Here is some introductory information you will want for success in this class.
Most recent assignments are listed at the bottom of this page.
Grading
1. Tests, major lab reports, and projects, graded on a 0-100 scale, are 40% of your grade
2. Quizzes, lab activities and other small assignments are 40% of your grade. They will receive a symbol grade of +(100),/(80), -(50) or 0. The best possible grade for homework not complete by the start of class on the due date is - (50). Also included will be symbol grades awarded by observation of your performance during in class group problem solving sessions.
3. Class Citizenship will account for 20 % of the grade. This includes being in class on time, meeting the THS dress code, following THS Student Manual behavior standards and participating constructively in group activities. Full credit (100) will be assumed at the beginning with points taken off for specific noncompliant incidents.
4. Extra Credit may be earned by active participation in s science club or competition. Extra credit will be intended to take more time and effort than doing your homework on time to get a good grade in the first place. Extra credit will not be awarded for activities started later than three weeks before the end of a marking period.
I. Bring your notebook, a pen/pencil and calculator to class every day. You should arrange with your cass neighbors to bring a textbook to share among two or three of you. The notebook should be spiral or loose-leaf and include:
1. Clear identification on the cover.
2. Homework: Chapter Review problem sets and/or questions should have a heading with your name and the chapter number. Problems should be clearly numbered. A problem set can be interrupted by a lab activity or class notes as long as the problem set is resumed with a continuation header.
3. Chapter practice problems, classroom and home reading notes
4. Lab activity notes (if no formal report is assigned) including:
a) data,
b) notes
c) Hand written calculations,
d) Question answers should be clearly labeled.
e) If a formal report is not required, graphs and a short conclusion identifying what physical relationship was demonstrated by the lab should be hand written in the note book.
II. Guidelines for assignments:
A. Place a heading containing your name, Class Period, date and assignment identification.
B. Attempt all parts of an assignment.
1. A wrong answer is fine. No written attempt is unacceptable.
2. If, after trying, you cannot answer a problem, make a note in your notebook that will prompt you to ask about the problem in the next class.
C. For mathematical questions, sketch the problem, show all steps and units at every step.
D. Essay questions must be answered in complete sentences unless a list or table is specifically requested.
E. Lab reports should follow the provided outline in the ACPP Documents page
F. When a textbook reading assignment is given, you are expected to complete all of the practice problems in your notebook, checking the answers in the back of the book. Some class time will be provided for this. You should expect frequent pop quizzes on the practice problems
III. Cheating and plagiarism are not acceptable and will result in a 0 assignment, lab report or test grade. All works that appears copied will result in 0 regardless of whether you copied or provided the material. The following guidelines will help you avoid problems in this area
A. Lab reports are expected from each student.
B. Do not copy your lab partner’s, or anyone else’s ,work on tests, lab reports or homework
C. Do not cut and paste others’ work to your own
D. Computer generated graphs must have your name included in the title text. (not handwritten on)
Friction Lab
Use the provided materials to determine the effect on friction force and
friction coefficient of:
1. Normal Force
2. Contact Surface Area
3. Pulling Speed
4. Surface Texture
• In your procedure, note that if the block is not accelerating, then
the net force acting on it is zero.
• Write a full lab report
• Show sample calculations of friction coefficient.
• Show data tables and/or graphs for each of the independent variables.
• Your procedure should include multiple trials of each test
• Using the friction blocks alone does not give you enough friction to
get precise results
• Remember that when testing one variable, you must keep all others
Read Chapter 7 and do practice problems in notebook