Week 15 Blog, Due Sunday, December 16th, 2012

Because I am thankful for the great students I have in my PreAp/GT classes this year, I am giving you a holiday from blogging this weekend.  Instead, I want you to work on your egg drop projects.  Remember, it survives or it doesn't (0 or 100).  You may only use hot glue and standard sized toothpicks.  If you use anything else, it is an automatic ZERO!  Also, it is an automatic zero if you empty or boil the egg.  The egg must remain unaltered.  If you have any questions, please let me know!  Have a great weekend!

Week 14 Blog, Due Sunday, December 09, 2012 by 11:00 PM

I hope you are all having a great year so far.  I can't believe how fast it is going!  Our most recent topic has been energy.  So far, we have talked about Kinetic Energy (KE), Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE), and Mechanical Energy (ME).  These, however, are not the only types of energy around us.  For this week's blog, I want you to think about some other types of energy plus those we have spoke of.  Some other types of energy include Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Energy in a spring, Thermal Energy, Chemical Energy, etc..  Look at the world around you and describe something in which an energy transformation is taking place.  (An energy transformation is when one form of energy is turned into another form such as Solar Energy to Thermal Energy.)  If you have any questions or problems posting your comments, please let me know BEFORE 4:00 pm on Sunday.  As always, you can email your response if you have problems.  Remember, in order to receive full credit, you must post an original comment PLUS comment on someone else's comment.  Happy Blogging!

Week 13 Blog, Due Sunday, December 2nd by 11:00 PM

We have already completed almost 13 weeks of school.  The first 9 weeks we did not have tablets in the classroom, but for the past four week's we have used the android tablets just about every day.  What I would like for you to do for this weeks blog is discuss the following:
1. Do you like/not like having the tablets and why.
2. Has your grade improved or gone down since we started using the tablets and why.
3. Anything you would like us to try with the tablets that we have not done so far.
4. Do you think we rely on the tablets too much or its just right.
5.  Anything else you want to add.
Remember, you need to post an original comment as well as comment on another person's blog to receive full credit for the week.  If you have any questions or problems, you need to let me know BEFORE Sunday evening by email, twitter, or Google voice (281-310-0940).  Happy Blogging!

Week 12 Blog, Due Sunday, November 18th by 11:00 PM

Now that the school science fair is over, I would like you to reflect on your project.  What did you do well?  What would you do differently now that it is over?  What grade would you give yourself?  When deciding your own grade think of the following guidelines:
1. The originality of your idea
2. The amount of quality time you spent on your project outside of class
3. The amount of effort you put into developing your idea and display
4. The quality of your lab notebook
5. The effort put forth by you compared to your partners, if you had any
6. The level of difficulty of your topic
I would like to congratulate the following groups for moving on to the district level science fair:
Cynthia Leuvano, Jessica Ipina, and Kimberly Gutierrez
Ivonne Castillo and Breanna Gariet
Nathan Ponce, Edward Lucio, and Elida Rodriguez
Remember, in order to receive full credit for the blog, you must post an original comment as well as comment on another person's post.  All posts must be complete by 11:00 pm Sunday in order to receive full credit.  If you have any problems posting, you must let me know BEFORE 4:00 pm on Sunday.  Otherwise, email your posts to me at physicswithego@gmail.com.  Happy Posting!

Week 11 Blog, Due Sunday, November 11, 2012

We have been talking about many different forces throughout the week.  I would like to know which force(s) and/or concepts are the most confusing for you.  If you believe you have mastered all of the types of forces we have talked about and know the concepts equally as well, pick an object or situation and make some observations.  Tell me what the object or situation is and then tell me the forces involved, the approximate magnitude of each force, and in which direction each force is acting.  Remember, your post must be complete by 11:00 pm on Sunday for full credit.  You must make an original comment and comment on at least one other post for full credit.  Late posts will be reduced to half credit.  If you have any problems or have questions, please let me know by 4:00 pm Sunday.  May the force be with you!

Week 10 Blog, Due Sunday, November 4th, 2012

We have started talking about Newton's three laws and different types of forces.  Observe the world around you and apply the appropriate law to what it is you are observing.  Also, include at least one example of force you can observe and name the force(s) involved in the system.  Remember, you must complete an original post PLUS comment on another person's post.  This must be completed by Sunday, November 4th at 11:00 pm for full credit.  If you have any questions, please let me know BEFORE 9:00 pm on Sunday.  Happy Posting!

Week 9 Blog, Due Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Its time to think about Science Fair!  For this week's blog, I want everyone to visit the official website for the Houston Science and Engineering Fair.  This is the link: http://www.sefhouston.org/students-parents-teachers .  I want you to click on some of the links to see what different information is available to you.  Now, for this week's assignment.  You need to locate the entry form and look it over.  At some point, you will need to print the form and fill out all of the information before the school science fair on November 13th.  Find the section that lists the categories for science fair.  For this week's post, I want you to identify which category your project falls under.  I also want you to tell me one other thing you saw on the website.  It can be anything you find helpful or interesting.  If you are not completing a major science fair project because you are choosing to participate in history fair instead, please let me know if you are going to complete the photograph entry or the research paper.  Remember, you must complete an original post PLUS comment on someone else's post for full credit.  Posts must be complete by 11:00 pm Sunday for full credit as well.  Happy posting!

Week 8 Blog, Due October 21st,2012

We started talking about projectiles in class this week. I would like you to look around you and think of some projectiles you see everyday.  I want you to answer the following questions about your projectile:
What makes it a projectile?  Is a horizontally launched projectile or a projectile launched at an angle?  What type of range or height does you projectile have?  Any other comments or observations you made about your projectile.  If you have questions or problems posting, make sure you send me an email before 11:00 pm on the 21st.  Remember, in order to get the full 100 points, you must make an original post PLUS comment on at least one other posts.  Late posts will be given half credit.  If you email me a your post, please use the physicswithego@gmail.com email address. Happy Posting!

Week 7 Blog, Due Sunday, October 14th, 2012

This week you have been introduced to vectors.  Think about the world around.  Vectors are present in many different aspects of your life.  For example, an exit sign on the highway has a vector drawn on it to show you which direction to go.  For this week's blog, I want you to think about different applications for vectors in the real world.  List at least one application for vectors in the real world and tell me about it below.  Remember, you must post an original comment PLUS comment on at least one other post in order to receive full credit.  If you have questions or any problems, please let me know via email: physicswithego@gmail.com, twitter, edmodo, or google voice.  Happy Posting!

Tale of the Whale Rubric

Week 6 Blog: Due October 7th, 2012

We talked briefly about frames of reference on Tuesday, October 2nd, and we completed a table in our notebooks.  The next time you are in the car, walking down the street, riding your bicycle, etc.  think about the different reference frames around you.  For example, if you were walking down the sidewalk, how does the velocity of a car coming toward you differ from the velocity of a car going in the same direction you are walking?  In your comment, briefly describe a situation with different frames of reference and how the different velocities and/or directions would be.  Remember to post an original comment PLUS a comment on someone else's post for full credit.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  Happy posting!

Week 5 Blog: Due Sunday, September 30, 2012

Think about The Ultimate Graphing Challenge game we played in the library on Wednesday.  If you were absent or want to try again, here is the link:   www.theuniverseandmore.com  .  Which graphs or concepts did you have difficulty with?  What level were you able to reach in class?  Do you think the game helped you with your understanding of graphing motion?  Please give me a reflection on the activity and if there are any changes you feel I should make.  Make sure you post your response by 11:00 pm on Sunday night.  REMEMBER:  you must make an original comment PLUS reply to one other post in order to receive full credit.  If you have questions or any problems posting, please send me an email BEFORE 11:00 pm sunday.

Week 4 Blog: Due September 23rd, 2012

This past week we have been working on Mousetrap cars.  Since this is the first year I assigned this project, I know it can use some adjustments and changes.  I would like your honest feedback on this activity such as what you liked and what you didn't like.  I would also like to know if you have any suggestions on how I can make it better for next year.  You guys did a great job overall and I hope you had a lot of fun!  Remember, you must have one original comment and comment on at least one other person's blog entry.  If you have questions, please try to ask them in class before Sunday.  If your blog will not save/post, please send me an email and I will post your comments for you.

Mousetrap Cars - Due 9/17/12; Race Day 9/18/12

Mousetrap Car Building Basics: A mousetrap powered car is a vehicle that is powered by the energy of a wound-up mousetrap's spring.  The most basic design is to tie one end of a string to the tip of a mousetrap's snapper arm and then the other end of the string has a loop that is designed to "catch" a hook that is glued to a drive axle.  Once the loop is placed over the axle hook, the string is wound around the drive axle by turning the wheels in the opposite direction to the vehicle intended motion.  As the string is wound around the axle by the turning of the wheels, the snapper's lever arm is pulled closer to the drive axle causing the mousetrap's spring to "wind-up" and store energy.  When the drive wheels are released, the string is pulled off the drive axle by the mousetrap causing the wheels to rotate.

Words of Wisdom:  Your grade is directly proportional to the time you spend on this project.  It is extremely difficult to earn a "C" or better without adequate research, design, testing and redesign.  A large portion of your grade depends on your car's performance; make sure your car will perform when the time comes.  That means design it, build it, test it, re-design it, re-test it and repeat this process as many times as necessary to achieve your goals.

This assignment was adapted from Mr. Shepherd's Mousetrap Car Project, http://www.piketon.k12.oh.us/Downloads/Mousetrap%20Car%20Project2.pdf.

Other resources can be found here:
http://cpphysics.homestead.com/mousetrap.html

Other helpful hints:
-look up youtube videos
-use google

September 10th, 2012 Week 3 Blog

This week I am introducing the concepts of scalar vs. vector quantities, speed vs. velocity, and instantaneous vs. average.  Think about these concepts as they are important to your everyday life.  Compare and contrast at least one of the concepts mentioned above.  If you have questions, please let me know.  Remember to post an original comment and comment on someone else's blog entry.

Vocabulary Assignment Due Thursday, 9-13-12

Here are the directions for the vocabulary assignment:
Find a picture for each of the vocabulary words you were assigned. Describe the picture using this vocabulary.  You must have a minimum of 3 pictures (one per word).  The pictures can be hand drawn, printed from the internet, cut from magazines, etc..  If you have any questions, please let me know.  The vocabulary and their definitions are posted on edmodo.com if you lost your words and definitions.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

September 4th, 2012

Since we have been learning basic math skills this week, I want you to think about the metric system.  This week's blog post is going to be a metric system scavenger hunt!  You only have to find or guesstimate one of the following measurements.  Have fun, keep it clean, and remember to make an original comment and reply to someone else's post.  NO DOUBLES, so you have to come up with your own item.

Something that has a mass of 3 kilograms.
Something that has a mass of 75 kilograms.
Something with the circumference of 2 meters.
Something with the length of 50 meters.
A place 2 kilometers from school.
A place 24 kilometers from school.
Something with a height of 20 meters.
Something with a height of 4 centimeters.

Remember, you only have to find an object for one of the measurements, not all of them.

Welcome! August 27th, 2012

Hello and welcome to the new school year!  For our first week of school, I would like to learn a little more about each of you and your interests.

What is your goal for this year?

What clubs, sports, or extracurricular activities are you currently involved?

What other hobbies or activities do you like to do outside of school?

Do you have a job?

What would you like to know about me, Mrs. Ego?

Remember to adhere to the following guidelines:
1. No texting language, use correct spelling and grammar and complete sentences.
2. Keep it clean!  Remember I can show it to your parent or guardian.
3. Be supportive of one another and appropriate in your replies.  No bullying or putting anyone down.

If you have any questions, please let me know! Thanks!