Class 9: Friday, 9/19/25

Warm Up: Let's talk about "free-fall" so we can discuss g's of spool car acceleration later on.  1g = 9.8m/s2, but for this exercise, let's round it to 10m/s2

Our task is to fill in all of the blanks on the right for a ball that is launched directly upward at a velocity of 40m/s.

 

Today:

Until Next Class: 

  • Next class:  quiz like today's practice quiz
Class 8: Wednesday, 9/17/25

Warm Up:   We're going to use this position vs time graph to find acceleration of the moving object.

1. What is the object's displacement between 0s and 1s?

2.  What is the object's velocity between 0s and 1s?

3.  What is the object's displacement between 1s and 2s?

4.  What is the object's velocity between 1s and 2s?

5.  What is the object's displacement between 2s and 3s?

6.  What is the object's velocity between 2s and 3s?

7.  What is the acceleration of the object?

 

Today:

Until Next Class: 

  • Practice quiz next class -- finding acceleration from a position graph (like p. 9) and a velocity graph (like the spool car graphs)
Class 7: Monday, 9/15/25

Warm Up:   Complete the warm-up -- motion combinations practice in Google Classroom.

Today:

  • Quiz.  Video going over quiz solutions.
  • Today's Goal: Practice using video analysis to create graphs of position and velocity, vs time. 
  • Get a video of your spool car crashing into the wall with the highest possible force.  We will find both the acceleration and deceleration.

Until Next Class: 

  • If you want to retake today's quiz, ask for it before class starts on Wednesday.
Class 6: Thursday, 9/11/25

Warm Up:   I want to demontrate the types of motion on the right, using a cart on a track.  I can tilt the track using books.  How can I do each of these?  Which ones are hardest?  Let's assume for this activity that left is negative and right is positive.

Today:

  • Finish notes on pages 7-8
  • Unit 1 (Motion) Handout (PDF)
  • Short Practice Quiz:
    • Part 1: Group these graphs into 5 groups of 3 that each represent the same motion.
    • Part 2:
      • Calculate the acceleration of a car whose velocity changes from 80m/s to 60m/s in a time of 4 seconds.

Until Next Class: 

  • Quiz next class -- like the practice quiz
Class 5: Tuesday, 9/9/25

Warm Up:  

The graph on the right shows the positions at different times for seven different people, relative to a motion detector at the 0m mark.  Which person (people) was (were)...
  1. moving at a constant speed
  2. moving toward the sensor
  3. not moving at all
  4. accelerating
  5. decelerating
  6. accelerating the fastest
  7. moving at the fastest constant speed

Today:

  • Return and review quizzes.
  • Notes: p.5 through the top of p.6 (acceleration) Video
  • Quiz Retake for anyone who wants it -- Distance, Displacement, Change in Time, Speed, Average Velocity (both formulas) -- or short break
  • Notes: p. 6, and 8 (acceleration and motion graphs) Video
  • Can we get to p. 9??
  • Today's New Learning Targets are in cyan

    VM.x -  I can draw and interpret diagrams to represent the motion of an object moving with a constant velocity

    CVM.x -  I can solve constant velocity problems

    CAM.x -  I can draw and interpret diagrams to represent the motion of an object moving with changing velocity

    CAM.x -  I can solve constant acceleration problems.

    CAM.x -  I can solve kinematic equations

Until Next Class: 

  • Practice Quiz next class -- similar to handout page 6 and 8.
  • Next class -- probably measuring spool car accelerations
  • Class after next -- 2nd quiz
Class 4: Friday, 9/5/25

Warm Up:  

1.  On the velocity vs. time graph, find v0, v, and average v.

2.  On the position vs. time graph, find: total displacement, total distance, average velocity, maximum speed, and minimum speed.

3.  Let's do some more practice to get ready for the quiz.

Today:

Until Next Class:  Have a great weekend!  Review to retake the quiz if you want to.

Class 3: Wednesday, 9/3/25

Warm Up:  

Spin one of the "sprotating cylinders" by pressing one end until it squirts out from under your finger.  Try pressing the other end.

When the cylinder is spinning, why do you only see the symbol that you press?

Slow motion

Today:

  • Physics Stuff:
    • Quick Review of notes from last class.  Try out links (e.g. video).
    • Velocity Practice (p.3-4)  Video
    • Practice Quiz  Video
    • Unit 1 (Motion) Handout (PDF)
    • Notes: p5 (acceleration)
    • Prepare for the Quiz -- what do we need to do to get you feeling comfortable?  More practice problems?
  • Other stuff:

Until Next Class:  Quiz next class, similar to today's practice quiz.  You will get another chance to take the quiz and improve your grade.

Quiz Learning Targets (highlighted in yellow, below):

CVM.x -  I can draw and interpret diagrams to represent the motion of an object moving with a constant velocity

CVM.x -  I can solve constant velocity problems

CAM.x -  I can draw and interpret diagrams to represent the motion of an object moving with changing velocity

CAM.x -  I can solve constant acceleration problems.

CAM.x -  I can solve kinematic equations


 

Class 2: Friday, 8-29-25

Warm Up:   How do dragsters go so fast?

1. What kind of rear tires do dragsters use?

2. Why do drivers do a "burnout" before each race?

3.  How else do dragsters increase traction? 

4.  What do dragster tires look like in slow motion?

5.  Why and how do vehicles "pop wheelies?" 

 

Today:

Until Next Class:  Have a great Labor Day weekend!

 

Class 1: Wednesday, 8-27-25

Warm Up:   What is a spool car?  How does one work?

Today:

  • Enter attendance
  • Talk about arriving and leaving on time
  • Fill out Information Sheet
  • Mr. Stapleton slideshow?
  • Learn names/pronunciations
  • Spool Cars -- so we can have some motion data to analyze
    • In groups of no more than 3, assemble a spool car.  Directions and information are provided in this Instructable
    • Practice and/or reconfigure the car to make it go as fast as possible over the 5 meter long course.
    • Get a video made of your car traveling from one blue tape to the other -- Mr.Stapleton will do it.
  • Preview -- Course Expectations; look at other years

Homework:  Think about this -- what thing moves at at constant velocity?  The spool cars accelerate.  What could we use in the classroom for collecting constant speed data?