Honors Research Topics in Physics

If enough people express an interest a course on a few topics in physics will be presented. The course will probably be run under the heading Honors Research, will meet in seminar style three times a week and be for 3 credits.

Here is a preliminary description of the course:

This course is designed to allow the student to explore topics in physics in more depth than a traditional lecture course allows. Subjects will be chosen by the students [except for the first quarter because of advance preparation requirements – unless students choose one in the spring of the preceding year]. The format of the course is as follows.

The class meets three times per week. In each quarter the class will choose a specific but somewhat broad area of physics to study. The quarter will begin with prescribed readings and some lectures and presentations on the general aspects of the topic and some supporting material required for understanding the subject in general.

The instructor will provide guidance about references and outside resources, such as Rutgers physics department outreach, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Fermilab Quarknet; Columbia University.

After two to three weeks, students will select subtopics within the quarter’s topic and begin independent research. The instructor will support their efforts by supplying texts, recommending sources, and answering ( or attempting to answer) questions. Independent research can be performed by individuals, or groups of up to 3 or 4, at the instructor’s discretion.

The product of the independent research will be a report or project, and a presentation to be made within the last two weeks of the quarter. Students should pursue the topic to a level they find challenging, but not overwhelming in detail or difficulty.

Some examples of topics and subtopics from the last year the course ran are:

Topic: Controlled fusion for electric power production

Subtopics: steam cycles for electric power production; electric generators; waves in plasmas; fusion nuclear reactions; magnetic fields for fusion plasma confinement; how to heat particles to 100 million degrees;

Topic: Particle physics

Subtopics: Accelerator design, nuclear reaction cross sections; particle detectors

Topic : Electromagnetic Radiation including light

Subtopics: Corrective lenses; how the eye works; how TV signals are received and converted; antenna design; how the electron beam in a monitor produces an image; how a strobe light works; Maxwell’s equation

If preferred, a more focused course can be provided such as thermo dynamics of energy conversion for two quarters, and particle physics for two quarters.

Outside Physics Courses Etc.

Here is a list of contacts for some physics and other science summer or weekend course. The Rutgers astrphysics program is one whjere we have participated in the past so give it carefull attention, but do not ignore others. There are other science programs I have posted in the past as well.


Extracurrphysicsprog.doc

Honors and Mathematical Presentations

Next week we will make some time available for those of you who would like to present your projects to the class. There will be up to 25 points of extra credit for a perfect job and lesser amounts for less than perfect presentations. You must email me and arrange to meet briefly with me befoer you can scheduled to present.

Mathematical Physics

Please look over notes and review sheet concerning the force of gravity and weight and review power and also take a look at your stair climbing lab with respect to power.

Mathematical Review Solutions

Here is a link to the solutions

CPMPhysicsMidyRevwsln.doc

AP Thermo Test

Sydney just discovered an error in my answer sheet for this test. IF you had #7 marked wrong please see me ASAP.

Rotational KE Lab

1) Many of you misused the phrase KE rotational for a rolling sphere; that is you said

KE rotational = . 7 M vsquared. It is KE total that equals .7 M vsquared.

Please note that the KE total of a rolling sphere has two parts:

KE total = KE rotational + KE translational.

where KE rotatioanl = .2 M vsquared and KE translational = .5 M v squared

2) Nearly all of you correctly stated you could eliminate M since it appears in both the PE and KE expressions. However most of you wnet on to call the quantities you used PE and KE when they were actually PE/Mass and KE /Mass and the proper units were J/kg not just Joules. Please mark this on your labs so you do not have incorrect information in them.

Solutions to last ten Honors review questions

Here they are

PhysicsMidyearAddPractslns.doc

Mathematical Review

The amount of material turned in as solutions to the review by this class is pathetic. Each day's work is worth 2 home works if turned in on time and most of you have missed this opportunity to help your grades. Remedy this situation by turning in the last two assignments 0n time. I will accept parts three and four as on time up until Thursday morning. Parts one and two will now receive half credit if turned in by then.

Honors and others with urgent needs

Honors have the test today and tomorrow so they get top billing today, but those taking retests or makeup will get some attention. I will be available first period today starting at about 7:45. I do have a meeting at 7:30 so be patient.

AP Midyear Review Solutions

While I did check a solution set for the midyear, I am not absolutely certain this is the file I checked [my 4 computers are beginning to look a lot like my desk], so there may be a couple of errors. Email me with questions and I will try to respond.

SolnstoAPIMidyear08rev1.doc

Honors Midyear practice Solutions

Here are solutions to first 73 questions.  I'll try to post answers to the new ten questions today.

HonorsMidyearPracticeAnswers08.doc

Mathematical Midyear Review

Here is the whole package as it now stands. Keep looking for any changes. I may post solutions, although we have covered most of this stuff in class.

CPMPhysicsMidyRevw.doc

Mathematical Midyear Review part 3

Sorry I was late with this

MathPhysicsMidyrevPrt3.doc

Urgent Additional Honors Practice

Sorry guys, but on reviewing the practice questions, I realized there were a few additional things I think you should know, so here they are:

PhysicsMidyearAddPract.doc

I am not assigning them, but use your heads, I am not posting these because I felt you and I needed more to do right now.

I'll try to get to them in class or post solutions by Wednesday evening . 

Also, review your planet work sheet. Get it right if you did not earlier.

Honors Practice Test Solutions

Here are solutions through question 35


HonorsMidyearPractAns08Prt1-2.doc

Mathematical Physics Mid Year Review part 2

Here is the link for your assignment. Write answers on review sheets and on new clean sheets, turn in the clean sheets in class every day.

MathPhysicsMidyrevprt2.doc

All students Bios and study group reports

These are easy but required assignments, get them in. 

Bio: general background, hobbies, interests, talents, awards, special circumstances, aspirations, career goals, public service.

Study group: one per unit, who when, where, what did you study?

The time to get these in is NOW ( actually much earlier than now, but better late .... you know the rest)

AP Lab

The harmonic motion lab should be a formal lab; we haven't had many so far thsi year.

Worksheet R-2 Corrections to solution

Folks I just noticed that on problem 5 the angle from horizontal, theta horizontal is 60 degrees not 30 degrees as I has remembered it. Therefore the correct solution for tension in the cable is given by torque = 400Nm same as before, Fcable vertical = 400/1.6 = 250 N, again same as before.  

BUT Fcable = 250/costheta vertical = 250/cos 30degrees = 288 N.

Fcable horizontal =  288N( - cos 60) [ - because  the cable has a negative x direction] = -144 N so the Fhinge horizontal = +144 N. 

Fhinge vertical + Fcable vertical -Msign g=0 so Fhinge = --M g -Fable vertical = 500-250 = 250N

All Students

Many of you are in danger of getting below a C in this course for one simple reason LABS. If you have not turned them in do so now. If you are not sure about any lab, come see me about it Monday.

If you have a "see me" on a lab that means see me, ( tricky isn't it) or you will receive a failing grade for that lab.

All Students Homework

Midyear review assignments are to done on clean sheets to be turned in on date due in schedule. Therefore, when you do review assignments, ALSO DO THEM ON THE REVIEW PACKAGE SO YOU CAN STUDY FROM THEM AND CHECK YOUR ANSWERS WHEN I POST THE SOLUTIONS!

Other homework is also due on the due date so I should be seeing work on rotational motion form period 8, on vectors and 2 dimensional motion from periods 2 and 4  and on oscillations and waves from period 6.

 Honors Page 87 problem 2. You were supposed to do it graphically with protractor and ruler. Analytically,  the x component is 85 m +45 cos 30 degree = 124 m and the y component = 45 cos 60 degrees = 22.5 m  The magnitude of the displacement is therefore the sqrt (x squared + y squared) = sqrt of (124  squared  + 22.5 squared ) = 126 m 

All students- those crazy little boxes on your downloads

Those boxes occur because of a glitch in Word. What you have to do is highlight all the boxes; go to the font menu; and select symbol; the words will now appear in greek letters. decipher the letters and then click on your font of choice and type the letters in

All students Torque Center of Mass Lab

Most of you missed the point about how do the meter stick and weights satisfy the condition for sum of the Fs to equal zero. Many of you cite the fact that a = 0. This is claer evidence that the sum of the forces does equal zero, but it does not explain why this so.

The fact that the net torque is zero does not mean the sum of the forces is zero.

AP Fluids

If you want a Fluids retest tomorrow, I need to have an email from you before 7:20 AM saying when you will take it. The test will be given outside 6 th period.

AP UNit 9 Worksheet

Here is worksheet 1 for Oscillations and Waves

unit9worksheet1r1RNC.doc

Mathematical Worksheets

Sorry folks, should have mentioned earlier that the worksheets can be found on the December 30th post for Honors .

Honors and Mathematical Students Review Materials

Here are links to help you review. The CPM review is homework for the mathematical students ( see schedule posted earlier)

CPMandHNRPhysicsStudyGuide.doc

CPMPhysicsMidyRevwPt1.doc

midyrDefsandFormfall.doc

All Students - Answers

It has recently been brought to my attention that not all of you know that the answers to most odd numbered textbook problems are atined in a section at the back of your texts.

You may have noticed that I assign mostly odd numbered problems; this is why.

Mathematical Schedule

Here is a schedule for the next several days including rotational motion and review for the midyear exams.

CPMUnit8Rotsch07-8.doc

I will post the review package and worksheets soon.

Honors Schedule, Worksheet and Midyear Practice Test

Here are your new schedule, a worksheet on vectors, and a midyear practice test. For the midyear practice test, do work and write answers on separate sheets to turn in as homework as per the schedule. It will count as six homeworks in total.

HonorsUnit82Dsched-08.doc

Unit_8Hnr08_WS1.doc

Midyrpractice08.doc

AP Midyear Review Packet

Here is your review packet for the Midyear Exam. Provide answers on clean sheets so you can keep the review packet when you turn in your homework.  Try some Harmonic Motion and Wave problems we will have just a little of it on the exam.

APIMidyearREVIEW08.doc

Answers will be posted next week

AP Midyear Review Packet

Here is your review packet for the Midyear

AP Schedule for Oscillation Waves and Midyear Review

Here is your new schedule. Check it for date errors (that means you especially Nicole, you are my best profo redaer -- I mean proof reader. Read the notes regarding similarities between circular and oscillatory motion. They are fundamental to much of the physics we will be studying soon.

APUnit9OscWavessch08.doc

NotesonCircHarmonic.doc

Torque and Center of Mass Lab

In all cases the torque and center of mass lab ( meter stick and weights) requires just doing the steps called for in the lab packet, filling in the results and calculating percent error 

( Tcw-Tcc)/Tcw  x  100 or (dcalculated-dmeasured)/dmeasured   x  100

and answering the questions. You can skip the triple beam question but do the others including question 6. 

Honors and AP classes must do through 5c and should do case 6 if possible. Mathematical can stop at 3 but can do more for extra credit.

The advanced study assignment will be treated as homework.

Heat Conduction Derivation

Here is the derivation I promised. I used H instead of Q here.

HeatConductionDerivationr1.doc

AP News Flash! Extra probelems and fluids

You do not have to do the extra problems for thermo. You can if you want to of course and it won't hurt.

On the other hand,( you knew that was coming) you still need to review mechanics and kinematics,and I will be giving you a fluids assignment in preparation for your RETEST!!! on Thursday. There will be little or no in class review of fluids before this test. The grade will count no matter what. If you don't know fluids come get help.

Mathematical New Topic Rotational Motion

To start this new unit on rotational motion we will work on things that cause objects to spin, i.e. torques. Do this worksheet R-1 for Monday . Also start reading the definitions etc for rotational motion.
ProblemSheetR-1rev1.doc

RotMotionDefseetc-07.doc

Honors Rotational Motion and Lab on Centrifugal Force

1) For Rotational Motion

know meaning of angular and tangential quantities and how they relate to each other. Such as Delta s =delta theta r; vtan = omega r; atan =alpha r, etc.
know relationship between Mac and centripetal force and ac = omega v= omega squared r = vtansquared/r know angular dynamics angular momentum = L = I omega;
Know I = M x [(r of mass) squared].
torque = I alpha just like F = Ma
more exactly
Delta L/Delta t = torque = Ftan x r ( r where Ftan is applied); just like Delta p/delta t = Fnet

Know if no alpha then no net torque so sum of torques = 0 [ cw - ccw +] choose axis to make equation easy to solve.
Know I = M x [(r of mass) squared].

KE rotational = I omega squared/2
KE total = 1/2 mv squared + I omega squared/2 squared; for rolling = vtan = omega r

Know angular kinematics , just like linear:
omega f = omega i + alpha delta t

Delta Theta = omega i delta t +1/2 alpha delta t squared

2) There are a huge number of overdue centripetal force labs. Get your siin now or continue to lose points

Honors Test Friday

Due to popular demand, the test will be Friday, not tomorrow, unless there is a strong sentiment voiced by overnight emails.

Torque and center of mass lab

The first question on the last page of your lab data package asks how is Sum F =0. The questions stems from the fact that all the torques are geenrated by downward, gravitational forces. While it may be that cw torques are cancelled by equal ccw torques if all the forces are downward how is Sum of Fs = 0 satisfied? Why doesn't the whole thing just accelerate downward?

The answer is obvious and you should realize what it is just by looking at the setup and what is holding up the stick.

Centripetal Force Lab

Many of the lab reports have to be redone. You were supposed to see how close the known FTension which equalled Mwashers x g came to the Mstopper x ac which should have been Mstopper x omega squared x r. If they were close, you conclude that since F =Ma then our equation for ac, that is ac = omega squared x r, is correct . This was the purpose of the lab!

Many of you never made the calculations. Many of you still do not know 1 cm is .01 m and that 1 gram is .001 kg. Some of you had the stopper going around at thousands of miles per hour and some had forces exceeding 100 lbs without ever stopping to think how ridiculous your results were.

Some of you just did sloppy lab work so that for the same Mwashers and Mstoppers you got many different ac s. If you gave it a moments thought you would see that if the masses don't change and g surely doesn't change, then ac should not change.You will need to redo the lab.

Some of you were guilty of all 3 kinds of errors. You must think about what you are doing if you are to succeed at worthwhile things, and I am not just talking about this course.

Many of you described Mw x g as the force in, and M omega squared r as the force out. NOTE that the force of the string on the stopper is the force in toward the center. The force of the stopper ON THE STRING is out, but the centripetal force on the stopper is inward toward the center. If you do notunderstand this very thoroughly you must see me ASAP.

AP Thermo Schedule

Here is a new schedule which I hope will make a bit more sense. The problem sheet and practice problems are attached. So are extra problems but I am not assigning them. 

I am also providing links for notes on heat and thermodynamics. I may have something more for you on Carnot cycles soon.

APUnit8Thersched07-8r1.doc

NotesonHeatR2.doc

NotesonThermoR4.doc

Midyear exams are rapidly approaching and we are having a mechanics test on Tuesday. We should be starting oscillations and waves right after thermo, but we also need at least 3 class days for review for the exam and you want a retest for fluids. Thus oscillations and waves may just have to wait until after the exams; I'm still pondering this.

AP Mechanics

Judging by the lack of success on the real AP questions, I assume most of you did not review the mechanics homeworks. Please be advised that I will feel free to use any of those questions on your "quiz" on Tuesday. If you do not know how to do them you had better find out before then.

Note that circular motion is part of mechanics.

Mathematical Assignment

Here is a brief assignment on motion as seen by observers in different places. It is due Monday so you will be prepared to discuss the subject of relative motion.

RelMotCPMWorksh.doc

Projectile Motion for all students

Here is a link that may help with projectile motion.

ProjectileMotionEquations.doc

Honors Period 4 Torque

The torque calculation for torque about the end of the meter stick we ended with on Friday was missing a term. That's why we didn't get better agreement.

There were three forces causing clockwise torque:

The weight of the 1.015 kg mass at .255 m;  T 1= 1.015 x 9.8 .255 = 2.54 Nm

The weight of the .515 kg mass at .99 m; T2 = 5.00 Nm

The weight of the ruler and pivot ( .225 kg x 9.8 ) at .5 m = 1.10 Nm ( this was the term left out Friday)

Total clock wise = 8.64 Nm

Counterclockwise: the upward force from the stand  (= Mtotal x g) at .5 m = 1.76x9.8 x .5 = 8.62 Nm for

Since the cw and ccw torques should be equal for no net torque ( which should be the case since there was no angular acceleration) the percent error is 

( 8.64-8.62)/8.64  x 100 = 0.23%  Near perfect agreement

 

Honors and AP Planets and Satellites, Orbital Mechanics

I f you had any difficulties with calculating angular velocities, periods, etc. and if you did not, this link may be helpful

planetsorSatellitesinOrbit.doc

Honors Fusion Fuel Density

Refer to the post from December 16 for how to do this calculation.

Now we need a 400,000 kW power plant. The plant will convert enrgy from the reactor to electricity with an efficiency of 40%. The reactor will be 300 cubic meters in volume. The reactor will use the deuterium helium 3 cycle so all the information from December 16 about the reaction including energy per reaction, cross section, velocity of fuel nuclei, etc still applies, but the power and volume are different. Calculate the amount of fuel needed per cubic meter.

AP Archimedes

1) Those of you with see me s or resubmits must see me. Setting Fb =Fg for an object that is not floating shows a certain lack of understanding that must be rectified.

2) Mea culpe or something like that ( it means I am guilty). Upon remeasuring a beaker I found that the diameter was closer to 8.4 cm so the area for the beaker bottom is about .0055 square meters. This should make your results for rho g h of the water much closer to Mg for the water.

Sorry

To all students Biographies

Turn them in folks, this is an absolute requirement.

Honors Problem Due Thrusday 1/3

Find the reactions per day and the kg per day for the following situation

10 kW output of electric power
40 % efficiency from fuel energy to electricity
each reaction generates 18.3 MeV of energyremember to convert to correct units.
the fuel for each reaction contains a total of five nucleons ( mass per nucleon is 1.67E-27 kg)

AP Fluids

After reviewing your homework and considering the test resulkts, most of you need to review fluids. You will find solutions to the text problems and some additional information in posts from December 2006 particularly 12/10 and 12/11/06.

All students

Don't forget your bios. Include general info, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, hobbies, interests,  public service and anything else you think your physics teacher should know about you. No making stuff up ( unless its really cool ---  well better  not do it even then).