Physics Online Resources
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General Resources
The following online resources may be helpful as you struggle with the material presented in class. Different points of view and learning modes are important when trying to master such a challenging subject. Some of these online tutorials include quizzes to test your understanding. Note that not all of the material below will be covered in my class (especially the math). On the other hand, we'll be covering concepts in class that aren't addressed in any of the following:
- Metric System
- A handout I developed explaining all of the prefixes (e.g., "milli-", "centi-", "mega-") and the base units (e.g., "meter", "joule", "netwon") in the Systèm International (metric system).
- Dimensional Analysis
- A handout I developed with exercises for practicing dimensional analysis (unit conversions).
- Rounding Numbers
- A page describing how to properly round a number to a target precision.
- Adding Vectors
- A page describing how to properly add vectors, both graphically and analytically.
- Physics Simulations (Java Applets)
- Walter Fendt has published a truly amazing collection of excellent Java applets demonstrating many key physics concepts. Most allow the user to control the key variables to conduct simulated experiments.
- Physlets (Physics Java Applets)
- Another set of Java applets developed by Wolfgang Christian at Davidson University and Dr. Scott Schneider at the Lawrence Technological University. Many of these include a lot of rigorous mathematical treatment that's beyond the scope of a high school physics course.
- HyperPhysics
- This site does an excellent job of explaining many of the concepts we cover in our class (and more). The mathematical treatment has a bit more depth, but it should still be understandable (if sometimes challenging) to any student who is prepared for physics.
- The Book of Phyz
- Dean Baird is the physics teacher at Rio Americano High School. He's published nearly all of his handouts and lectures online (PDFs, QuickTime presentations, etc.) A different perspective is always useful when struggling with a difficult concept.
- Dr. Kromm's Patented Math and Physics Tutorial
- This doesn't really have much about heat, but it does contain some good basic science math, such as scientific notation, significant figures, etc. Please ignore his directions for rounding numbers as he uses a different method (and doesn't describe it correctly anyway).
- Large Hadron Collider Photos
- These probably won't help you pass physics, but they're still really fun to look at. As I always say, physics has the best toys! While you're at it, check out the LHC Rap.
(more to come...)
Resources Used in Class
I've posted my lesson plans below, which include most of the text I put up on the board. However, these are very terse notes. As I try to get students to do at the board, I talk around my text rather than just reading it. These lesson plans may be of some use to supplement your own notes, but there's really no way to make up for a missed class day (ABSENCE = DEATH). Every little bit helps, though.
I'm going to try to show at least one web resource in most of the class periods this year. I'll post these URLs here as well, which should be particularly useful for those foolish souls
who are absent from class:
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows)
|
| Latte, expectations, syllabus, learning algorithm |
TH1 |
|
| Temperature vs. heat |
TH2 |
|
| Temperature scales |
TH3 |
|
| Heat flow, heat capacity |
TH4 |
|
| Crazy mixed up heat lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Heat units |
TH6 |
|
| Specific heat capacity |
TH7 |
|
| Thermal expansion of metals |
TH8 |
|
| Conduction, insulation, thermal conductivity |
TH9 |
|
| Convection, radiation, Newton's law of cooling |
TH10 |
|
| Temperature & heat review |
Test topics |
|
| Temperature & heat test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Test review, evaporation |
PC1 |
|
| Condensation, absolute/relative humidity |
PC2 |
|
| Fog, clouds, defrosting |
PC3 |
|
| Vapor pressure, boiling, volatility |
PC4 |
|
| Melting, freezing, regelation |
PC5 |
|
| Heat of fusion/vaporization |
PC6 |
|
| Cold fusion lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Powers of 10, scientific notation |
PC8 |
|
| Precision, significant figures/digits, rounding |
PC9 |
|
| Engineering Project topics |
Engineering Project sheet |
|
| Change of phase review |
Test topics |
|
| Change of phase test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Test review, learning algorithm |
|
|
| Internal energy, energy conversion technology |
TD1 |
|
| Mechanical equivalent of heat, 1st law of thermodynamics with math |
TD2 |
|
| Pressure & temperature, mountain weather |
TD3 |
|
| Adiabatics, auto engines |
TD4 |
|
| Air conditioner, heat pump |
TD5 |
|
| 2nd law of thermodynamics, mechanical efficiency |
TD6 |
|
| Carnot efficiency |
TD7 |
|
| Heat engines, steam locomotives, turbines |
TD8 |
|
| Entropy |
TD9 |
|
| Chaotic lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Thermodynamics review |
Test topics |
|
| Thermodynamics test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| SI units |
LM1 |
|
| References frames, Mozi, Galileo, friction |
LM2 |
|
| Distance, displacement, speed, velocity |
LM3 |
|
| Acceleration |
LM4 |
|
| Acceleration math |
LM5 |
|
| Free fall lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Slopes, distance/velocity/acceleration graphs |
LM7 |
|
| Vector components & resultants |
LM8 |
|
| Ballistic motion |
LM9 |
|
| Centripetal acceleration |
LM10 |
|
| Linear & 2-D motion review |
Test topics |
|
| Linear & 2-D motion test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Inertia, 1st law |
NL1 |
|
| Force, mass, weight |
NL2 |
|
| 2nd law |
NL3 |
|
| Free fall |
NL4 |
|
| Balancing forces, force vectors, net force |
NL5 |
|
| Sliding friction, air resistance, terminal v |
NL6 |
|
| 3rd law |
NL7 |
|
| Momentum, conservation of mv |
NL8 |
|
| Impulse = momentum change |
NL9 |
|
| Collision lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| 2-D momentum conservation, elastic/inelastic collisions |
NL11 |
|
| Newton's laws review |
Test topics |
|
| Newton's laws test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Work, W=Fd |
EM1 |
|
| Gravitational PE, reference frames |
EM2 |
|
| Power |
EM3 |
|
| GPE to/from KE transfers |
EM4 |
|
| Conservation of energy, work-energy theorem |
EM5 |
|
| Leverage, planes, machines |
EM6 |
|
| Very little work lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Universal gravitation |
EM8 |
|
| Moment of ineratia, conservation of angular momentum |
EM9 |
|
| Torque, cross products |
EM10 |
|
| Quantitative rotational mechanics |
EM11 |
|
| Energy & machines review |
Test topics |
|
| Energy & machines test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| New groups/syllabus, flyin' fur demo, E/M intro |
ES1 |
|
| Sticky tape lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Lab review, charge carriers & interactions |
ES3 |
|
| Electrical affinity, polarization, 3 charging methods |
ES4 |
|
| E fields, Faraday field lines, Van De Graaff fun |
ES5 |
|
| Charge quantity (Coulomb), E force, Coulomb's law |
ES6 |
|
| E field strength |
ES7 |
|
| EPE (Joule), E potential (Volt) |
ES8 |
|
| Conductor charge distribution, Gauss's law |
ES9 |
|
| Lightning rods, arc simulations, conductors vs. insulators |
ES10 |
|
| Electrostatic review |
Test topics |
|
| Electrostatic test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Voltaic cells/batteries, current (Ampere) |
CR1 |
|
| Circuits, water analogy, resistance (Ohm), Ohm's law |
CR2 |
|
| Circuit lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Lab review, series vs. parallel circuits, electric power, electric energy |
CR4 |
|
| Series cricuits: voltage drops, adding resistance, full current in each segment |
CR5 |
|
| Voltage loop law (Kirchhoff's 1st), parallel practice |
CR6 |
|
| Parallel circuits, path of least resistance, full voltage applied to each path, current divided between paths, lower total R |
CR7 |
|
| Current branch law (Kirchhoff's 2nd), parallel practice |
CR8 |
|
| Series vs. parallel circuits, Kirchhoff's laws, circuit analysis |
CR9 |
|
| Current speed, AC vs. DC |
CR10 |
|
| Home wiring, breakers & fuses, grounding |
CR11 |
|
| Circuit review |
Test topics |
|
| Circuit test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Magnet lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Lab review, B fields, domains, permanent magnets |
MG2 |
|
| Earth's B field, compass, vector heads & tails, wire RH rule |
MG3 |
|
| Solonoid RH rule |
MG4 |
|
| Ferromagnetism, B field affects i, RH motor rule |
MG5 |
|
| CRT rasterization, synchrotron? |
MG6 |
|
| Galvanometer, electric motor |
MG7 |
|
| Earth's protective B field, building electric motors |
MG8a
Motor sheet
|
|
| Induction, Lenz's law, generators |
MG9 |
|
| Magnet review |
Test topics |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| New groups, wave parameters & formulae |
SW1 |
|
| Slinky, tranverse/longitudinal, earthquakes, compression/rarefaction |
SW2 |
|
| Contructive/destructive interference, superposition |
SW3 |
|
| Reflection, standing waves, nodes & antinodes |
SW4 |
|
| Harmonics, resonance, pitch, strings, open tubes |
SW5 |
|
| Closed tubes, sound speed, Doppler effect, sonic booms |
(SW6), SW7 |
|
| Mach one lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Sound wave review |
Test topics |
|
| Sound wave test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Test review, electromagnetic radiation |
LW1 |
|
| Electromagnetic spectrum, color, Doppler effect |
LW2 |
|
| Emission, absorption, resonance |
LW3 |
|
| Transparency, selective transmission, reflected color, rods & cones |
LW4 |
|
| Additive primaries, black & white, resonance, conversion to heat |
LW6 |
|
| Pigments, subtractive primaries |
LW7 |
|
| Scattering, sunsets, selective transmission |
LW8 |
|
| Reflection, mirrors, surface normal |
LW9 |
|
| Refraction |
LW10 |
|
| Wave fronts, mirages |
LW11 |
|
| Lenses, partial reflection & refraction, critical angle |
LW12 |
|
| Dispersion, rainbows |
LW13 |
|
| Light wave review |
Test topics |
|
| Light wave test |
Absolute silence! |
|
| Lesson topics |
Lesson Plans |
Web pages shown in class
(when time allows) |
| Test review, models, Huygens' principle |
QD1 |
|
| Diffraction, single slit interference |
QD2 |
|
| Double slit interference, wavelength dependence |
QD3 |
|
| Diffraction gratings, thin film iridescence, interference |
QD4 |
|
| Polarizing shades lab |
Lab sheet |
|
| Polarization |
QD6 |
|
| Photoelectric effect, energy of a photon |
QD7 |
|
| Emission & absorption spectra, incandescence, phosphorescence, fluorescence |
QD8 |
|
| Lasers |
QD9 |
|
| Quantum duality, de Broglie wavelength, quantum vacuum |
QD10 |
|
| Heisenberg uncertainty principle, measurement problem, Schrödinger's cat, wave function, quantum interpretations |
QD11 |
|
| Quantum duality review |
Test topics |
|
| Quantum duality test |
Absolute silence! |
|
|
