End of Quarter 1

Class 20: Wednesday, 10/29/25

Warm Up:  None

Today: 

  • Optional test retake
  • Turn in rocket projects before the end of class.

Homework:

  • None
Class 19: Monday, 10/27/25

Warm Up: 

1.  Why don't clouds fall?

2.  Assuming that an object's density and shape are held constant, what changes faster as the size of the object changes -- cross-sectional area or mass?

3.  People have recently been celebrating the release of prisoners by firing guns into the air.  Is this sort of gunfire safe, as long as you shoot straight up?

Terminal velocities of various spheres

Today:

  • Rocket Project Work Time
  • Let me know if you want to drop the first test -- or give me instructions.

Homework:

  • Optional: prepare for retake on Wednesday
  • Rocket projects are due on the last day of the quarter -- Class #20 (10/29).
Class 18: Tuesday, 10/21/25

Warm Up: 

1.  Paying close attention to what is happening to the slope (but not worrying about the correct scale), sketch a height vs time graph for a rocket that...

  • Reaches its apogee at a height of 75m and a time of 3.2 seconds

  • Has a medium-large parachute that fully deploys at a time of 6.2 seconds and height of 55m

  • Lands at a time of 22s.

2.  Label important moments in the flight

  • End of thrust

  • Apogee

  • Beginning of parachute deployment

  • Beginning of terminal velocity

  • crashdown

Today:

  • Return tests
  • Rocket Projects:
    • Make sure everyone has the data they need
    • Go over page 2 of the Water Rocket Data spreadsheet -- talk about where to find data and expectations for calculations.  Make a video that can be used as a reference if needed.
      • Your numbers must match your data, when data are available
      • When no data are available, your numbers must be reasonable
      • All values must be internally consistent (e.g. net force = ma = the sum of individual forces; w = mg; Drag = 0.5*A*Cd*density*v2...)
    • Work time
  • Next Monday, tell me whether you would like to drop the first test -- or not.  Right now, the two tests are counting equally.  If you drop the first test, the contribution of the second test will be doubled, so that the total contribution of tests to your overall grade will not change.  You can also give me directions, such as "if my retake of the 2nd test is better than the first test, drop the first test."

Homework:

  • Optional -- Prepare for test retake next Wednesday
  • Rocket projects are due on the last day of the quarter -- Class #20 (Next Wednesday, 10/29).
Class 17: Friday, 10/17/25

Warm Up: None

Today:

  • Test

Homework:

  • Rocket projects are due on the last day of the quarter -- Class #20 (10/29).
Class 16: Wednesday, 10/15/25

Warm Up:  Is this for real?  Could we launch a student this high with water rockets? 

Today:

  • Check/review homework -- get set to prepare for test.
  • Test format, formulas, bonus, etc.
  • Return retakes -- is anyone else planning on retaking part of the first test? 
  • Get final rocket data and work on project
  • **Normally there is a chance for corrections on the rocket project, but given the time remaining, you are going to have more time to complete the project, but no chance of corrections.  So double check your work and get it right the first time.**

Homework:

  • Study for test
  • Rocket projects are due on the last day of the quarter -- Class #20 (10/29).
Class 15: Monday, 10/13/25

Warm Up: At the pep rally, we saw some good tug-of-war matches.  Were they fair?  What really determines who wins a tug-of-war contest on a gym floor?

Today:

Homework:

Class 14: Thursday, 10/9/25

Warm Up: None

Today:

Homework:

Class 13: Tuesday, 10/7/25

Warm Up: It is possible to remove a sheet paper from under a dry erase marker without touching or tipping the marker.  How?

Today:

  • Check/review homework
  • Finish the rockets
    • 2nd and final launch next class
    • Decide how much water you are going to use in your rocket -- Clifford Heath's Simulator
    • Class will be short due to the pep rally.

Homework:

Class 12: Friday, 10/3/25

Warm Up: I figured out why we were getting dubious jump heights.  One of our displacements was incorrect, because my assumptions were invalid. 

1.  Which of our displacement calculations do you think was wrong?

Stage 1) The displacement of the jumper while their feet were touching the plate

Stage 2) The displacement of the jumper while they were completely in the air

2.  Do you have a suspicion about what assumption was invalid?

Today:

  • Check/review homework
  • The forecast indicates that Tuesday will be rainy, so the next launch will be on Thursday.
  • Notes:  Finish drag notes (the last notes of the unit :-))  Video from class
  • Work time -- rockets or other

Homework:

Class 11: Tuesday, 9/30/25

Warm Up: We have a force plate that will give us a graph of force vs time. 

1.  How can we use it to determine the height of a jump?  Spreadsheet template Completed Spreadsheet

2.  What does "jump height" actually mean?  Is this method more or less accurate than other traditional methods?

Today:

  • Check/review homework -- newton car problems and problems 6a and 6b.  Video
  • Reminder -- don't leave class early (unless you have a good reason and you run it by me first)
  • Unit 1 Handout (PDF) Answer Key to Entire Handout
  • The test retake is ready.  Find me some time outside of class if you want to retake it.  FLEX and before school work well.  I also have a planning block 7/8 on both days.
  • Work time -- finish your spreadsheet.
  • Final rocket launch next Tuesday. 
    • You will have most of the class time on Friday to work on your rocket. 
    • You will have about 20 minutes to prepare your rocket on Tuesday. 
    • Our bottle supply is dwindling.  If you want more bottles, and you want to make sure that you get some, bring in your own.

Homework:

Class 10: Friday, 9/26/25

Warm Up: Why can't you (or a "Newton Sled") throw a ping-pong ball with as much force as a baseball?  Helpful spreadsheet

Today:

  • Check/review Newton Car questions and problems 6a and 6b.  Video
  • Unit 1 Handout (PDF) Answer Key to Entire Handout
  • The test retake is ready.  Find me some time outside of class if you want to retake it.  FLEX and before school work well.  I also have a planning block 7/8 on both days.
  • Notes -- introduce the drag equation  Video of Notes
  • "Code" a spreadsheet that models the flight of an object in the y dimension, taking drag into account.  Instructions and a video are provided in Step 8 of the Instructable.  I will also hand out these written instructions (PDF).  Copy this template and fill in the formulas.
    • The goal for this spreadsheet -- create a working, useful spreadsheet and get practice "coding" spreadsheets -- I intend to test you on your ability to code your own spreadsheet at some point.
    • Brief demonstration of what this spreadsheet does.  Here's mine.
    • Brief introduction to spreadsheet formulas (and dollar signs, in particular).
    • Advice about the dollar signs

Homework:

Class 9: Wednesday, 9/24/25

Warm Up: 

1.  We're about to watch a feather and a bowling ball falling in the world's largest vacuum.  What will we see?

 2.  Use dimensional analysis to convert 40,000 yards per day to m/s.  What is the mathematical justification for this process?

3.  Somebody took a nice, round quantity and did some reverse-dimensional-analysis to convert it to some unrecognizable equivalent units.  Can you return it to its original form of one digit followed by one unit?  It's a unit that we use a lot.  Here's the quantity...

Today:

  • Check/review homework -- from last class and the class before 
  • Finish the Newton Sled Activity
  • Work on the Newton Sled Problems -- homework

Homework:

  • Finish the Newton Sled questions and problems through 6b (don't do 6c and 6d) (p.17-18, with organizer on p.19).  Solutions will depend on your data, but here are some solutions based on some data that I made up. 
Class 8: Monday, 9/22/25

Warm Up: Is it literally possible to "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps?"  Put another way, can you pick yourself up?  Explain.

Today:

  • Return tests and check for grading mistakes.  I will have the retake ready by Friday.  You can work on it during Flex or before school.  Except on Wednesdays, I'm usually in C209 by about 8:05.
  • Take a quick look at some rocket videos.  Think about rebuilding your rocket
  • 3rd Law notes (p. 13-14)  -- video from class
  • Newton Sled Activity (p.17-18, #1-5) -- for the Earth launch, get time from slow motion video.
  • Unit 1 Handout (PDF) Answer Key to Entire Handout

Homework:

  • Newton's 3rd Law tells us that, in a game of tug-of-war, the pulling forces of the two teams must be exactly the same (because they pull against one another with equal and opposite forces).  In light of this, explain how a game of tug-of-war can be won, from a physics standpoint.  Don't research the answer until you have thought about it for a while.  You are allowed to discuss it with your family.
Class 7: Thursday, 9/18/25

Warm Up: None

Today:

  • Test

Homework:

Class 6: Tuesday, 9/16/25

Warm Up:  I have an updated version of the cart on the right.  It will give us graphs of position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time.

1.  I want to use the cart on a tilted track to demontrate the "9 types of motion."  How can I achieve each of the combinations of velocity (+,-, or 0) and acceleration (+,-, or 0)?  Which ones are hardest?

2.  What if I just keep the track flat and give the cart a sudden push right and then left again?

3.  Other ideas for things to try?

Today:

Homework:

Class 6: Friday, 9/12/25

Warm Up:  No warm-up -- finish rockets, record dry mass and water volume

Today:

  • Your tasks to complete:
    1. Finish your rocket.
    2. Measure its "dry mass" (without water) on the balance.  Write that number down or record it on the Water Rocket Data Collection assignment in Google Classroom.
    3. Measure the amount of water you are going to put in into your rocket.  Write that down, too, or record it on your spreadsheet.
  • Mr. Stapleton's tasks to complete
    1. Make 2 note cards for each group (at least one student's name on each card).
    2. Record outside temperature, pressure, and humidity
    3. Find the current air density
  • Rocket launch
  • At some point, complete the Water Rocket Data Collection assignment in Google Classroom.  Enter the air density and your rocket's dry mass and water volume.
  • Have a great weekend!

Homework: Continued from last class...

  • Two Classes Worth of Homework, Due on Tuesday:
  • Test next Thursday over information on pages 1-16, 21, 23, and 25 of the handout.  If you need help on something, get it taken care of by Tuesday.
Class 5: Wednesday, 9/10/25

Warm Up: 

1. What will happen if I poke a knife through a potato, hold both objects in the air with the knife pointing downward, and then hammer the butt of the knife into the potato?  Why?  What if it's an apple, because I didn't have potatoes?

Today:

  • Check/review homework
  • One more forces example problem -- p. 15 -- Video
  • Discussion about success in this class
    • If you are in pre-calc, you can succeed in physics 200
    • The role of homework/practice Course expectations
    • What I need from you
  • Updated plan for the next few classes
    • Friday: Finish rockets, Launch Rockets,
    • Next Tuesday: Test review and more
    • Next Thursday: Test (had been planned for Tuesday)
  • Unit 1 Handout (PDF) Answer Key to Entire Handout
  • Finish the rockets!

Homework:

  • Two Classes Worth of Homework, Due on Tuesday:
  • Test next Thursday over information on pages 1-16, 21, 23, and 25 of the handout.  If you need help on something, get it taken care of by Tuesday.
Class 4: Monday, 9/8/25

Warm Up: 

There is a heavy object suspended from the ceiling by a string.  Another segment of the same string is hanging downward from the object.  I am going to pull on the bottom string until one of the two strings breaks.  Which string is going to break first?  Why?

Today:

  • Check/review homework
  • Unit 1 Handout (PDF) Answer Key to Entire Handout
  • Notes p.12-13: Newton's 1st and 2nd Laws of Motion --This is the last content that will be on next Tuesday's test. The video failed to save properly.  Sorry :-(
  • Rocket Building Time -- Finish the rockets tomorrow! Example Launch Video
  • The plan for the next few classes
    • Wednesday: Go over homework, build rockets, homework: problems on p.16
    • Friday: Finish rockets, Launch Rockets, homework -- continued from Wednesday
    • Next Tuesday: Test review and more
    • Next Thursday: Test

Homework:

  • Practice problems 1-4 on p. 15  Video help with the problems
  • Test next Thursday over information on pages 1-16, 21, 23, and 25 of the handout.  If you need help on something, get it taken care of by Tuesday.
 
Class 3: Thursday, 9/4/25

Warm Up:  Part 1: Weather Vanes

1.  What does a weather vane do?

2.  How is a rocket like a weather vane?  How is it different?

Part 2:  Mr. Chase once said that there are 9 types of motion...

3. For letter a, on the right, describe what an object could be doing in order to have both positive velocity and positive acceleration.

4.  Do the same for the rest of the letters.

 

Today:

  • A1/2 -- Run, hide, fight drill
  • Check/review homework
  • Histogram of Physics 200 student interests 25/26  Link to 23-24 and 24-25 interests
  • Review the course expectations, YouTube Channel, Class Website, Online Textbook, etc.
  • Begin building rockets -- make a simple one this time.  Follow the instructions in Step 1 of the Instructable

Homework:

  • Multiple Parts:
    • Optional (won't show in PowerSchool) -- Sketching Motion Graphs p.11 (make sure that you have modified the curved velocity graphs -- to make them straight, so that acceleration is constant)
    • 2 Parts of the Practice Test (will show in PowerSchool):
Class 2: Tuesday, 9/2/25

Warm Up:  Suppose you're involved in a 2 lap race.  If you want your overall average speed to be twice as fast as your speed for the first lap, how much faster do you have to go during the 2nd lap?  Solution -- don't peek!

Today:

  • Fill out information sheets.
  • Adjust two graphs (p.10 and 11) to keep accelerations constant.
  • Some of you (every 3rd)... sign on to a laptop as a guest, and open Logger Pro -- Username: guest-ehs    Password: guestehs
  • Briefly preview of the rocket project -- in case you want to bring anything extra on Thursday, when we're building rockets.  Basic rocket materials will be provided.
  • Check/review homework. 
    • Do a problem or two and make a video. 
    • Some extra practice? 
  • Motion Matching Activity -- do the activity and answer the questions on page 5 of the packet.  Work in groups of 2-3 students (no more than 4).  Alternate group members attempting the challenges.  The point is to make sure that you can perform the motions and understand the graphs.  Questions are on packet page 5.
  • Today's Notes, p.9:  graphing motion, etc. Video of Notes from class

Links:

Homework:

Class 1: Thursday, 8/28/25

Physics 200: Mr. Stapleton

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:

  • Business to take care of:
    • Cell phones into the caddy.  Caddy slots are assigned based on alphabetical order.  I'll give you the order.
    • Attendance -- learn names/pronunciations
    • Student Information Sheets
    • Around the room:  sign-out sheets, passes, recycling, trash, cabinets (off limits without permission)
  • Don't worry.  This class won't be too hard. :-)
  • Website and YouTube playlist
  • Quick Preview
    • Forces and Motion (water rockets)
    • 2D Motion, Energy, and Momentum (projectiles)
    • Rotational Motion (rubber band cars)
    • Mechanics mop-up / Winter fun?
    • Electricity and Magnetism (magnetic pickups)
    • Sound and Waves (electric "guitars")
    • End of year physics fun?
  • Briefly discuss homework grading.
  • First test -- Tuesday, 9/16 -- not the end of the unit
  • Get the Unit 1 Packet:
  • Today's Notes: Kinematics p.1-3 Video of the notes -- call on people??
  • Work time (hopefully)
  • Don't forget your phones!

Links:

Optional Online Textbook Reading:

Homework: Kinematics Problems Practice #1-6 (and try 7 if you want an extra challenge) on pages. 4-7.  We will go over #7 together, next class.    Answer Key to Entire Handout