Monday, June 25, 2012

Welcome to the AP Physics B blog!

This is going to be the official blog for Mrs. Roland's AP Physics B course at SHS.  Please use this site to collaborate, discuss difficulties and frustrations, etc. so that I can "see" your thinking processes.  When I know where the problems are, I can tailor class to address these issues.  Remember to use only appropriate language (I'm reasonable but EXTREMELY conservative, as you may have already heard or know).


You will be expected to post on this blog a minimum of 3 times a week.  It could even be as simple as "I get everything" if that is the case.  But I need you to be honest so that I can help you.

180 comments:

  1. So does the 3 posts per week start this week or next week?

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  2. The posts start this week, and you have one done now.

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  4. I think the mastering physics website has our book already, so I did not need to search for it. Is that all we need to do with that site?

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  5. So just wanted to confirm, the three graphs we need to make are the following, right?
    1. Position vs. Time, with tangents
    2. Velocity vs. Time, based on tangents
    3. Velocity vs. Time, based on actual data

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  6. For the position graphs, should we make the first point (0,0)? Or make the time 0, but leave the position value? Or plot it as is?

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  7. Should we use color on our graphs? For example, should we use color to indicate the difference between the tangent lines on our position versus time graph from the actual data?

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  8. Plot it as is. Using different colors would be great.

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  9. Is it okay if I hand in one of my pages as the original copy because of bleed through on the paper?

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  10. I had a bit of trouble with the tangent graph, it's going to be inherently less exact than the table, right?

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  11. The lab took a little bit longer than what I was expecting because I was trying to clearly show steps for calculating slopes of the tangent lines but had trouble with it. I made couple mistakes and crossed out one graph since I accidentally plotted the wrong points. In general, would you take off points for messiness?

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  12. I had to do over 2 out of 3 graphs but now I think I get it

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  13. Once I redid my velocity graph for data points, I realized it was much better than my previous one.

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  14. Should we bring our notes from the first chapter tomorrow, considering we have our quiz?

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  15. I redid my graphs as well, and they look better. Also, I'm looking forward to getting into the material with problems, like the packet we got for homework today.

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  16. Is the quiz on just chapter 1? Or all the summer work chapters?

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  17. Yeah, as I'm starting to redo my graph based on the tangents, the new values look much more accurate.
    I also had the same question- which chapters is the quiz on?

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  18. My new graphs are also much better than the old ones. But are we suppose to include information about acceleration in the conclusion as well, even though we didn't analyze the data/plot acceleration vs. time graph?

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  19. Also, is it possible for us review some problems from the first 3 chapters before the quiz?

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  20. By the way- My graphs look much better now and the curve and tangent lines are actually visible on position vs time.

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  21. Trying to squeeze the data tables onto my papers is turning out to be harder than expected.

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  22. On the worksheet, I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out sig figs. Some of my answers are not consistent with the worksheet answers.

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    1. Have you looked at the Sig Figs Prezi on Edmodo? You can also go to Khanacademy.com and search for significant figures. I think there are 2 videos. Let me know if that helps.

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    2. I'll try the ones on khanacademy now. Thanks for the help!

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  23. Replies
    1. The worksheet that you told us to do an hour's worth of problem.

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  24. I had a quick question about sig figs:
    In the textbook, it says that they do not apply to calculations in the middle of the problem.
    What would I do if the problem looks like this?
    (5.1234 * 4.45) + 6.89
    Would I add the full product to 6.89, or the the number of sig figs only?

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    1. Add the full product. We are only going to apply the rules of sig figs at the end of a problem, unless there is a part a,b, etc. Then we will apply the rules at the end of each part and carry the results through the rest of the problem.

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  26. I finished 9 problems in about and hour and 5 minutes. Some of them took longer than I expected.
    Is it okay if I use my calculator to do the quadratic formula?

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  27. After about an hour I had only finished 6 problems is this too few?

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    1. You will want to increase this rate a bit for the test that will bw given near the end of next week.

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    2. Ok! I guess I'll use the rest of the problems to practice my speed

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  28. I am having trouble registering for the online course. Where is "enroll in new course"?

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  29. If you follow the directions exactly, it will be in the middle of the screen.

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  30. I'm not seeing where we access the assignment on the UT Direct page, all I see are links.

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    1. You need to log in, go to the course (1213), and scroll through the assignments until you see Kinematics 1.

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  31. I only did 6 problems on the worksheet in the hour but I think it might have been because I haven't really studied yet and I went to go over stuff during the hour. I'm going to finish the rest of the worksheet before class.

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  32. This is kind of a random question that came to my mind as I was doing the kinematic 2 worksheet. Are there going to be adding-vector problems on the AP test? If so, do we have to provide our own protractors then?

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  33. I think the times are still a little off for the kinematics worksheets online because it said kinematics 1 is due at 11 pm so I was still able to complete it even though you said it was due at 5 pm during class. Also, it still says kinematics 2 is due this Friday.

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    1. I decided to give you extra time until 11:00 on kinematics 1. I will change kinematics 2 to Sunday.

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  34. The plug and chug google doc doesn't load properly for me

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    1. You may need to send me a request to access the document through google docs. That is what Sayan did, and I saw that he opened the document.

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  35. Could someone share the google doc for the lab procedure with me at sroland@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us?

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  36. In regards to the google doc, we all mostly participated by talking through chat, not all of us wrote much actual type in the document but we all did contribute.

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  37. Could you give me access to the plug and chug worksheet please, my email is jacobj@townisp.com

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  38. Could you also do the same for me please?
    My email address: bpriyansh@gmail.com

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  39. Hey found that track. It should make experiment a lot easier. I have enough for both groups and i will bring it in. With a little bit of duck tape we should be able to make the ball drop straight and through the photogates.

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  40. Do we need to be able to derive the projectile motion equations on the test?

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  41. I have noticed that a few people have not posted on the blog at all. It is a requirement.

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    1. Personally for me, I haven't done much of the Kinematics 2, so I wasn't able to say if I'm having trouble or I get it all.

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  42. Don't forget that you should practice released open response questions on AP Central. That is the best way to prepare for the exam on Monday. There are also sample responses and scoring guidelines.
    http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2007.html

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  43. Monday is a day 2, so does that mean we're having a 2-hour exam? Or a 1-hour review and then the exam?

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    1. You will take the multiple choice during the first hour and open response during the second.
      There will be 10-12 mc and 2 or questions

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  44. I found one of the problems on kinematics 2 pretty tough, then I found out (through trial and error) that the first answer I put in was correct but for some reason, it didn't register with quest... It was pretty frustrating for me. At least I know the stuff now

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    1. Send me the number of the question, and I will go into Quest to look at it.

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    2. Scratch that- after reviewing it, it looks like I put a negative sign where one didn't belong... thanks anyways

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  45. On the multiple choice for Monday, will we be able to use calculators?

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  46. For the test,can we only use the equation sheet during the open response part of the test?

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  47. I just noticed that Kinematics 2 is due at 2:00. Has it always been due at 2? For some reason I thought that I would have today to work on it

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    1. It has always been due at 2, but I changed it to 6. In the future, however, you must check ahead of time so you are sure of the due time.

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  48. Okay, thanks. I still think I'll be done by 2 pm however.
    Although I had some trouble with one of the problems on Kinematics 2 because I wasn't quite sure what it was asking. It asked for the angle that a particle would strike the wall, and it while my first few answers were correct for the angle I thought it was referring to, I ultimately needed 6 tries to figure out which angle it was actually asking for

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  49. For problem 21, is the range we're finding the change in X once the ball leaves the ramp? Or are we including the horizontal distance the ball travelled along the ramp?

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  50. For problem number 5 on kinematics 2 I have the answer -25.4 but it says I'm wrong. I don't know if I'm finding the wrong angle.

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    1. the negative sign might be the problem

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    2. I did try without the negative but it said I was still wrong

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  51. Hey question about edmundo do i need to hit turn in after each project to get credit, because i haven't benn doing that and I just realized that it says i have alot of late assignments that i did

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  52. Is the lab due Friday?

    And I realize I should start working on it, if it is.

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    1. The lab will be due Monday, and we will discuss the template on Wed.

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  53. Is the chapter 4 work supposed to be completed by tomorrow? The due date says September 12th, but I though that it was due at the end of the week

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  54. For the lab issues, we came up with two options that would work. One is to adjust the data by finding Vi, then finding the distance they would all travel had the initial height been constant, and then scaling that data down to make all the initial velocities equal.
    Alternatively, we could use a nerf gun, because that would allow for constant velocity and initial height

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    1. The more valid scientific option is using the nerf gun. We can discuss the details tomorrow. Don't write the lab report yet.

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  55. For the lab, numbers 4-6 and 9 are based on our own personal throw. Can we all pick the trial we're going to use or should we assign each person one?

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    1. I don't have the lab here, so show it to me tomorrow and we will figure it out.

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  56. I'm doing ok so far this week. Sometimes the class works can get a little bit confusing though, and the discussions on the topics that i'm unsure about slow me down a bit. But i like the discussions because they help me to understand the topics

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    1. The process you described will get you to the deep understanding of the concepts. This will help make problems easier to solve.

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  57. I will post the solutions to the classwork for chapter 4 on Tuesday. The answers must be entered in google docs by that time.

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  58. Mrs.Roland, I have trouble finding the outline of the lab that you showed to us during class. So what exactly do we have to do for the analysis part?

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  59. I shared the template document with the class. You should receive email notification.

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  60. I'm not able to open the velocity data with Adobe. Anyone have any luck or a solution?

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    1. I opened it with Microsoft Excel, and that worked. The classwork file, on the other hand, doesn't work on my computer at all

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    2. It didn't work with Excel, but then I checked Word after and it worked! Thanks so much. And the classwork file also opens with Word. But if that doesn't work for you, the google doc where we have to put all our answers has the problems.

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  61. I'm trying the quest assignment a bit early, and I realized that the first five questions are worth 10 points and the rest are worth only 1 apiece. Could you check this?

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  63. For problem 7 in the analysis, are we allowed to use the Yi value? The problem says we should use t, v, sinΦ, cosΦ, and g, but if we use t and not Yi, then the equation doesn't show the dependence of range on initial Y velocity.

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  64. For Problems 8 and 9, we *know* the optimal angle is 45 degrees. But to calculate that we need the range. And we don't know the range since we don't *know* the optimal angle. So... what do we do?

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  65. Got Problems 8 and 9. But for the Errors, do you just want us to list some errors?

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    1. yes, but you need to be more specific than "human error".

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  66. How do we see the answers for the last Quest assignment again?

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  67. Also I didn't finish the ch. 4 questions that I heard we need to enter in the doc tonight that I assume everyone finished in class, do you want me to work on those now and submit them all tonight or only submit the ones I finished in class and do the rest in class tomorrow to submit then?

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    1. Finish what you can in an hour and submit those. Tomorrow you could put in the rest.

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  68. What format are the answer key documents in? I was trying to open them to study for the test, but I couldn't do it with excel, word, or firefox.

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    1. They are word docs, but the format might be .docx. Try to save them as .doc then opening.

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  69. Will there be any problems on the test that use the terminal velocity equations from chapter 5? We haven't really done any problems using them so I was just wondering.

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  70. Hey on future tests will the test questions be similar format because the book does not go into the complicated derivations that where on the test, so if other tests are going to be like that one I'm going to need a new studying method.

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  71. I feel that this test was much harder than the first one we took. Is it possible for us to practice on some past AP-physics exam questions so we can be more familiar with the type of questions that they ask?

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  72. After taking the test, I can honestly say I wasn't very prepared for it. I like the Quest problems a lot, although this unit's Quest was much easier than the test. I'd really appreciate getting worksheets to do or maybe a worksheet on tackling certain types of problems. Like, I think if I saw how to approach a pulley problem or an incline plane problem, it would have helped.

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    1. I feel as though I didn't understand how to approach pulley problems either

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  73. I agree. I feel like I'd understand the concepts more if we could practice actual problems in advance. I really like what we did with the MCQ on Friday, if we could do more of something like that I think I'd be more prepared.

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  74. I feel like most of the problems we did in class didn't match the level of difficulty of some of the test problems, particularly the second open response question

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  75. I'm not totally sure about how to do the analysis and conclusion for the lab due Friday. Is the analysis just the questions on the sheet we were given?

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  76. How are we supposed to bring our practice FRQs to class?
    I have mine, it's problem 1 on the 2006 exam:
    http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/_ap06_frq_physicsb_51782.pdf

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    1. I printed mine out but I'm not sure if that is what we were supposed to be doing. I assumed that because it was posted on collegeboard then it was okay to print out.

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  77. Mine is problem 1 on the 2009 exam http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap09_frq_physics_b.pdf

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  78. I'm doing problem 1 on the 2004 Exam http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap04_frq_physics_b_b_36194.pdf

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  79. Could we take a look at our Newton's Second Law lab during class Monday? It seems like most of us did much worse than usual and I'd like to have feedback before starting the next lab.

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    1. Same here, I certainly don't want to make this many mistakes on a lab again

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  80. We will take some time to go over it before you need to complete the next report.

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  81. Is the lab due friday or thursday?

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  82. I believe the momentum test went well and that with each unit, I'm getting better at learning the material.

    Also, I like that we are beginning to increase the number of MC we have to complete in the hour. I feel as though a gradual increase will not be overwhelming, but will ultimately prepare us for the AP Physics exam.

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  83. What are we doing for the week if we don't have school Monday?

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    1. Lab and foundation day 4 during the double block on Tuesday (day 1), multiple choice and FRQ review during the double block on Wednesday (day 2), day 3 on Thursday, and MC portion of the exam on Friday. Then the FRQ portion on Monday.

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  84. The quest for this unit is really hard... Usually, I'm able to find helpful videos from this one user on youtube, but her videos this time are too basic. I think I need help approaching more complex problems. Do you think you could find 1 or 2 problems and go through it step by step?

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  85. Also, for the lab, are we actually calculating #2? Or just describing our process?

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  86. For the lab it says "devise a method that will allow you to find the force of kinetic friction that is stoping the cartoon. Describe your procedure; draw a diagram of what was done and any measurements made to complete this calculation"
    I'm using the conservation of energy to find out the force of friction and the lab is the same as the original procedure, just with a little bit more measurements. For the diagram is it okay if i just do the same one as for the setup just with the extra measurements required labeled (such as labeling the ball as needing to be massed).

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    1. Could you send me the relevant parts of the lab report so I can see what you mean? I thought most groups would use the impulse-momentum theorem to calculate the frictional force that brought the carton to rest. I need to understand what your actual devised method was.

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    2. i just did
      PE=mgh, FricE= FricF*d, PE = FricE, mgh = FricF*d

      (mgh)/d = FricF

      FricF = force of friction
      FricE = heat caused by friction
      m = mass of ball
      g = acceleration of gravity
      h = drop height of the ball
      d = distance of the carton

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    3. You can use the diagram with added labels.

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  87. on the template you gave us for the inelastic colision lab you said procedure goes before materials. Just wondering if this is a mistake and in my lab notebook I should do materials before procedure

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  88. For the last question, it asks for percent error. Is it percent error of the velocities or percent area of the friction calculated with the velocities?

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    3. Post photos of both sides of the lab worksheet here on the the blog. Then I will be able to answer the question.

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  89. I don't know how to upload it to the blog, but I can e-mail it?

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  90. I found an ap FRQ, 1999 problem 5
    http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/physics_b_99.pdf

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  91. I am a little bit confused about Q13 on the bat lab( What caused the flying bat to move in a circle: the vertical component of the tension, the horizontal component of the tension, the weight, or the centripetal force?) what is the difference between horizontal component and centripetal force?

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    1. If you think they are the same in this case, that is your answer.

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  92. For the lab, do we need to answer the last conclusion question about how the physics of circular motion would apply to a swing ride?

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  93. The Quest for Oscillations and Gravitation has been assigned and is due on Friday at 8 AM.

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  94. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_frq_physics_b_formb.pdf
    I was going do use question 2, if its okay to do a lab setup problem

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  95. So I'm a little confused about the quizzes thing. Will there be a test on fluid dynamics? or a quiz combining both fluids and thermal heat? and if so will there be a test combing them both too?? and are we still doing partners for the multiple choice like in the practice quiz?

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    1. There will be a quiz on both fluids and temperature. There will also be a quiz on thermodynamics. There will be no partners for these quizzes.

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  96. Is it possible that we discuss this chapter as a class on Monday? Although the reading helps, I feel that one problem I had on the fluid chapter was that I did not understand it completely at first. I think a lot of people would benefit if we talked about the chapter together.

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    1. Of course we can. Everyone will need to bring in their chapter notes for discussion. I will be posting the PowerPoint and Classwork today.

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  97. I agree with Priyansh. An in-class review would be helpful. And this extends towards all future chapters as well.

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  98. Will the combined assessment count as a quiz or a test? Also, I agree with Priyansh. I often have trouble with the conceptual part of chapters and it would be very beneficial if someone could clarify certain key ideas I may have misunderstood or not fully grasped.

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  99. I personally think that the synthesis days of the current chapter plan work well as an "all class review," and I don't particularly feel the need for one, but I'll go with whatever the majority of the class decides.
    As far as the chapter we're on now, the book seems to have an error; we're told to read page 352 for the Mechanical equivalent of heat, but page 352 is just a set of problems. The same is true for pages 400-401. Also, are we studying PV diagrams in this chapter? There don't seem to be any pages on that topic.

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    1. The pages listed cover both the chapter reading as well as pages containing questions and problems. PV diagrams are in the third section of this unit, not this one.

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  100. I read everything and i understend most of material and I htink it will be perfect to work at heat on Monday.

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  101. i'm doing fine so far, slowly getting the hang of the material in these 2 chapters as i practice on more problems.

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  102. I'm completely with Priyansh-- a review would be helpful. I don't think that gases will require as much time, since fluid mechanics was completely new to most of us.

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  103. I can't see the attachment for the classwork on edmodo.

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  104. Could we get an extension on the lab if possible? I think everyone could use it.

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  105. i agree with jake. Especially since we just lost a review day today. I really need to focus on learning the material for the test on Wednesday.

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  106. I agree with Jake, I'd rather have the lab due later so it wasn't due on a test day so I can have more review time. Friday would be preferable. If that isn't possible that's okay though, I don't want to interfere with your schedule.

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    1. If not Friday, Thursday would still be better than Wednesday...

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  107. I definitely agree with Jacob, pushing the lab back would allow more time to focus on the material. I feel like I would benefit significantly if the deadline was the end of the week.

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  108. I also would love if the lab was pushed to Friday. That way, I could study for the test without having to simultaneously worry about finishing the lab report.

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  109. The Bernoulli Lab will now be due on Friday, December 21. I know the extra time you get will be fully reflected in the high quality lab reports I receive.

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  110. Just wondering if the test will include fluids. I'm sorry if I'm making you repeat anything, but I won't to be absolutely sure that I study the right material

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  111. I don't know what you specifically mean by fluids, but the exam is on kinetic theory and thermodynamics. If you look up the AP Physics learning objectives on AP central, you will be able to get the specifics.

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  112. That is enough thank you. On ap central they group both thermal and fluid dynamics together, just like our book. I was unsure if this test was going to include the fluid dynamics, but you just clarified that for me, thank you.

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