Conceptual: Nuclear Intro Lab

Today we started our Nuclear unit. Bellwork:



Then we used cloud chambers to see the trails of radiation emitted from uranium in the glaze of some old Fiestaware.  I can't set this up for you again if you missed it, but here is a video of a giant cloud chamber in Berlin.

Homework tonight is to read through and complete Nuclear Technology Affects Us All.  I do not have an electronic version.

Honors: Position and Speed

And so begins our kinematics unit. Most students from previous years have told me that this is the most difficult unit because we use quite a lot of math. First, some bellwork:

And notes:



Homework is Kinematics I, due tomorrow.

Quantum Test

Test today!  If you missed it (we had some field trips) it is YOUR responsibility to make it up within a week.

Quantum Physics Study Guide...for 15 minutes

For the 15 minutes I'll see you today, we'll be working on the study guide for tomorrow's test.  See yesterday's post for the link.

And don't forget to count your bellwork stamps since 9/12/11.

Quantum Physics Study Guide

Today and tomorrow we are working on the study guide for the quantum physics test.  The test is on Friday.

Conceptual physics study guide
Honors physics study guide

Spectra Lab

Today we did the Spectra Lab.  If you were not here, I will simply excuse you for it.  If you want to make it up, you may do so after school.  Alone, it will probably take you 20-30 minutes.

Spectra

The bellwork is actually the most important thing today:


Followed by some notes about spectra (singular: spectrum) to set us up for a lab tomorrow.


Homework: Quantum IV (conceptual) or Quantum IV (honors).

Comic!

This must be shared - not only is it awesome, it is also timely for our class :)

xkcd: Prarie

Photon Emission and Absorption

 Bellwork:






Notes...which don't make a whole lot of sense if you weren't there...










Here are some websites that explain:
Regents Prep - Bohr Model
McGraw-Hill - Play with Absorption/Emission
University of Toronto - Another Animation of Bohr Model

Homework: Quantum III (conceptual) or Quantum III (honors).  There is supposed to be a drawing but for some reason it did not transfer into GoogleDocs.

Discrete Energy Levels - Bohr Model

Bellwork:

Remember, the Bohr Model is not technically correct, but it helps us explain why only certain energy levels are allowed.

























Here is a nice animation of the electron standing waves around the nucleus from the University of Toronto.

Homework: Quantum II.  Note that the wavelength of electrons for does change with the energy level - the speed changes, which affects the deBroglie wavelength.  But in #3 and #4 on the homework, we're going to simplify things a bit and assume the electron wavelength is the same for all energy levels.

deBroglie Wavelength and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

A bit of bellwork to introduce the topic:



Some notes:


Keep in mind that the last bit about the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is highly conceptual and does not give you the whole picture. But we don't really need the whole picture, and I think this is confusing enough. I just wanted you to have this small amount of exposure so I could tell you my favorite physics joke:

Heisenberg was driving on the New Jersey turnpike and got pulled over by the police. The cop said, "Sir, do you know how fast you were going?" Heisenberg replied, "No, but I know where I am."

:D

Anyway, homework.

Practice: Quantum I

Today we used bellwork

to review last night's homework, then spent the rest of the period practicing:

Quantum I (conceptual)
Quantum I (honors)

Quanta and the Photoelectric Effect

Bellwork:

And here are some notes from various periods...some may overlap.

Homework: Energy of Photons
Honors students also have a reading and extra homework:
Photoelectric Effect Reading
HW: Photoelectric Effect

Sorry!

I haven't gotten around to posting this year...feel free to use the labels on the right to browse through previous years' info.  I'll be posting from here on out and trying to backpost to the beginning of the year as well

Marble Lab Setup

Atoms and Scale

Today we took a trip out to the football field with a marble. If the nucleus of an atom were the size of a marble, the rest of the atom would be the size of the football stadium. And it would be almost completely empty space.

Bellwork:

Models of the Atom History

First bellwork:


Then you had the rest of the period to read a short passage about the development of the model of the atom. Please create a timeline from this reading, due tomorrow.