Environmental Science Biochar seedling MIx Experiment

Here is a video that has excellent procedural setup for an experiment

AP Physics test Review Waves and Light

Here are the topics covered On the AP Physics Test of waves and Light on Friday.  The format will be short answer.


1.  Using V = wavelength X Frequency to solve for an unknown.

2.  Drawing harmonics 1-5 for three situations fixed, fixed boundary, fixed free, or free free  and then solving for wavelength given length of the media.

3.  Use Doppler effect to solve for the new frequency when sound  source is moving away or towards you at a given speed.  Possible conversion required.

4.    Solve for velocity of a wave on a string given linear density and a known mass hanging from the string causing Tension

5.  Draw all possible images formed from a concave or convex mirror .

6.  Solve for image distance or height of image for mirror and lenses

7.  Solve for image distance or height of image for mirror and lenses

8.  Solve for image distance or height of image for mirror and lenses

9.  Thin film interference.  KNow how to form colors.  Know when rays invert and how to solve for the thickness.

10.  Parallel Slit Diffraction problem solving for either angle, or slit distance or length to screen or distance between bands .

11.  Determine critical angle for light crossing a boundary given two refractory indexes.

12.  Know how to calculate a beat frequency

Resonance and the Tacoma Narrows collapse

Follow this here link to see the disaster unfold.  Somebody lost their stamp.

Constructive Interference of a wave in slow motion

Here is a linkypoo to a short clip of constructive interference in slow motion

Double slit wave interference

Here is a dandy link to a recreation of Young's original Double slit wave interference of light experiment.   Why do these people have accents?

Environmental Science Sub Irrigated Planter Instructions

Here is  a link to instructions of how to build a 2 liter sub irrigated planter

Numbered Heads Heat and Thermodynmics 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.

Here are the concepts covered on the test:

1.  Converting Temperatures  (F to C,  C to K  or backwards)

2.  Internal energy convert ions with other forms of energy like PE and KE

3.  Calorimetry with hot metal and cold water, finding and unknown like specific heat of the metal, or the final temperature of the mix

4.  All heat formulas and all Thermodynamics formulas

5.  Heat required to melt or vaporize  = mL     Know the difference between L vaporization and L fusion

6.  Heat required to raise temperature in a phase like solid, liquid or water = MC delta T

7.  Work required to move a piston by a gas,  also calculating pressure given work and the radius of the piston or area and displacement

8.  Finding Q cold given efficiency and work  or finding efficiency  given work and Q hot.

9.  Standards for +/-  work and heat

10.  Understand entropy and describe situations of increasing or decreasing entropy.

Wave interference and boundary behavior

Here is a link to a tutorial on wave boundary behavior.  Read the content and watch  the video with the following in mind:

When do waves invert?

What happens to speed of the wave in different medias for reflected, transmitted and incident waves?

Biochar Sales Assignment

Biochar Sales Assignment.  Due date Wednesday  30 points

Design a one page 8.5”  X 11” advertisement for selling biochar online.   The advertisement should communicate your understanding of how biochar works  as well as your understanding of the competitive nature of the market.

The advertisement should include:

1.     Interesting name for your product  and Buy It Now Price

2.     Colorful original graphic.  You may not use graphics that you did not create

3.     Description of product to include:

weight and/ or  volume

size of char particles

picture of char particles

how char was made  (ex high temp pyrolysis of hard wood pellets)

Country of product origin of product

4.     Instructions for using the char  (example—how to inoculate with compost, how to charge with either compost tea or other high nitrogen sources, and how to mix with soil, either in pots or in ground

5.      Explain method of biochar action ---ie symbiosis with mycorrhiza, plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria, as well as the fact that the biochar is a general nutrient sponge for NPK, so less fertilizer runs off

6.     Print out the one page label with the graphic.   This does not have to include all of the information   but should at least include the essentials.      The total information can be more than one page if required.