Problems/questions

[admin]

Did you have any problems with the “For You To Read” or “Physics Talk” sections?

[Donna Wolz]

My students had a LOT of trouble with the math. Ninth graders aren't ready for most of it.

[Sushma Sharma]

For you to read in this activity requires more time than the activity itself. My students had problem solving questions involving kinetic and potential energy. Also, the concept of work and energy is not explained in detail. It is hard for the students to relate work with energy.

[Milly Rixey]

I agree that the energy and work problems were difficult. I used some supplemental problems about changes in KE and PE that had pictures of jumpers and balls rolling down ramps at different heights that gave them practice. The next activity on Defy gravity revisits the concepts and I hope it gels more with this activity.

[Dan Wood]

Hi Everyone,  You are right, the "For You To Read" was tough.  I must admit, we kept returning to the activity and since I happened to have a couple of pole vault poles and lots of tapes of kids vaulting, we kept at it until I could get them to connect with the idea of putting running energy into potential energy of the pole.  We did the rolling the "Heavy Steel Ball-bearing Balls down the ramp and into the hacksaw blades mounted to the wood blocks in your kits.  We got the electric drill and wood screws out and reattached the saw blades on the block so when the balls rolled down the ramp they easily bend the saw blades.  We attached felt markers to the ends of the blades and then taped index cards to the table top.  When the balls hit the blades, the pens made marks that could be measured.  We discovered the hacksaw blades bend like pole vault poles.  I know some of you aren't as excited as I am or was about doing this activity, but being the 'ol track coach I am, we really had fun doing these activities.  By the end of the activity my students really understood KE and PE transformations!  If any of this crazy enthusiasm I have for this activity can be "rubbed off" on you, drop me a note.  Hang in there everybody, Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away!  Dan