January 12, 2013 Next Meeting

Post date: Dec 10, 2012 9:23:00 PM

Join your colleagues for the third GO4ST8 meeting of the school year. As always there will be light refreshments served from 8:30 – 9:00

AM. This is to give participants an opportunity to relax and meet/talk/discuss with others interested in physics and physics education. Exchanging ideas and learning about physics is exciting and that is what is planned for January!

Topics for the January Meeting:

Hank Ryan (Physics Force) will share some demonstrations/videos related to sound and waves that teach and excite; as always these are educational and entertaining. Hank will also discuss the Practicum book he and Jon Barber originally wrote and possible future editions.

Tom Tomashek will demonstrate a very typical standing wave lab using a demonstration spring. Multiple variables will be investigated and analyzed through data collection from the spring (something one can do with their own students). Also, the famous Ruben's Tube will be explored compliments ofthat Byron Anderson.

A conceptual method to determine the velocity of a wave formula using a sand pendulum will be explored by Mike Maas. It is a visually engaging way for students to see how a vibration can "extend" itself and be modeled as a wave "creator". This method allows for a direct way to explore the anatomy of a wave and for measuring the period, frequency, and wavelength getting to the formula for the speed of a wave.

AP Physics Update: AP Physics B will be replaced with two courses (AP Physics 1 & AP Physics 2) for the school year of 2014-2015. Rebecca Messer & Paul Lulai are on the College Board's Curriculum Development and Assement Committee. We will discuss what changes are being made, how the changes will be reflected in tests & content, how physics course sequence may change, how teachers can prepare for the change, and why there is a change. Change can be challenging, but this can be a great opportunity for physics teachers and their students.

Time for you to share what you might have. Bring it, show it, share it...

And, as always, there will be a make, take, and do that can be taken home and used with students.

There is no cost to attend GO4ST8 Physics meetings; you do not have to RSVP. The basic premise of

GO4ST8 Physics is for teachers to help teachers improve the teaching and learning of physics in

Minnesota.