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mini-Labs (explorations) How Fast does the "Domino Wave" Move When Dominos Fall Over? You team will be given a box of dominos. You will set the dominos on end such that one knocks the adjacent one over, etc. Your team is to devise a way of measuring and calculating the "wave speed" of the collapsing dominos.
mini-Labs (explorations) Scientific Method(ology) You team will be given 3 sealed plastic tubes (one yellow, one red, and one blue). Each tube has something inside (or some things inside)... your job is to make an educated guess of the contents through a series of simple investigations. For example, you can put your ear on the tube and listen (as you shift the relative position of the tube in your hand), roll the tube on the floor or table, move the tube observing it's motion, gently strike the tubes with your hands, etc. You may not open the tubes (they are sealed) or drop them on the floor. After your team comes to a general consensus of the contents, a cross-sectional drawing will be made representing the contents of each tube. After the initial drawings are made (one for each tube interior), you will be shown the actual contents used in the tube interiors... the trick is you will not know what item(s) are apportioned to each tube, only the total list of "stuff" and how much was used (overall quantity). You will re-draw the tube contents based on this new information; most students are amazed at the degree of final drawing accuracy that results based only on simple "blind" observation i.e. the application of scientific methodology!
mini-Labs (explorations) Graphic Interpretation of Motion Your team is given a handout that contains 20 different 'displacement vs. time' graphs. Using a Vernier GO-MOTION detector and the Lab-Quest data collector, your team will duplicate each graph using interpretive movement of your body, forward and back motion, in front of the motion detector.
mini-Labs (explorations) Particle Model of Motion You will use a motion tape dispenser, a ticker tape timer and masses to explore constant velocity and accelerated motion as depicted on a ticker tape.
mini-Labs (explorations) Calculating Human Reaction Time You will work with your lab partner to calculate the human reaction time. A meter stick is released between a student's index finger and thumb; at the moment the meter stick is released, the student 'pinches' the falling stick stopping the fall. Using the principles and equations of falling objects in gravitational fields, human reaction time can be calculated (without the use of a stopwatch!).
mini-Labs (explorations) Atwood Machines You will construct a simple Atwood machine using a frictionless pulley and 2 masses. Using the principle of net forces and resulting net acceleration, you will calculate the time it takes for the heavier weight to reach the table top after release.
mini-Labs (explorations) Projectile Motion You will work with your lab partner to calculate the required position of a cup on the floor such that you 'catch' a steel ball bearing rolling off the lab table at a known constant velocity. Having calculated the required position of your cup (based on projectile motion principles), you will verify your calculations by running the experiment... the goal is to catch the ball the very first time!
mini-Labs (explorations) Centripetal Force When an object is traveling along a circular path and moving at a constant speed it is in a state of uniform circular motion. The magnitude of the force that maintains this circular motion, the centripetal force, can be found by Fc = ( mv 2 ) / R where “Fc” is the magnitude of the centripetal force, “m” is the mass of the object in circular motion, “v” is the speed of the object, and “R” is the radius of the circular path in which the object is traveling. In this mini-lab, you will be twirling a rubber stopper in a circular path overhead. A string passes from the stopper freely through a tube (which will be held in your hand allowing you to drive the motion) and then down to a mass hanging at the other end of the string. The centripetal force will be supplied by the mass below the tube (its weight). You will also be measuring the quantities in the centripetal force equation above and calculating the value of the centripetal force.
mini-Labs (explorations) KEPLER'S LAW - The Orbit of Mercury In this mini-lab, you will plot the radius vectors and corresponding longitudes for Mercury using actual heliocentric orbital data. You will select 2 random days on your plot and determine the area swept out per day for each selection. Using your data, you will prove Kepler's Law of planetary motion.
mini-Labs (explorations) Safety in Collisions In this mini-lab, you are given a ramp, a momentum car with a seat attached, a clay dummy, a resource supply (bag of miscellaneous materials), and a block of wood. Your team must devise a way to protect the clay dummy from a head-on collision using as few items from your resource supply as possible.
mini-Labs (explorations) Conservation of Angular Momentum We will examine angular momentum and its conservation using two classic physics activities: first, a spinning bicycle wheel is held while standing on a rotating platform. The wheel, initially held perpendicular to the ground, will be angled to the left and then to the right. The resulting movement will be discussed and explained. Secondly, you will hold a dumb-bell weight in each hand while rotating on a near friction-free platform. You will observe first hand conservation of angular momentum as you pull the weights in towards your body while spinning.
mini-Labs (explorations) Archimedes Principle In this mini-lab, you will calculate the buoyant force of an object submerged in water. The measured force will then be compared to the weight of the water that is displaced by the object when submerged.
mini-Labs (explorations) Measurement You will be given several objects to measure using several different measuring devices. The primary activity objective is to develop and/or reinforce proper measurement techniques (which will be illustrated and explained). This activity also provides an opportunity to review the proper use of significant figures.
mini-Labs (explorations) Density You will calculate the density of an unknown material using techniques and mathematical relationships studied to this point.
mini-Labs (explorations) Energy in Coins In this short and simple activity, you will examine the relationship of increased mass to the magnitude of applied work, kinetic energy, and frictional force.
mini-Labs (explorations) Einstein's Gravity In this short and simple activity, you will examine the concept of curved space and the effect it has on attracting bodies, one to another (including the bending of light).
mini-Labs (explorations) Waves in Springs In this activity, you will observe wave pulses moving down a spring. Transverse and longitudinal wave behavior will be generated and examined. You will also observe interference behavior of waves.
mini-Labs (explorations) Polarization of Light In this activity, you will observe the polarization of light using 2 polarizing filters. Further, you will examine reflected light (off various surfaces) and determine if the reflected light is polarized (and, if so, in what direction). Finally, you will suggest practical uses for polarizing filters.
mini-Labs (explorations) Color and the Printing Industry In this activity, you will use hand-held microscopes to examine how color is produced in printed materials (using various magazines and books). The 3 primary ink colors will be identified along with any other color that may have been used in the process (i.e. you can identify a 4 color process, a 5 color process, etc.). You will also examine "black and white" printed photographs and identify the colors used to enhance these printed photos.
mini-Labs (explorations) Ohm's Law In this activity, you will construct a simple circuit using a battery, light bulb, and switch. Ohm's Law will be tested using your simple circuit and meters (ammeter and voltmeter). This mini-lab also provides practice in constructing and analyzing circuits. All classes will examine circuits (series and parallel) in depth in a formal electrical circuits lab.
mini-Labs (explorations) Capacitance In this activity, you will observe the characteristic curve of the discharge of voltage from a capacitor over time.
mini-Labs (explorations) Mechanical Work to Electrical Energy In this activity, you will use a Gencon to generate electric energy. The more light bulbs that are connected, the harder it becomes to turn the crank of the Gencon; as the demand for more electrical energy increases, the required mechanical work to produce that energy will also increase.
mini-Labs (explorations) Spherical Lenses In this activity, you will locate the image of a candle flame projected through a convex lens. Images will be located and identified as real or virtual. The object candle flame will be placed in 5 positions relative to the lens: beyond 2F, at 2F, between 2F and F, at F, and finally between F and the lens.
mini-Labs (explorations) Snell's Law of Refraction In this activity, you will trace a ray of light passing from air through crown glass and back into the air. Using the data from your plot, you will calculate the index of refraction of crown glass.
mini-Labs (explorations) Atomic Spectra In this mini-lab, you will observe spectral lines of several charged gases using a simple spectrometer. You will explain the observed colored lines using atomic theory and electron energy levels.
mini-Labs (explorations) Thin Film Interference (in Soap Bubbles) In this mini-lab, you will observe colors that form on soap bubbles and explain what is meant by thin film interference. Note the variation in colors as the soap film thickens toward the bottom of the bubble (due to gravity).
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