All posts by Mr Shone

Sec 4 (2021)

HCI reaching out for students interested in Astronomy

We would like to reach out to your students and engage those who are interested in astronomy via the Nanyang astronomy interest group that we will set up.
Details of the interest group is as follows:
Activities: online sessions, discussions of various topics of astronomy (Including astrophysics, constellations and mythology, stargazing skills, telescope mechanics)
Time: tentatively Sunday afternoons, 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Opportunities: chance to participate in NUS-NTU AstroChallenge
Sec 4 (2021)

WA1 Physics Class Test

To all S4 IP Physics students, 
Sec 4 IP Physics WA1 Class Test during whitespace
Date: 5 March Friday (Term 1 week 9)
Time: 0800 – 0845 h (white space – report to your classrooms by 0745h)
Venue: In your respective normal Form Class classrooms
Topics:
Chapter 08: Refraction, 
Chapter 09: Lenses, &
Chapter 11: General wave properties
– 3 chapters including the assignments

Format: 10 MCQs (10 marks) and short structured questions (20 marks)
Total marks/duration: 30 marks in 45 min
Bring along: protractor & calculator   (No sharing of materials allowed!)
This announcement is also posted on the Sec 4 IP Physics Google Classroom.
Sec 3 (2021)

WORK TO COMPLETE ON FRIDAY, 19 FEB

Hi again 303 & 304!

 

Firstly,

I understand that many of you did not have time to complete the assignments you started yesterday, please first complete those 2 assignments and then hand up to your physics rep.

Second,

Please attempt the following short quiz on the topics of reading verniers, reading micrometers, unit conversion & the pendulum.

If there are any topics you are unsure of please do go back and have a quick revision of the topic first – the notes or this website would be good places to start.

Link to Quiz for 303

Link to Quiz for 304

You will only be given one chance each at the quiz – though it is non-graded and is being given to help you check your understanding of these basic topics.

Good Luck!

Have a good weekend, and I’ll be back in school next week…

Mr Shone

Sec 3 (2021)

WORK TO COMPLETE ON THURSDAY, 18 FEB

Hi 303 & 304!

During the physics lesson today, please complete the following 2 assignments:

  1. 2021 Sec 3 Physics Assignment 3.1: Refraction
  2. 2021 Sec 3 Physics Assignment 3.2: Total Internal Reflection

You should have these worksheets with you (if not they can be downloaded from Google Classroom)

These will be collected by your Physics Rep and left in my pigeon hole.

 

Sec 4 (2021)

Work to Complete on Thursday, 18 Feb

Hi Ladies,

Please stay in class, or find somewhere quiet to work. You are not to go into Lab 4 during the Advanced Physics slot as there’ll be no teacher in the lab.

 

For Thursday 18 Feb:

  1. Complete Assignment 2021 Sec 4 Advanced Physics Exercise 1 Once completed, pass to your Physics Rep who will leave in my pigeon hole.
  2. If time, try the short quiz on Refraction & Lenses:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGxnaQmVdPnoyj3OlwK8HWzppo-kv9lbe2uXJHbhPdL9Vi1A/viewform

(its not a graded assignment, so please do try it on your own to get a good understanding of your level of understanding of those topics)

Sec 4 (2021)

Work To Complete on Tuesday 16 Feb

Hi Ladies,

Hope you had a good break over the Chinese New Year.

 

I’ll not be in school this week (Week 7, 16-19 Feb) so will be leaving work to complete here. Please stay in class, or find somewhere quiet to work. You are not to go into Lab 4 during the Advanced Physics slot as there’ll be no teacher in the lab.

 

For Tuesday 16 Feb:

  1. Go through the advanced physics notes again on superposition of waves. Starting at:

    https://physics.shone.sg/notes/general-wave-properties/11-7-superposition-of-waves/

    Take time to watch the videos (that I couldn’t access last week!!) and play around with the online apps – this should help you better understand the phenomena.

  2. Test yourself on the topic with the questions at:

    https://physics.shone.sg/revision-quizzes/revision-advanced-physics-superposition/

 

 

Work for lessons later in the week will be posted here before the next lesson.

 

Sec 3 (2021)

Physics WA1

Document on WA1 found in Google Classroom: https://classroom.google.com/u/0/w/MTk1MzU1MTQ4OTEw/t/all

Task:

In assigned groups of 3 or 4 students, design, carry out and evaluate an experiment to determine the relationship between two physical quantities and present your findings in a report.

303 groups

304 groups

 

Objectives:

To plan and carry out an experiment to demonstrate that you are able to:

  • select an interesting problem to investigate
  • identify variables in an experiment
  • select appropriate instruments and apparatus to measure the variables using suitable techniques
  • present experimental data coherently
  • plot a graph to illustrate the relationship between two variables
  • identify sources of errors and suggest measures for improvement to minimise the impact of these errors

 

Homework for Friday (5 February):

Working in your assigned groups:

  • Appoint a responsible team member to be the group leader.
  • Decide on an experiment
  • Write out a draft experimental plan that should include the following:
    • Purpose of experiment
      • Independent variable (IV) (State 1 physical quantity)
      • Dependent variable (DV) (State 1 physical quantity)
      • Variables to be kept constant (CV) (State at least 2 physical quantities)
    • List of apparatus and instruments
    • Diagram or photo of setup with clear labels
    • Detailed Procedure (in numbered points)

There is no need to do the experiment at this time.

There is no need to submit this draft on Friday.

 

 

Sec 4 (2021)

Welcome to Sec 4 Advanced Physics

Welcome to the 2021 Sec 4 Advanced Physics Course

1. The Google Classroom for 2020 Sec 3 Physics has been renamed 2021 Sec 4 IP Physics at:

https://classroom.google.com/c/MTAzODE0OTEwMTBa

You may view the 2021 Sec 4 Physics schedule as well as download PDF notes (with answers) and assignments into your iPads.
Please your physics teacher if you’re unable to access this G Classroom.

2. Hardcopy Notes and Assignments would be issued by your respective physics teachers next week.

3. Practical handouts would be issued when you attend practicals in Physics Lab 1.

Sec 3 (2021)

Welcome to Sec 3 Physics

Welcome to your Sec 3 IP Physics class – 2021

Your Teacher is Mr Shone mark_shone@nygh.edu.sg

Please bookmark this site: physics.shone.sg – we will be using it most lessons.

Please ensure that you download the Google Classrooms App and have enrolled in “2021 Sec 3 Physics“. Important announcements will be posted in the classroom and all the materials are accessible there.

The code is ggzzicg

Hardcopy notes will be passed to you during the first physics lesson.

Softcopy notes can be downloaded from Google Classroom and you may use these (in place of the hardcopy notes) if you prefer.

Sec 3 (2020)

S3 EOY Exam (Advanced Physics)

Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Paper 1: MCQ Paper (8:45-9:30)
45 mins
30 marks
MCQ

Paper 2: Structured Paper (10:15-12:00)
1 hr 45 mins
Section A (40 marks) – shorter questions
Section B (30 marks) – three 10-mark questions (final question will be EITHER / OR choice)

Paper 3: Advanced Physics Paper (13:00-13:35)
35 mins
20 marks
Structured Questions of Advanced Physics Topics.

 

Papers 1 & 2 are common with the IP Physics students. Paper 3 is only taken by IP Advanced Physics. Paper 3 will carry 20% weightage for EOY papers.

All topics covered in the year will be tested. Paper 3 will be predominantly on testing on the Advanced Physics Topics.

Sec 4 (2020)

Answers to Practical Revision Exercise 1

For a more complete list see:

physics.shone.sg/notes/basics/reading-raw-data/

 

Activity 1: Setting up the retort stand and simple pendulum

1.

The length of a pendulum is to the centre of the bob – the CoG of the bob.

3. Place a heavy object at the base of the retort stand to ensure it will not topple. (see diagram above)

4. Any complete cycle: eg A→B→C→B→A

or

Reminder θ should be very small. Pull the bob just a few centimetres. Smaller angles actually give (slightly) better results. Max angle should be 10°. (Aim for 5° – estimate don’t need to use a protractor).

5. n =20

6. Use a reference vertical line (e.g. retort stand) at the centre of the oscillation when counting the oscillations.

7. Honestly in this experiment a single reading will suffice!

Reason: We are averaging any human reaction time over 20 oscillations. This already will likely give only a tiny error in an individual period.

8.

9. Ensure that the angular displacement θ (shown in Fig. 1.2) is smaller than 5° to reduce the effects of air resistanceon the oscillation.

  1. Temperature of the water = (record to 0.5 °C)

 

  1. Use a retort stand, boss-head and clamp to hold the thermometer in a fixed vertical position. The bulb of the thermometer should be fully submerged in water and not in contact with the wall or the bottom of the beaker. Also ensure that the scale of the thermometer is not blocked from your view.

Activity 2: Measuring lengths

 

1. All readings including average recorded to 2 d.p.

 

2.

 

3. To account for non-uniformity in the lengths due to imprecise manufacturing.

*depends on balance actually provided; 0.1 g precision electronic balance also available.

Activity 3: Measurements with mass, weight & volume

1.

Ensure there is no zero error in the electronic balance before any measurement (press “tare”).

Ensure there is no zero error in the spring balance before any measurement. Ensure that the measuring cylinder is completely dry before any measurement.
Ensure that the 20 g mass is placed gently into the measuring cylinder with water without splashing.

2. Measure the total volume of all the 20 g mass available before taking the average.

 

Activity 4.1: Use of lens system

  1. The method using u and v should be used. The lengths u and v are much larger (than ho and hi) so their measurements would have smaller percentage errors, and the magnification calculated would have higherprecision.

 

  1. The set square was used to accurately align the position of the illuminated object with the metre rule.

 

  1. There was human judgement error in determining the position of the sharpest image of the object observed when measuring the image distance.

 

Activity 4.2: Use of glass block and optical pins

1.

The optical pins were ensured to be vertical during the measurements.

 

Each pair of optical pins on each side of the glass block were ensured to be at least 5.0 cm apart.

 

  1. There may be human judgement error in determining the alignment of the optical pins and their imagesthrough the glass block.

The size of the holes made by the optical pins may be large and affect the accuracy of the lines drawn torepresent the refracted rays.

Sec 4 (2020)

SEC4 WA2 Class Test

Date:

Thursday, 13 August (Week 10)

Time:

8:30 – 9:45 (75 mins)

Format:

15 MCQ (15 marks)
Structured Questions (35 marks)

Topics:

General Wave Properties
Sound
Static Electricity
Current of electricity
D.C. circuits
Practical electricity
Magnetism
Electromagnetism

Sec 4 (2020)

WA2 Poster Submission

I have created a Google Classroom for you to submit your FINAL WA2 poster.
The Google Classroom code is:

7t75l24

Deadline – Monday 15 June, 11:59pm
There is no size limit to the poster – two pages. All text to be a readable size when printed out at A4 size would be expected.
Please refer to the rubrics to ensure you get maximum marks – if you have not been doing so already! They can be found on the original post/email or in the above Google Classroom.
(I may have mentioned including references – apologies that only applies to Sec 3, and so you do not need to include any references to our sources – sorry!)
Do let me know if you have any trouble submitting your file.
Have a great weekend!
Mr Shone
Info

SpaceX & Rockets

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52867494

The following data was taken from the video:

t = 0.0 s, v = 0 km/h

t = 20.0 s, v = 274 km/h

t = 30.0 s, v = 462 km/h (an increase of 188 km/h in 10.0 s)

t =40.0 s, v = 689 km/h (an increase of 227 km/h in 10.0 s)

t = 50.0 s, v = 859 km/h (an increase of  170 km/h in 10.0 s)

What does it say about the acceleration of the rocket?

 

If rockets were transparent:

Launch to orbit in real time Fuel Burn and Staging of the Saturn V, Space Shuttle,Falcon Heavy and the Space Launch System (SLS) rockets

 

Sec 3 (2020)

WA2 – To Be Completed as Holiday HW for Physics

Updated Deadlines:

1. WA2 Proposal submission deadline has been extended to Thursday 30 April 2359h. (Mr Shone will return
2. WA2 Completed Final Assignment submission deadline has been extended to Wednesday 17 June in Week 3 of Term 3.

Details of how to submit will be given at the start of term 3.

The Assignment:

Sec 3 WA2

All details (part from the dates) remain the same.

Mr Shone

 

Sec 4 (2020)

WA2 Details & FAQ (Updated Timeline)

The Task

For your WA2, you will create an infographic that summarises any one of the following topics (Chapers 8 – 16):

Refraction
Lenses
EM spectrum
General wave properties
Sound
Static electricity
Current electricity
DC circuits
Practical electricity

Please see the attached pdf for more details and go through it carefully.

Weighted Assessment 2 (Sec 4) Details

Deadlines
You are encouraged to submit a draft by 29 April 2020 for feedback before the final poster is submitted on 15 June 2020. 20% deduction of marks will be imposed on late submissions. Any submission later than 18 June 2020 will be given zero marks.

Submission details
Your subject teachers will update you about where to submit your draft and the completed poster.

If you have any queries, feel free to clarify with me or your subject teachers.

 

FAQ

Is an infographic the same as a mind-map?

A mind-map is a type of infographic, but you don’t have to lay out everything like a mind-map. Also, mind-maps are frequently text-based, and we are encouraging you to use as many tables, charts, diagrams as possible to help in your explanations.

Can I use an App to help make the poster?

Yes.

Can I draw everything on paper?

Yes. But you will obviously need to scan this in at the end in order to submit online and meet the requirements of being an e-poster. The examples given to you on the WA2 Task Document was obviously created this way.

Can I use non-copyrighted photos/images from the internet?

No. All images must be created by you. Think of the task as being asked in an exam paper and you were given a blank piece of paper – what would you be able to come up with then?

But I can’t draw! Will I be penalised against for poor quality diagrams?

No (as long as you obviously tried your best!) Mr Shone can’t draw either, so he understands (and will not laugh) when your hand-drawn picture of a man looks like a chicken!

With the extended CB will the deadlines be changed?

The teachers have not been informed to make any changes at the current time. If there are any changes to deadlines you will be informed ASAP.

 

Hope this helps!

Stay safe. ?

Mr Shone

Sec 3 (2020), Sec 4 (2020)

Apollo 13 – 50th Anniversary of “Houston, we have a problem!”

One of the most eventful of space missions!

An explosion on board on the way to the Moon left the astronauts scrambling to stay alive, and make it back to Earth.

The phrase “Houston, we have a problem!” (not an exact quote from the mission I know) is a popular quotation from the radio communications between the Apollo 13 astronauts and the NASA Mission Control Center, during the Apollo 13 spaceflight, as the astronauts communicated their discovery of the explosion that crippled their flight.

If you don’t know the story, I highly recommend watching the movie Apollo 13 – Not sure if its on Netflix at the moment.

Alternatively, listen to this great podcast

BBC Podcast – 13 Minutes to the Moon Season 2

 

Or present you were alive in 1970 and follow the “live”streaming from 50 years ago.

https://www.engadget.com/apollo-13-real-time-204640332.html

Sec 3 (2020)

Physics WA1

Sec 3 IP Physics WA1 Test in Term 1 Week 9 whitespace
Date: Friday, 6 March
Time: 0815 – 0855 h (report to your classrooms at 0800h)
Venue: In your respective classrooms (ie with the rest of your class!)
Topics:
Chapter 01: Physical quantities, measurements (excluding  practical skills & graphs)
Chapter 02: Kinematics (2.1 to 2.3) – excluding 2.4 Equations of motion
Format: 10 MCQs (10 marks) and short structured questions (15 marks)
Total marks/duration: 25 marks in 40 min
Bring along: protractor & calculator.