Mr. B's Physics Web Site             

San Marcos High School, Home of the ROYALS!

Reaction Time Lab

In this lab students calculated their reaction times by measuring the distance it took them to catch a falling ruler released by another student and using the acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.8 meters/second²). Click on button at left to view photos of students.

Momentum Lab

In this lab students demonstrated the law of conservation of momentum by "exploding" two carts with unequal mass apart. Since the force on each cart is the same, the cart with less mass will travel a farther distance in the same time as the opposite cart. By using the relationship P = M ·V, where P = momentum, M = mass, and V = volume, students can verify quantitatively the law and build intuition. Click on button at left to view photos of students.

Pendulum Lab

Students created a procedure to determine the variables that affect the period of a pendulum (the time it takes a pendulum to complete one back and forth swing). The class first brainstormed possible variables that could affect the period, then broke into groups to write a procedure that would allow them to take data and come up with a conclusion. The three variables that each class came up with are: the length, weight on the end, and angle of drop. Click on button at left to  view photos of students.

Sound Lab

Sound is generated by vibrating objects. These objects compress the air around them and it is these compressions that reach our ear and are perceived as sound. How is the volume and tone of a sound determined? Students generated different sounds, used a microphone to record these sounds, and analyzed them using a program on the computer. Students compared the frequency to the pitch (tone) of a sound to make a general statement about their relationship. 

Physics of Tennis

The physics of topspin and slice shots in tennis was discussed before students went out to the courts to attempt each shot. Both topspin and slice are created by causing the tennis ball to spin in opposite directions. The spin causes air to flow faster on top or bottom which creates a pressure difference. This difference is what causes the ball to either "float" in the air longer in the case of slice, or "dive" in the case of a topspin shot.

Final Projects

For their final presentation, students created a PowerPoint presentation on a self-chosen demonstration that illustrates a physics principle addressed in our class. Topics ranged from how a gasoline engine works to the pitch of sounds created by blowing over a bottle. The PowerPoint presentation included diagrams and explanations of the physics concepts involved in the demonstration. 

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Last modified: August 26, 2007