Junior Project

Junior Project

5% of your grade for the 4^th Marking Period. Late projects are downgraded and receive a zero after five working days of lateness.   Seniors and sophomores are exempt from the assignment.  

Select two articles in one category from the list at the bottom of the page. Your articles should have contrasting ideas about the topic so that you can read about both sides of the issue. Once you have read the articles, you will write a 400 word response in which you take a position citing and/or refuting information from the articles. You must work alone, and your response will go into your ePortfolio. All submissions must be made on-line.   The format for submission to Mr. Davison is to share  the final document as a Google Drive Document (Formerly Google Docs) with bdavison40@gmail.com.  This is my Google Drive link.    

By Wednesday June 5 you will choose your two articles and inform your teacher of your choice of articles  by creating a Google Drive Document with your full name, "Junior assignment" , and words that indicate your selection of topic in the title  in the title linked to bdavison40@gmail.com.  

By Friday June 8^st you will submit an outline of your response on-line in the designated assignment.  using the same shared google drive document.  

Your finished Junior Assignment is due Monday June 11. It is to be included in the same Google Doc shared earlier (formerly just an outline)  and your ePortfolio. Late submission will lose one full letter-grade per day after the due date. 

Alternative Energy


http://www.scientificamerican.com/alternative-energy-technology

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/news/2690341

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/07/us/not-using-fossil-fuels-could-add-to-warming.html?src=pm

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20127247-54/look-out-fossil-fuels-may-be-out-innovating-green-tech/

http://discovermagazine.com/topics/environment/alternative-energy

Mouse Trap Vehicle Description for AP Physics

Project Description:

This is a performance based assessment, meaning you are graded largely on how your project performs not on the number of hours you worked on it.  There are no partners and no teams.  Students will use one Victor brand mouse trap as the energy source to drive a vehicle as far as possible down the hallway.  They will get a maximum of three tries to produce their best distance and that distance will be the basis for their grade.

You may use any materials you wish as long as those materials do not add energy to the vehicle.  For example rubber bands or springs or rockets that store elastic energy are forbidden.  However, no kits are allowed.  The use of a kit will result in a 30 point reduction in score.  A 90 would become a 60.


Due Date:  The first lab  day after return from Winter Break.

Point value:  100 points for the final test output, with other point values assigned also.   Example 5 points for drawing and materials list.



Grade Scale for mouse trap project

D = 10-12.99 meters

D+ = 13-14.99 meters

C- = 15-16.99 meters

C = 17-18.99 meters

C+ = 19-20.99 meters

B- = 21- 23.99meters

B= 24- 27.99 meters

B+ = 28-29.99 meters

A- = 30 -32.99meters

A = 33-34.99 meters

A+ beyond 35 meters

Numbered Heads Electrostatics Test Rview

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.

Electrostatics Test Review Concepts

1.  Be able to write out the Coulomb's Law Formula, E field Formulas (there are two)

2.  Explain how to get an induced charge and relate it to lightning 

3.  Find the size and direction of a force given two charges, a distance and K

4.  Know your prefixes, nano, centi, milli, micro, kilo

5.  Find the size and direction of the resultant force when three charges form two forces that are perpendicular

6.  Find the size and direction of the resultant force when three charges form two forces that are nonperpendicular

7. Calculate the resulting E field on a point charge when the vectors are linear.

8  Calculate the resulting E field on a point charge when the vectors are perpendicular

9.  Calculate the resulting E field on a point charge when the vectors are  non perpendicular

Numbered Heads Refraction Test Review

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.

Refraction Test Review concepts

1.   Memorize three formulas:  index of refraction,  snell's law and critical angle

2.  calculate angle of refraction using snell's two indices of refraction, and an incident angle

3.  calculate an index of refraction using the speed in the material

4.  Describe and calculate refraction bending in terms of the normal  when given different indices for two mediums

5.  calculate the critical angle

6.  Solve for object distance given q and f  for either diverging or converging lens

7.  Solve for object distance given f and the height of image and object.  Substitution required

8.  Solve for magnification given p and q

9.  Know the sign conventions for diverging and converging lenses

10.  Draw an image formed by converging lens when object is in various positions

11.  Draw an image formed by diverging lens