Mr. Blythe

Thursday

We spent time today reviewing our tests on speed, velocity and acceleration. Some did very well but many need some more work. We will revisit these areas frequently. Newton is up next and we're not talking about the cookie!

Wednesday

Some classes did not meet today due to testing. Those that did meet began to explore balanced and unbalanced forces. We will begin to explore the laws of motion, gravity, friction and inertia.

Tuesday

Today we tested on speed, velocity and acceleration. I hope everyone did well! We will begin to look at balanced and unbalanced forces and then move into simple machines.

Monday

What three kinds of change in motion are called acceleration? Increasing speed, decreasing speed and changing direction. Test Tomorrow! Test will be on speed, velocity and acceleration. There will be computations for speed and acceleration and we completed many examples in class today. Workbook pages 103-108 should also be completed to prepare.

Friday

Today we completed the lab determining safe distances to locate the baseline on a basketball court by using average speed of the fastest student and reaction times. We also began working with some samples of speed and acceleration computations. We will probably have a test next Tuesday before we move onto balanced and unbalanced forces. Have a great weekend!

Thursday

We have been working on quite a few labs this week and today we were working on a lab that determines the best design for a basketball court using speed and reaction time. WE will continue with this activity tomorrow. Our focus right now is investigating the relationship between force, mass, and the motion of objects by determining the relationship between velocity and acceleration. Look for some homework where we can practice determining average speeds and acceleration. I hope that the progress reports are productive and those that did well will continue and those that need to do some work begin to step it up. Please see me if you need help!

Wednesday

What are the different types of energy? Chemical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, electromagnetic, and nuclear. We completed an in-class project today where students are to create a diagram of a piece of playground equipment or sporting event and show where there is kinetic and potential energy. They are also asked to label as many energy conversions as possible and points are given for the amount of conversions shown. For example, changing from chemical to mechanical to thermal when hitting a baseball.

Tuesday

What is an energy conversion? A change from one type of energy to another. We discussed many examples of this today and students had a chance to create drawings of sporting events that represent various energy transformations. Students need to know all of the energy types along with the differences between potential and kinetic energy.

Monday

How do we increase the potential energy of an object? We either increase the height or the mass of the object. Today we completed a lab called "Bounce!" that graphically compares potential energy from different heights. Questions should be completed for homework.

Thursday

Why does an astronaut's weight on the moon differ from their weight on Earth? It all has to do with gravity. The more mass an object has, the more gravity it will have. Weight is your mass affected by a gravitational force so the larger the planet (or moon), the more we would weigh. On the other hand, if we travel to a place much smaller than Earth we will have a dramatic weight loss. Today we made origami frogs and explored the differences between kinetic and potential energy.