Mr. B's Physics Web Site             

San Marcos High School, Home of the ROYALS!

Motion Detector Lab

Students used computer probes to analyze position versus time graphs for moving objects. Velocity versus Time graphs were also analyzed and students observed to relationship between the two graphs and the actual movement of the object. 

Animal Races Lab

Students "raced" African Safari wind up animals in order to examine the relationship between the slope of a distance versus time graph and velocity. 

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). 

Angular Momentum

In this demonstration, students experienced conservation of angular momentum. Angular momentum is defined as moment of inertia multiplied by rotational velocity. This quantity remains constant if no external torques (forces) act on the system. Students began with bricks in hand spread far from their axis of rotation while sitting on a rotating lab stool. After being rotated to a certain angular speed they then brought the bricks in close to their axis and experienced a dramatic increase in their angular speed. This is because moment of inertia obeys the same laws as realtors, location, location, location. Moment of inertia depends upon the amount of mass and its location compared to the axis of rotation. The larger the mass and farther the mass is from the axis of rotation, the larger the moment of inertia.

Final Projects

Students are assigned a final project which consists of a demonstration of an application of some physical phenomena covered in the course. Students show the demonstration then complete a PowerPoint presentation explaining their demonstration.

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Last modified: August 26, 2007