Class
7: Thursday,
9/18/25 Warm Up: None
Today:
Homework:
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Class
6: Tuesday,
9/16/25Warm 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:
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Class
6: Friday,
9/12/25 Warm Up:
No warm-up -- finish rockets, record dry mass and
water volume
Today:
- Your tasks to complete:
- Finish your rocket.
- 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.
- 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
- Make 2 note cards for each group (at least one student's
name on each card).
- Record outside temperature, pressure, and humidity
- 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.
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Class
5: Wednesday,
9/10/25Warm 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.
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Class
4: Monday,
9/8/25Warm 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.
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Class
3: Thursday,
9/4/25Warm 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):
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Class
2:
Tuesday,
9/2/25Warm 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:
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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
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