My Science Homework

Day 25: Accuracy & Precision

Mr. G — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:19:59 +0000

The last several days of science have been filled with math - from scientific notation to significant figures to today’s quiz over the two topics. Today we finally wrapped up that portion of this unit and moved on to defining accuracy and precision. By tying these terms in with the use and importance of significant figures, the quantitative science unit has now come full circle.

For a review of today’s notes and diagrams, check out the Precision and Accuracy Examples and Notes. Following those notes, we tackled the quiz. The quizzes will be graded an show up on PowerSchool by the end of the weekend. Tomorrow we’ll begin a new unit on Experimental Design in which we will work in groups to design an experiment from beginning to end and then carry it out to record results, draw conclusions, and communicate our findings.

Homework: Finish the “Science in the News” write-up for the kilogram article from Monday. It is due in class tomorrow (due on Monday for 2nd hour only).

Day 24: Significant Figures - Day 2

Mr. G — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:10:35 +0000

For the second day, we discussed the importance of significant figures in science. We started today by reviewing the definition and how to determine when a value is significant or not. We then covered two new rules: how many significant figures is our answer allowed to have when we 1) Add or Subract, and 2) Multiply or Divide. We documented these rules along with an example of each on our Quantative Science Notes Guide that we started yesterday. To review today’s slides, check out the handout for Significant Figures - Day 2 Slides.

Homework: Students then worked on the Significant Figures Practice Problem Set along with the Science in the News article that we started yesterday. Also, STUDY! There will be a quiz tomorrow in class. The quiz will consist of 10 questions and will cover Scientific Notation (look back to September 14th for more info) and the material over Significant Figures from yesterday and today.

Email Update: The new email system appears to be fully functional this week. Please update your address books to reflect my new address: jgontesky@tong464.org

Day 23: Significant Figures - Day 1

Mr. G — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:13:42 +0000

After briefly discussing the information we learned Friday regarding scientific notation (this will be on a quiz on Thursday!) we then began working with an entirely new idea: Significant Figures. Whenever scientists are conveying measurements or other quantities, they want to be sure they are reporting the appropriate level of certainty in their measurement, thus they pay attention to significant figures.

We started by defining the term and documenting the rules from the slides for Significant Figures - Day 1. This information was documented on the Quantitative Science notes guide. We will continue with this page tomorrow, so be sure to bring it back to class. We covered a lot more today too though and links to all of the handouts are included below.
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Day 15: Measurement Lab - Day 2

Mr. G — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:30:14 +0000

Students continued working on the Measurement Lab from yesterday in class today. Groups were given ~25 minutes to complete the lab and then begin working on the Post Lab. The lab itself is due at the start of tomorrow’s class and no late coupons can be used. Students may complete work on the lab early tomorrow - from 7:40 - 8:10am if they are not yet complete. After that, the lab will no longer be available.
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Day 14: Measurement Lab-Day 1

Mr. G — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:36:08 +0000

After a nice long Labor Day weekend, students continued work on the metric system today by beginning the Metric Measurement Lab. This lab will take 2-3 days. We will follow up on Thursday with a post-lab on the topic. The completed lab will be due in class on Thursday. Students are working in groups of 2-3 to complete the lab with each student completing their own paperwork to be turned in at the end of the lab.

Grades have been updated online and on the classroom bulletin board. The second quiz of the quarter along with several homework assignments have been entered. Be sure to keep yourself updated on where you stand - now is the time to lay the foundation for a strong grade for the semester.

Reminder: The “Science in the News” 5-paragraph write-up that was assigned last week is due at the start of class tomorrow (Wednesday). Please see me or email me before then if you have any questions about the assignment.

Day 13: Quiz & Metric Mishap

Mr. G — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:04:31 +0000

Class started with a quick review of metric conversion principles as we swapped papers and corrected the “metric conversions” homework problem set that was assigned on Thursday. We then took a brief quiz on the content from this past week: variables, experimental design, and the metric system.

Following the quiz, students worked on a 5-paragraph write-up of an article regarding how costly the confusion between the metric and english systems can be when people fail to communicate properly. Students recieved a paper copy of the Metric mishap caused loss of NASA orbiter article as well as a paper copy of the instructions (Science in the News) that we’ll be using throughout the year when analyzing Science in the News articles.

The write-up is due on Wednesday, 09/05. When we return from the Labor Day weekend, we will tackle a 2-3 day Metric Measurement Lab. By Tuesday, all grades will be updated online - just click the PowerSchool link to the right to login and view your standing in the class.

Read more about the Metric System in the news:

CNN.com: Metric mishap caused loss of NASA orbiter
iTWire: NASA goes metric for moon missions
Metric4Us: Why Metric is Better

Day 10: The Lunar Eclipse and Variables

Mr. G — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:00:15 +0000

This morning’s lunar eclipse was a spectacular one. Several dozen students took the time to step outside (or at least peel back a curtain) and peek out at the moon in the early morning hours (4-6am) to view the total lunar eclipse this morning. All were greeted to spectacular copper-red hues covering the entire surface of the moon before it set on the western horizon. The image above was shot this morning around 5:45am. To see more, view the gallery I have set up for it: Total Lunar Eclipse of 08/28/07 on my other page. Browse the gallery for images of the March, 2007 Lunar Eclipse as well as Comet McNaught from back in January.
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Day 9: Quiz & Lunar Eclipse Tomorrow!

Mr. G — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:40:26 +0000

After briefly discussing the definition and importance of Peer Review in science in class today, we took some time to discuss tomorrow morning’s lunar eclipse that is set to occur. All students were encouraged to take the time to check out the moon early tomorrow morning on the western horizon as it will be fully eclipsed as it sets right around sunrise. In the midst of the eclipse, the moon will appear a brilliant reddish hue as shown in the image to the right (taken during the eclipse of March of 2007). Read much more about lunar eclipses like the one pictured to the right (image source: NASA) using the links listed below.
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