On your blog post the following:

Post title – Physics Post 2: Balsa Wood Rocket

• A photo of your balsa wood rocket
• A video of the launch
• A short reflection answering these questions
  • What did you learn about rocketry from your first balsa wood rocket?
  • What will you do different on your next build?

For your first assignment, you simply need to post a brief sentence or two letting me know what area of science you are most interested in and why. Please upload a photo of you to the blog as well.

The method for posting is as follows:

• Use the following post header. Physics Blog Post 1: Intro
• Write a few sentences answering the question.
• Upload a photo.
• Send Brian and Mike the link at bdelgado@hightechhigh.org and mstrong@hightechhigh.org

Please form up with a group of several students. Three to five. Spend 20 minutes collaborating on a photography session. Take one image from the shoot. Process and post it along with a quick reflection answering the following questions:

• What did you learn about photography this semester (this could be the technical/scientific/engineering side and/or the artistic side)?
• What should be modified about this project if it is done in the future?

Thanks for the feedback!

For your honors project, please put a post onto your blog titles, “Honors Post”

Please post the following:

• A link to your honors paper or video
• (Astronomy Honors) Processed images of your astronomy pics (deep sky) and/or widefield or a link to your timelapse if you made one
• (Rocketry Honors) Link to the projected height calculation from the thrust test data
• (Weather Balloon) Lab write-up showing results of your high altitude experiment
• Final reflection. What did you learn about rocketry, astronomy or high altitude science that is new to you? How was the overnight camping experience/rocket launch/balloon launch? What stood out?

Hi all. This is the final blog post you will need to write this semester as part of your grade. You should be all updated on everything else. This needs to be done by Monday (but use today’s in class time to work on it) because we’ll be doing interviews with everyone next week that we hope to use at exhibition.

• Image of the Week: Upload the image you wish to use as your final print in this folder. Will from Outside the Lens will be in tomorrow to take one final look at the image before we print next week. You will have one last chance to edit. However, put your image in the folder labeled with your name (example: brian_delgado.jpg). Make sure the image is 300 dpi and 24″ x 36″.
• Post a reflection answering the following questions. These will be used next week in the interviews we conduct.
  • What people, places or things hold meaning for you and why?
  • How do you overcome obstacles or persevere through difficult times?
  • What brings you peace, happiness or enjoyment? Why?
  • What fears do you have for the future?
• Post your final exam essential question along with at least one article which I can read prior to our conversation.

Please keep in mind that all honors students must complete either an educational video or a research paper. The research paper should be 3 – 5 pages long and have footnoted citations. The paper should be double spaced and 12 point font. Turn it in by this Friday, April 8th if you want me to give feedback before the due date on April 15th.  See me if you have question on this.

For astronomy the research questions are:

• What is the science behind how stars shine? How do we know this?
• What is entropy and how is it significant to the processes we see in the night sky?
• What is gravity and how is it significant to the structures we see in the night sky?

Choose one for the paper or make a 3 – 5 minute educational video on any of the three topics.

For Rocketry either write a 3 – 5 page paper or make a 3 – 5 minute educational video on the following topics:

• What is the significance of the nozzle in creating the thrust necessary to get the rocket off the ground? How do designs optimize the shape to create the most thrust?
• What are the major differences between solid and liquid fuels in the design and performance of a rocket?
• How are scientists able to use the mathematics of orbital mechanics to create precise flight paths through the vastness of space?

For Weather Balloon Science write a 3- 5 page paper or create a 3 – 5 minute video on one of the following questions:

• How have humans used high altitude balloons to understand weather systems?
• What is the science behind how high altitude balloons? How does the balloon system create lift and fall back to earth? How is the balloon recovered? How does the gps system work?
• How does sound work?

Please submit the following to your blog for your 8th weekly blog post:

• Studio photos for Problem Set 7/8 with a reflection on what you learned about lighting and photography from doing the shoot.
• Choose a photo from the beginning of the semester and one from more recently. Post them with a reflection on how you’ve improved as a photographer.  Be specific.  Was it your ability to compose a photo? To find the right light? To use the camera’s settings to your advantage? To tell a story through a photo? Also, reflect on the process of improvement. How does it feel to get better at an activity? What does it do for you? What is required to make the improvement?
• Your 3rd final product – written with a photo. You should now have a photo and story that represents meaning for you, someone you know, and a stranger.

You should be thinking about all of the following this week:

• Completing Problem Set 7/8 which is a studio session of photography. Essentially, I want you playing with light, reflectors, soft boxes, etc. You can also do this at Sunset Cliffs this Friday. This needs to be done by Friday.
• Completing the experiment and the short written piece for your Physics of Photography morning. This only needs to be ~200 to 250 words. Please cite your sources
• You should have seven weekly blog posts up with reflections and photos along with six problem sets.
• Photos of the week. We need to get more and better photos as exhibition approaches. Let’s get to it.

Honors

• All honors groups have a research paper or video due by April 15th. You should be working on this presently. Rocket groups should have their rocket built by the week following spring break. Weather balloons should launch then as well. Astronomers – I will be confirming the dates for our nights out the week we get back.

Post the following for this week’s blog post

• Problem set 7/8 is due by the end of the day March 18th. Put a post up with the name of your partner and the plan for your studio sessions you will do by March 18th.
• On your main page under the heading “Best Photos” post your three best, processed photos that you would use as potential prints for the final exhibition.
• Reflection. With the article we read in class in mind, share the most meaningful experience you’ve had in nature. Explain why. Use descriptive language. Show the reader what it felt like.
• Physics of Photography. Pup up a post documenting your experiment/activity. It should have an image or video of the experiment you did with a short written description of your process and what you learned/showed from doing it. This needs to be complete and up by March 18th by the latest.
• Photo of the week. This should be your 7th photo. Get it up.

There is quite a bit work out for our group over the coming weeks. Students have to complete the following:

1. Blog update – many of you had missing pieces on your blog. You will need to get six problem sets, six reflections, and six weekly photos up. Due now.
2. Final Product 1 – an image with text in Indesign submitted to M. Egler. This should be done.
3. Final Product 2 – same as above unless otherwise noted. Due Friday, March 11th
4. Final Product 3 – same as above unless noted. Due Friday, March 18th
5. Physics of Photography – you should have completed the first draft of a 200 word mini-essay on your question. You should finish with your experiment/activity no later than Wed. Mar 16th. You will be required to post documentation of your experiment and your finalized written piece by spring break. Please print your 200 word essay today.
6. Problem Set 7 & 8 – This week you will begin your final problem sets researching and producing two sets of studio photos with a partner.
7. Honors work
   • Astrophotography. Meet with Brian today to confirm date of photography. also begin working on your essay/video
     • After capturing your images, you will process and submit them on your blog. Concurrently, you will work on either a research paper or a YouTube video which answers on of the following questions:
       • What is the science behind how stars shine? How do we know this?
       • What is entropy and how is it significant to the processes we see in the night sky?
       • What is gravity and how is it significant to the structures we see in the night sky?
   • Weather Balloon Science. This group should meet today with every member to firm up plans and work on your research paper of your launch
     • • Contemporaneously, complete a research paper (3 – 5 pages) or a video documentary of your launch which captures what you learned from doing a high altitude experiment.
   • Rocketry. This group should test their engines this week and begin laying out designs for their rocket
     • • Research paper topics:
         • What is the significance of the nozzle in creating the thrust necessary to get the rocket off the ground? How do designs optimize the shape to create the most thrust?
         • What are the major differences between solid and liquid fuels in the design and performance of a rocket?
         • How are scientists able to use the mathematics of orbital mechanics to create precise flight paths through the vastness of space?
8. Endersession
   • Continue planning for the final six weeks of the year.