Physics & Engineering 2

Near Space Imaging Project

Project Sheet

For the near space imaging project, students must submit a completed balloon design by Wednesday, February 12^th. The design must address issues related to gathering images from near space (~16 – 20 miles above the surface of the earth).

You and your partner should submit one design paper including the sections listed below.

Near Space Team Name:

The team name should be listed at the top of the paper. The class will pick our class team name from all proposals.

Objective:

The objective is a short section describing the purpose of your proposal. What is it you intend to accomplish and, briefly, how? The objective should clarify what type of images you wish to capture (still, video, both, live feed, infrared, etc) and any other science based experimentation or data you wish to collect (atmospheric information, altitude, temperature, etc).

Design

The design section will be the body of the proposal. In this section, you must lay out the why and the how of the entire design. In this section you must clearly describe how you intend to solve technical issues with regard to pressure, temperature, device retrieval, obtaining data, data retrieval, etc. You must fully describe how various aspects of your near space balloon will work including the following sub-sections:

• Balloon launch site and launch specifics.
• Obtaining images and other data
• Safety system for falling device
• Device retrieval

I suggest breaking these sections up between group members because this is the majority of work for your proposal.

Materials List and Cost

In this section you must include a materials list and estimated cost for every item that is included in your design. You can find costs on Amazon or other online outlets. The materials list must include specifics about each item including item name, manufacturer, cost, weight and purpose. There must be a total weight and total cost calculated in this section.

Design Sketch

A design sketch must be included in your proposal. This sketch must include an image of the overall balloon device, notes on safety system, and a detail sketch of the imaging system.

The proposal must be as specific as possible. The more specific, the better for everyone involved. If you need to program a signal/receiver system for live feed, you should at least have an understanding of how that may be accomplished. Please use any resource available, but check with Brian before emailing or seeking outside of class. Good luck!!!

1. What is a universe?
2. What is a solar system?
3. What is a galaxy?
4. What is a galactic cluster?
5. What is a planet? Give an example.
6. What is a moon? Give an example.
7. What is a sun?
8. What is a dwarf planet? Give an example.
9. How old is the universe?
10. How old is the solar system?
11. How old is earth?
12. What are the planets in our solar system?
13. What is a white dwarf?
14. What is a red giant?
15. What is a supernova?
16. What is a pulsar?
17. What is a quasar?
18. What is a blazar?
19. What is a magnetar?
20. What is a black hole?
21. Is the universe expanding, contracting or staying stable in size? How do we know?
22. What is the composition of the universe (what is it made of)? How do we know?

Read the following article to understand how an LED works: How LEDs Work?

Use the following form to support you in your flashlight/headlamp design. Have the design complete by Thursday, January 23rd. Design an LED Light.

High Tech High Physics Spring 2014 Tentative Syllabus

Delgado 9th Grade Second Semester

The second semester will be broken up into two distinct projects. The first project will run from Monday, January 14th until Friday, March 21st. The second will start after spring break and run through the end of the year. The two projects are described briefly below.

HTH Space

Our first project will focus on developing a mini-space program within High Tech High. Our goal will be to capture images from low earth orbit and begin the fundraising process for obtaining a Cube Sat device. More information will be forthcoming as the semester develops. The deliverables will include the following. Students will:

• make a small LED light with red (or blue) bulbs to be used in our evening star watches.

• attend at least one of the evening star parties with the class. There will be an opportunity to attend three or four.

• create a design for capturing images using a weather balloon thus contributing to our final launch.

• create a short 2 – 3 minute educational film about a topic in cosmology, astrophysics or astronomy.

• learn the basics of how a telescope works and how to set it up in order to get the information you need.

• launch a weather balloon equipped with technology to capture data and images from 20 miles above earth’s surface.

During this project we will focus on circuits, electricity, electromagnetism, motion, gravity, lenses and light as physics topics to be learned.

Freshmanpalooza

Our second project of the semester will be an music and art festival hosted by the entire freshman class. We are still in the planning phases for this project. However, it will be the most student driven project we’ve done this year. Ideas, at present, include music performances, sound/light boxes, or plays. Our focus in physics will be on sound and light.

Class Portfolio

We will again use the your class blog’s for submitting work. Your final grade will be based on the following items listed below:

• Problem sets. We will spend time every week working on problem sets. You will have an opportunity to submit approximately 17 different open ended problems this semester. Your final grade will be based having 10 of those 17 approved and posted to your blog. These will be due by Monday, June 17th.

• Video reflections. You will need to watch and post reflections on 7 approved physics videos. We will watch some in class. I will also post recommended physics videos to my blog. Due: Monday, June 17th.

• Socratic Seminar Posts. Everyone must write a science summary of at least 5 socratic seminars and post those to your blog. We will do approximately 12 seminars this semester. Due: Monday, June 17th.

• LED Light. You will make an LED light. A photo of the final work should be posted by Friday, March 21st.

• Weather Balloon Design. With a partner, you will make a design for the weather balloon. It must be posted by Friday, March 21st.

• Lab Report. You will complete at least one experiment with the results posted in the form of a lab write up on the blog. Due: Monday, June 17th.

• More to come. As we finalize our plans for the Freshmanpalooza, there are sure to be more items that will need to be posted to your blog.

Calendar:

Week of: Topic/Activity

January 13th Electricity and circuits.(4 day)

January 20th Electricity and circuits. Build light (4 day)

January 27th Finish Circuits. Begin Weather Balloon Design

February 3rd Weather Balloon. Gravity. Cosmology. Star Party 1

February 10th Weather Balloon. Gravity. Cosmology. (4 day)

February 17th Finish Weather Balloon. Launch. Star Party 2 (4 day)

February 24th Cosmology. 1 -2 minute movies

March 3rd Cosmology. 1 – 2 minute movies. Star Party 3

March 10th Finish 1 – 2 minute movies. Exhibition Star Party.

March 17th Finish Humanities Exploration Project.

POL Prep Aguirre/Delgado/Hofmann Team 2013

Many of you have requested support in prepping for your POL. This sheet is meant to act as a guide for you as you develop your POL. The most important thing to remember about the POL is that it is reflective in nature. It isn’t a content based presentation. It is meant for you to think about where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going relative to your academic growth. Keep in mind summarization is not reflection. As such, Mr. Aguirre’s 50 reflective questions is a good resource for you as you develop your presentation.

A rough guide for developing your POL could look something like this:

• Update your DP. Often times, trying to think about what you’re going to say is a difficult step. So start with a more mechanical process. Get your DP ready to go. Remember you need  one radio drama, four humanities artifacts, two math artifacts, and one physics artifact posted on your DP with a link to your physics blog. Your artifacts for humanities and physics can simply be transferred from your portfolio or blog, respectively. That leaves you only needing to compile two math artifacts which are hopefully easy enough to locate. Post artifacts that will serve as evidence for growth, the challenges you faced, or areas you are seeking improvement in school.  Artifacts that you are proud of work as well.
• Write your one page reflection. You’ve been writing reflections all semester. Now it is time to write your final one. In a one page paper, reflect on how you’ve grown over the course of the past semester. What challenges do you still face? What are your goals for next semester? It is a good idea to keep the “content” portion of the rubric in mind as you write the one pager. They are attached below for ease of reference. This reflection is a one page, double spaced, typed paper you must submit to Mr. Hofmann at the time of you POL.
• Write an outline/script/3”x5” note card. Many of you come from the middle schools where you were required to write an outline or script for your presentation. If that works for you, please continue to use that. If you haven’t done this, it can be a great aid in developing your 7 minute speech. We are not requiring you do this, nor do you have to submit any evidence of one. We recommend this for students new to presentations. An outline is essentially a bullet-pointed list of everything you plan on saying. The script would be your entire speech written out. During your POL, your only aid will be your DP and one 3”x5” card.
• Practice, practice, practice. Finally and most importantly, you should practice your POL repeatedly. The more your practice it while timing yourself (even in front of a small audience like your parents, siblings or fellow students), the better off you’ll be. Have the audience listen for reflection as opposed to summarization and pay attention to your timing. Practicing 8 – 10 times would be the recommendation. More would not hurt. Good luck!!!

Content Portion of Rubric. Reflecting on these will ensure a successful POL:

• Reflects on  project objectives, outcomes, and significance
• Reflects on academic strengths and areas for improvement
• Provides strong evidence of revision, teamwork, responsibility, and production of beautiful work as a student at HTH.
• Reflects on growth in humanities, science and math (all).

Physics Final

Fall 2013

 The final in physics will be based on the following set of questions. We will discuss approximately 7 – 8 questions in a 10 – 12 minute time period. Brian will choose 5 of the questions. You will choose two to three. Brian will choose one question from each category. You may use a 5”x8” card with notes on it for the conversation. The more prepared you are and the more comfortable you are talking about each category, the easier this will go. You may schedule your final at any point moving forward. You must schedule it by Dec. 4^th.

General Science

1.  Describe in your own terms (or using those of Richard Feynman) what the scientific method is.
2. What is the significance of mathematics to science?
3. What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?
4. What are the four fundamental forces of nature? Give an example of each.
5. What is energy? How is it measured?
6. What is matter? How is it measured?
7. What is momentum? How is it measured?
8. What is force? How is it measured?

Electromagnetic Spectrum

1. What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
2. What  are the names for the different types of waves found within the electromagnetic spectrum?
3. What are some technologies that work by using the electromagnetic spectrum?
4. What is the speed of light in a vacuum? 
5. What is the speed of a radio wave in a vacuum?
6. Why are gamma rays or ultraviolet rays potentially dangerous to humans?
7. How does light interact with matter?
8. Why are leaves green (in general)?
9. How are electromagnetic waves different from other types of waves?

Newton’s Laws and Motion

1. What are Newton’s three laws of motion?
2. Aside from his three laws, what was the major fundamental force Newton developed a model for in his 1687 paper?

20. What is Newton’s law of Universal Gravitation and what does each character in it mean?

1. What is the nature of space in Newton’s conception of reality? What is the nature of time?

22. Given a starting velocity, a constant acceleration and a time over which an object is accelerating, you must calculate its velocity (use vf=vo+at).

23. What is the major flaw with Newton’s conception of gravity? What was missing from his theory? How did it conflict with our observations of reality?

24. What is the acceleration due to gravity on earth? What does that number mean?

Quantum Theory

1. Why is quantum theory named quantum theory?

26. What is the significance of a Higgs boson? Why did we spend billions of dollars looking for it?

1. Describe the wave – particle duality?

28. What is the uncertainty principle?

29. Describe the Bohr model of the atom (through a picture or in words).

1. 30.  What is the periodic table? Why is it significant?
2. What is the double slit experiment? Why is it significant?
3. 32.  What is a proton, neutron, and electron? How are they arranged to make matter?

Other

33. Of your three audio lessons, what topic did you find most interesting? Why?

34. What is the science that you used in your Radio Drama? How did it drive your story? What do you find interesting about this science?

1. What questions do you have in physics that you’re interested in exploring?

36. What are your thoughts on the possibility of AI surpassing human intelligence? Would you choose to enhance your own intelligence if given the opportunity? Why or why not?

1. What physics idea did you find most intriguing this semester? Why is it significant to you?

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On Wednesday, November 20th you’re rough draft of your science/tech design is due. You must have an in process image based on the science within your story (this will also form the backdrop for your Radio Drama as it plays on Exhibition Night). You also need a 250 – 500 word essay addressing a science topic within your Radio Drama. The essay must be cited where appropriate using footnotes. I would highly recommend using Google Docs to write the essay. 

Students must develop an appropriate question based on their story. This again has to be done individually. Students should then research their topic and write a short explanation of the science used. 

Appropriate questions might include:

• What does science teach us about the feasibility of time travel and how is it significant in my story?
• What are necessary conditions for alien life to arise and how does this concept drive my story?
• What is a type 1 civilization and how does this idea play a role in my Radio Drama?

I hope you’re getting the point here. I want you to address an issue in science and connect it back to the story you are telling. You will have to write concisely because 250 – 500 words is a few paragraphs to a page max. 

The final document needs to have citations as well. Please footnote the citations within the text using the Chicago Manual Style. For more information on how to cite specific texts, films or articles go to their website. For citing websites, use the following information from the Chicago Manual of Style organization website:

“Website

A citation to website content can often be limited to a mention in the text or in a note (“As of July 19, 2008, the McDonald’s Corporation listed on its website . . .”). If a more formal citation is desired, it may be styled as in the examples below. Because such content is subject to change, include an access date or, if available, a date that the site was last modified.

See the attached model if you want more information on how the paper should look, how it should read, and what the citations should look like.

You can find a sample document here.

Please submit a YouTube of your third audio lesson along with the following reflection questions to your blog by Monday, Nov 4th, 2013.

1. How is the science you studied significant to your science fiction story?
2. What are your expectations for your Radio Drama? Are you excited? Do you feel like you have a strong start? What support do you feel you need?
3. What questions do you have about science based on what you have researched and taught about this semester? What are you interested in learning more about?

Your second audio file must be uploaded onto YouTube. Use one image (you may use more, but a minimum of one is necessary) to create a movie with the sound file. Upload it to YouTube using your HTH account and link that page to your blog. Submit the second file by the end of the day on Wednesday, October 16th.

Include a reflection on the following questions:

1. You studied a topic from either motion, force, gravity or electro-magnetism. What science did you learn from creating the file? What is significant about what you learned?
2. As you complete these audio files, what are you learning about yourself with regard to group work? How will these lessons inform your approach to group work moving forward into our Radio Drama?
3. As we hit the mid-point of the first semester, what do you feel your strengths are? What do you need to get better at? What is your plan for improvement?

To this point, the following are the problem sets that have been assigned. Keep in mind, you need seven completed and ready to post by the end of the semester.

1. Unit Conversion and Significant Figures.
2. Kinetic and Potential Energy
3. Pressure and Density
4. Kinetic and Potential Energy Challenge
5. Transcendent Man Guiding Questions
6. Heat
7. Gravity

Gravity Problem set

heat capacity and heat transfer