ranking task assignment

2012-02-09T15:46:00.000-08:00

there are two ranking task exercises due for tomorrow:
"three linear charges - electric force" (#127)
"two nonlinear electric charges - electric force" (#128)

i think i'll make a video on these later on tonight.

coulomb's law assignment

2012-02-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

hi all...static electricity MOPs 8-9, along with problems #1-6 in chapter 16.

sorry that it took a while to get this post up. fire away with questions!

neat find...

2012-02-06T17:18:00.001-08:00

prior to a visit to fermilab national laboratory, a group of elementary school students were asked to draw a picture of scientist and describe what one would be like. they were also asked to do the same thing AFTER their visit. how cool to see how their views changed of what scientists are like!

CLICK HERE FOR LINK.

electricity basics

2012-02-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

hi all...you have static electricity MOP #1,3,5 as well as the electron charge worksheet. have at it...post any questions you have, rather than punching/shooting your computer screen. deal? :)

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mop/module.cfm

measuring the earth's radius with a videocamera?

2012-02-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

click here to read all about it!

introduction to MOPs - gravitation

2012-02-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

okay gang...here's the demo video you saw earlier on thursday. as a reminder, here's what you MUST enter when selecting 'for credit' mode. speaking of 'for credit' mode...you can PRACTICE on a level before attempting it for credit. i suggest you do that in order to get comfortable.

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE PHYSICS CLASSROOM MOP SITE.

Teacher Code: NGHSN
ID#: (the first six digits of your student ID#)

DON'T FORGET TO WRITE YOUR SUCCESS CODES ON YOUR INFO SHEET, JUST IN CASE!

good luck. email me if you need an extra copy of the paper directions and chart i gave you in class.

gravitational force worksheet

2012-02-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

not much to say about this one, other than you can use all the values for mass from the last worksheet. you WILL need to research the distance from the sun to each planet, though...along with the distance from the earth to the moon. again, if you find a particularly good website, feel free to post it here.

gravitational field worksheet

2012-01-31T17:46:00.001-08:00

if you've got questions on tonight's homework, post them here. as long as we're at it, if you found a really great website with all the info you'll need (there are MANY), you should post the link here. i don't mind.

intro to gravitation assignment

2012-01-30T17:34:00.001-08:00

read giancoli chapter 5-6, and do questions #11-16 (not problems #11-16) at the back of the chapter. if you've got questions, let me know. i'm making a video to help with scientific notation, too.

FRQ info post...

2012-01-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

won't be able to get a video up, but allow me to guide your studying for the FRQ portion tomorrow.

1. like i said in class - first FRQ will be an inclined plane problem, but needs to be solved using work-energy. think about the energy transformation as an object travels down the plane. whatever energy an object start with must be what it ends with, even if that initial gravitational potential energy changes form. and...if thermal energy is created, the work done by friction created it. in essence...

Wfric = change in Etherm Ffric x d = Etherm (solve for Ffric?)

2. the second FRQ involves a conservation of momentum question, and types of collisions will come into play. what makes elastic collisions what they are? how can you tell what type of a collision you have, if all you have is mass and initial and final velocities?

3. the final FRQ is about circular motion. specifically, period, frequency, tangential velocity, centripetal acceleration, centripetal force, and what force might act as centripetal force. i'd have your centripetal force worksheet handy, as well as your circular motion packet. also, better have your vectors taken care of for tangential velocity and centripetal acceleration.

by the way, MC tests are graded. no, i don't have your grade by me. you can ask about them tomorrow morning, although i think it'd be easier on your sanity if you waited until AFTER the FRQ test. equation tests aren't done yet, either...and they won't be until during 5th period. expect to see some slight changes to your grade as i enter in your collision definitions, winter break assignment, and rotating surface bellringer sometime tomorrow or thursday.

happy studying/compiling!

centripetal force assignment

2012-01-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

in giancoli, do P# 4,8,9,10,16b (and only 16b),18 on page 130-131. who knows, maybe if i get my laptop resuscitated over the weekend, i'll get another video up.

don't forget...NO SATURDAY SESSION TOMORROW. spread the word.

circular motion assignment

2012-01-17T17:50:00.001-08:00

your assignment is the three-page packet of problems i passed out in class today. if you were absent (and have a printer), drop me an email and i'll reply with a copy. i was thinking of making a video later on, but not until at least 8:30. i got home from work around 7...a guy's got to rest a bit, right? :)

impulse-momentum assignment part 2

2012-01-16T15:32:00.000-08:00

hi all...sorry for the late post, but hopefully you've already worked your way through the assignment and have questions that need answering.

the assignment was to read and cornell giancoli's chapter 5-1 and 5-2 (circular motion), do problem #20 on pg. 189 (area under F vs. t), and answer questions 8-10 on page 187 (impulse-momentum).

no videos this time around, but you may be confused on #20: the shape of the graph is not a perfect triangle or rectangle, so what you'll have to do is count squares instead. make your best estimate with squares that are a fraction of a square. i suppose you could also make a triangle approximation...but it wouldn't be as accurate.

got questions? post them here!

impulse-momentum theorem assignment

2012-01-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

hi all...in giancoli, read and cornell 7-3. also, do #15 and 16 on page 188. no videos - these problems are pretty self-explanatory.

be safe with the snow! here's a website with different coefficients of friction between snow and various surfaces:

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2007/TabraizRasul.shtml

elastic collisions assignment

2012-01-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

in giancoli, do #22-24 on page 189. you'll need to reference back to 7-5 and check line 7-7 to help with these. i just got home from work, if you can believe that. i'd like to eat something for dinner, then i'll post a video about #22 (or maybe even #23) later on.

collisions pre-assignment

2012-01-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

hi all - great job with the whiteboards in class today. i was really pleased with how that went!

here's your assignment for tomorrow - using either the book, your cornell notes from the book, or from the video that will soon appear (in maybe 45 mins or so), bring me SPECIFIC definitions of what an elastic, inelastic, and perfectly inelastic collision are. have these three definitions (and any relevant equations) on a separate sheet of paper to be turned in (not three sheets - just one). we'll pick a few and check for correctness and similarities.

**UPDATE - video is done and posted (9:29 p.m.)**

momentum and conservation of momentum assignment

2012-01-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

hi all...in giancoli, read and cornell 7.1-7.2 and 7.4-7.6. also, do problems 1,4,6 on page 188.

**EDIT - DO NOT DO NUMBER 5.***

if you've got a question about a specific problem, please post it as a comment. i'm dying to try out my new video setup!

**UPDATE - here's my first tablet video! it's a walkthrough for problem #4. subsequent problems are shown below.**

winter assignment and updates...

2011-12-29T08:01:00.000-08:00

conservation of energy part one

2011-12-19T15:12:00.001-08:00

in Giancoli, please do problems #33-35 on page 163. if you've got questions, post them here. thanks!

more conservative work and potential energy...

2011-12-17T10:29:00.001-08:00

on page 163, answer #29-32. also, read and take cornell notes on section 6-5...we'll be talking about conservation of energy on monday and tuesday. if you've got questions, post them here!

conservative work and potential energy assignment

2011-12-15T16:12:00.001-08:00

hi all...

read and cornell giancoli section 6-4, and answer #26-28 on page 163 for class tomorrow. if you've got questions, post them here!

graphing work-energy theorem assignment

2011-12-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

an important thing about the packet: on the second page, there is a typo on the last question. it should say 'assume 'theta' is 180', and NOT zero. the problem won't work if theta is zero. also, assume vi = 0 in all cases.

if you've got questions about the worksheet, this is the place to post.

work-energy theorem assignment

2011-12-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

hi all...if you've got questions that pertain to the work-energy worksheet, this is the place to post them. have at it...

oh, and by the way - if you complete (and by 'complete', i'm implying 'with a strong level of accuracy') your worksheet tomorrow by the end of the period for the sub, i'll tack on a few holiday EC points.

see you wednesday, but that doesn't mean i can't answer questions if you've got any.

mechanical power assignment

2011-12-07T14:22:00.001-08:00

if you've got questions on today's worksheet, please post them here. thanks!

constant and non-constant work assignment

2011-12-06T18:18:00.001-08:00

hi all...if you have questions about what's due tomorrow (i.e., packet + graphs), post them here. that is all! :)

work assignment (yes, really!)

2011-12-05T12:59:00.001-08:00

in giancoli, read 6-1 (pg. 137-141), and answer questions #1,3,4 on page 160.

also, answer this question along with the others:

"Work is a product of force and displacement - two vectors. Is work a vector, too? Why or why not?"

friction on an inclined plane assignment, part 2

2011-11-30T13:53:00.001-08:00

please calculate acceleration and slide time for #3 on the inclined planes worksheet. make sure to calculate net force first before determining the block's acceleration.

inclined plane kinematics assignment

2011-11-29T18:01:00.001-08:00

on the practice sheet, please do #1,2,5,6,7, solving for acceleration AND time to slide down the plane. keep in mind that Vo means initial velocity, and that on one problem in particular, you'll need to keep your signs straight for up/down the plane. also, you may need to use pythagorean theorem just to see how far the block slides, if it's not directly given to you.

friction word problems assignment

2011-11-27T07:55:00.001-08:00

hey all - please take care of the four WORD problems on the worksheet i gave you. the problems occasionally mention 'sliding' friction - it's a different way to explain 'kinetic' friction. if you've got questions, post them here.

friction lab assignment

2011-11-22T17:08:00.001-08:00

if you've got questions about the post-lab questions, here would be a good place to ask them. remember...you're allowed to be wrong, and you're allowed to be silent - BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. if you weren't in class today due to the NIU trip or the blood drive, this must be made up on your own time. i'll be at school at 7:30 tomorrow. deadline for makeups on this is wednesday of next week, at which point i'm closing the window. :)

qualitative friction assignment

2011-11-21T14:01:00.001-08:00

sorry for the lame picture...but you get the idea. finish the free body diagram handout given to you today in class. if you were absent, email me for a copy...you can print it out at home.

2011-11-17T12:25:00.001-08:00

After reading Giancoli's section on friction (pg. 90-93), answer the following questions in your notes:

1. What is kinetic friction, and what causes it?

2. What things influence the amount of the force of kinetic friction?

3. Describe what μ is, what influences it, and what DOESN'T influence it.

4. What range of numbers can you reasonably expect to have for μ?

5. What is the equation for kinetic friction?

6. Explain how static friction is different from kinetic friction.

7. For two surfaces, which μ coefficient is larger - static, or kinetic?

8. You're trying to push an object to get it moving, but the object stays at rest. Which type of friction is working against you?

9. You're pushing a box along the floor, and you feel the resistance the box has with the floor. Which type of friction is working against you?

newton's 3rd law activity

2011-11-15T10:21:00.001-08:00

please answer each question in complete sentences - nice job on finishing everything in time! the writing assignment at the end - make sure that you don't use the words 'action', 'reaction', or 'equal and opposite' to describe what you witnessed. also, make sure to address the velocity and mass issues from parts 2 and 3.

rolling projectiles assignment

2011-10-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

write a 3-4 sentence paragraph explaining why the marks on the floor for groups using the marble ramps from the COUNTERTOPS were different than the groups using the same ramps from the TABLETOPS.

also, giancoli pg. 66 P #23. see you tomorrow!

vector addition

2011-10-03T15:41:00.001-07:00

in giancoli, read 3-2 and 3-3 and answer QUESTIONS (the non-math ones) #1-6 at the back of chapter 3. also, please do #2 and #3 on the vector addition worksheet. happy studying, by the way! :)

vector packet placeholder

2011-10-03T15:40:00.001-07:00

have #1-5 done in your vector packet for monday...mmkay?

tennis ball lab

2011-09-27T16:03:00.001-07:00

hi all...make sure to have your tennis ball lab calculations done, along with answering the follow-up graph question. also, there's a quadratic equation question after the graph, so make sure to leave yourself some time for it! :)

post questions if you've got any...

quadratic free-fall placeholder

2011-09-27T16:02:00.001-07:00

for tuesday, please have the 'sample problem' i gave you ready to be checked.

free-fall kinematic equations assignment

2011-09-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

in giancoli, do P #33-34 on page 40 if you haven't already done so. in addition, do P #35-39. keep in mind which ones are class I or class II problems, and don't forget to use your 'summary' powerpoint slide i gave you during class. drawing sketch diagrams always helps, too.

post your questions, if you've got any!

free-fall equations assignment

2011-09-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

in giancoli, do P #33-34 on page 40. don't forget...'g' is -10 m/s^2, and vi for a dropped object is 0. also, delta y would be NEGATIVE for an object that ends up BELOW where it started.

questions? post'em! :)

placeholder free-fall assignment

2011-09-21T13:58:00.001-07:00

in giancoli, do Q #12,13,17,19,20 on page 38.

skid marks article

2011-09-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

click here to read an interesting article on how skid marks are used by the police. they use a different equation that takes into account the surface the car is on and the way the car brakes, but for the most part, it's fairly straightforward to read and understand.

forensic science, anyone? :)

kinematic equations assignment part 2

2011-09-19T18:56:00.001-07:00

giancoli #25-26 on pg. 40. don't forget that these are II-class problems, which means you might need to jump through an extra hoop to put something into the kinematics box. if you've got questions, post them here! sorry that this is up a little late...

kinematic equations

2011-09-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

in giancoli, do problems 21-23 on page 40. don't forget the STEPS! apply them to every problem.1. make a box with ALL five variables in it (even if the problem doesn't give you five).2. fill the box with what the problem gives you, and a ? by what it wants you to figure out.3. choose an equation, and re-write it to solve for your unknown.4. plug and chug!5. remember the unit.5 1/2. BOX YOUR ANSWER.

graphing velocity and acceleration AND BONUS!

2011-09-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

complete the graphing summary worksheet, and don't forget to put your 50 words on velocity and acceleration on a separate sheet of paper for me. if you've got questions on either of these things, post them here.click here to read about a cool discovery...scientists found a planet that orbits a binary star system. you can read more about binary star systems here if you'd like.

acceleration assignment part 2

2011-09-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

giancoli Q #7,8,9,11 on pg. 38 (checking)also, 50 words on how velocity and acceleration are different (collection)questions? let me know! :)

acceleration assignment

2011-09-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

the above picture is of walter lewin, physics professor at MIT (massachusetts institute of technology) lecturing about acceleration. if you'd like to hear what an MIT college physics course has to say about acceleration, click here to be taken to a page where you can check out the video.your assignment...giancoli Q #6 on pg. 38P #16, 17a (don't do part b), 18, 19 on pg. 39-40use the acceleration equation from today's lecture. make sure that if the problem gives you a velocity in km/hr, but asks for an acceleration in m/s^2, you'll need to convert. post questions if you've got them!

average velocity graphical analysis

2011-09-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

for tuesday, please have:

measuring average velocity DATA worksheet
measuring average velocity GRAPHING worksheet
your logger pro graph
position vs. time worksheet

remember - the slope of a position vs. time graph tells you the average velocity of the object. positive slope = positive velocity, etc.

if you've got questions, let me know by posting them!

instantaneous velocity and acceleration assignment

2011-09-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

read giancoli 2-3 and 2-4
Q #3-5 on pg. 38
finish calculations (if you got all of your data) for the measuring velocity activity.

if you don't have the text, email me...i have a solution for you!

speed and velocity assignment

2011-09-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

post questions HERE if you have any!

read giancoli 2-1 and 2-2
pg. 38 Q #1,2
pg. 39 P #1-6

tips:

P#1 - it's okay if the speed you get in in km/hr.
P#2 - it's okay if your answer is in hours.
P#3 - it's okay if your answer is in km. also, convert the 2.0 seconds into hours so that you can use this time with the km/hr from the problem.
P#5 - plug the numbers into the velocity equation i gave you. BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE SIGNS STRAIGHT. subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive one.

unit conversions worksheet

2011-09-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

this one will be due tomorrow (tomorrow being thursday). you can get helpful conversion figures from the metric prefixes sheet AND the conversion factors mini-sheet (the punched one) to help you. i'll be home tonight, so if you've got questions about the assignment, post them here. thanks!

metric conversions worksheet

2011-09-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

are you confused by the metric conversions worksheet? post your questions as comments to this entry. try to ask specific questions, rather than 'i don't get it'...it's easier for me (and others) to help you that way.

also - don't forget to bring the signed copy of the new syllabus AND the filled out information sheet tomorrow as well. thanks!

mr. niebuhr

need help with the trigonometry portion of the summer packet?

2011-07-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

i included examples of the types of problems you need to be able to solve at the top of each page of the trig section, but if you need more help, below are some videos you can watch to get up to speed. if you still have questions on the TRIG PART, you can post them as comments here.

the first two videos are basic pythagorean theorem and sine/cosine/tangent primers. the second set of videos are more about USING these functions to do meaningful things.

need to understand the pythagorean theorem? watch this:

basic trig videos:

intermediate trig videos:

need help with the algebra portion of the summer packet?

2011-07-29T14:01:00.001-07:00

hi all - hope you've been enjoying your summer. i don't think you'll need too much help with the circled problems from #51-61 in the algebra portion of the packet. however, the literal equations on the back might be tricky, if you haven't had a lot of experience with them. read the introduction at the bottom of the first algebra page - it gives you an introduction to literal equations, what they're for, and how to solve them. if you're still confused, watch the video below. if you've got questions on the ALGEBRA PART ONLY, post them as comments on this post. thanks!

Hello, and welcome to your AP Physics homework blog!

2010-06-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

welcome to ap physics here at NGHS, ladies and gentlemen! this blog is your one-stop place for homework assignments, homework help, and general information for our class. you'll find that in college, e-mail and blogs are the easiest ways for teachers and students to communicate each other; consider this good practice for when that day comes for you. you may find it useful to communicate with other students by using the comments feature here - everyone can see each other's messages, and i believe that teamwork and togetherness is the best way to learn physics.

just to make sure that we're all familiar with posting/commenting on a blog, the first portion of your summer assignment is to...

1. find this blog and this posting. congratulations...you've already done this part! :)

2. comment on this posting with the following text: "Hello, my name is ____________, and i know how to comment on the AP Physics blog."

please have this done by august 1st. thanks, and enjoy your summer!

mr. niebuhr

Buying a calculator for AP Physics...

2009-06-20T18:17:00.001-07:00

in any physics class, calculators are a necessary tool. in AP physics, your calculator is your trusty companion, so having the right one is important.

i recommend the texas instruments TI-30XIIs. it has everything that you'll need for the class. if you've already got a graphing calculator, that's fine...but it's more than what you'll actually need. this model is the most inexpensive, widely available calculator that covers the basics.

if you're not sure about your calculator, either comment here or send me an email at mr.niebuhr@gmail.com and let me know what model you have.