Tech Tips & Resources
HOW TO JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER?
Click link above or see below for downloadable Word doc
How do we present our solutions?
By...
Doing the Pukesaur 🐱🏍with the formulas
Picture if necessary
Unknown is thesired information
Known information is that which is given to you or determined by you
Equation using known values and particularly the unknown
Substitution of values that are known
Answer is the result of your calculation
Units (in answer and substitutions)
Review units and calculation
Circle Formulae
Diameter of a circle = 2 x radius = 2 r
Circumference of a circle = 2 x pi x radius = 2 pi r also = pi x diameter
Area of a circle = pi x radius x radius = pi x r^2
Volume Formula
The volume of a perfect cube is determined by cubing the length of 1 side ending in some distance unit to the 3rd power
The volume of a rectangular cube is determined by multiplying the 3 dimensions (length, width, and height) together to get a unit ending in some distance unit to the 3rd power
The volume of a cylinder is determined by determining the area of the circle and multiplying by the height. Also ends in a distance unit to the 3rd power.
ONE CUBIC CENTIMETER = ONE MILLI-LITER
Density Formula
Mass is measured in grams, kilograms, milligrams, or similar
Volume is measured in cubic meters, cubic centimeters, milliliters, liters, or similar
Units are always 'some unit of mass per some unit of volume'
Rate of Change Formula
Any kind of speed qualifies as a 'Rate of Change'
It is a change in some value (temp, pressure, position, etc.) occurring in some amount of time
Gradient Formula
Can be used with elevation (of land), pressure (of air), temperature (of air)
Change in field value is the change in elevation, pressure, or temperature
Distance is simply the physical distance in miles, kilometers, etc. between points of interest
Field values can also be precipitation amount, dewpoints, or even populations
Units are always 'some unit per unit of distance'
Eccentricity Formula
Describes the ovalness (or eccentricity)(or ellipticalness) of an orbital path
It is the ratio of the 'Distance between the 2 foci' to the 'Length of the Major Axis'
Rounding
Most questions use 2 or 3 digits
Never round during calculation, only at end
Graphing
Plotted points are drawn small with circles around them for easy location
Axes are labeled with quantities and units
Axes are intervalized equally
Best fit line may be curved or straight. If trend is straight, draw the line straight
Slope is determined using points only on the line and is RISE OVER RUN
If the zero/zero point is on the line, it can be used for slope determination
The slope may represent a quantity - use units to help determine what quantity
Sometimes, the slope may need to be inverted to determine the quantity it relates to
Drawing Ellipses
Use pencil
String should be in contant with the metal pins, not the plastic holder of pushpin
Carefully pull string with pencil and draw locus line around both foci
One foci is the primary body holding the orbiting object in its path
Object moves fastest at closest point to foci with the primary body, slowest at furthest point
Drawing Epicenter Location Circles
Set compass for distance by placing up against given scale
Check and recheck separation of pencil and point - this is the radius of the circle
Put point on station location and carefully draw circle around it
Make sure separation does not change during drawing
After 3 circles are drawn, epicenter is found at intersection of the 3 circles
If intersection is unclear, recheck circle drawings
Epicenter is within triangular area created by intersection (unless intersection is near perfect)
Drawing Vectors
A vector is an arrow that shows magnitude (size) and direction of some quantity
The length of the arrow is the size and the arrowhead indicates direction
Arrow extends from an origin which should be labeled and should not be a MEATBALL
Arrowhead is included in length (magnitude)
Length is given tolerance of +/- 2 mm (0.2 cm)
Angle is given tolerance of +/- 2 degrees
Drawing Topographic Profiles
Use pencil and straight-edged piece of paper
Put straight-edge between the two points of interest
Mark the lines, with their values, on scrap paper
Label vertical axis with range of values from just below lowest to just above highest
Do not use data points for this labeling
Put scrap paper onto profile template
Plot points with small dots and circles to help location
Connect points with smooth line
Where lowest and highest points of hills/valleys/depressions are unknown, estimate value as halfway between isolines unless exact value is given
Drawing Isolines (Contour Lines/Isobars/Isotherms/etc.)
Lines connect points of equal value
Be aware of the interval between lines - given to you
Use pencil always
Estimate when data is unavailable
Label all lines on both ends or, if a circle, on the line
Shadow Drawings
In the N Hemisphere, shadow at noon is smallest and is in the North
Shadows when sun is at horizon are infinitely long in length
Shadows are shortest when sun is high and longest when sun is low in the skyE-Text Earth Science - an excellent text that is also interactive. All Course Units (except one) have links on their individual pages to this E-Text.
There is a paper textbook that the students were given to bring home until June.
It is called EARTH SCIENCE: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe and is written by a large group of people. Publisher is Glencoe and its ISBN is 978-0-07-658714-2
The following links can also be found on the list in the left pane.
Old Regents Exams and Answers - database provided by the state
Simulations - University of Colorado Interactive Simulations
Reference Tables - NYS Regents Physics
Video Tutorials - Watch clips of a Physics teacher explaining
One other link on the top left side is the Office Hours/Extra Help page
Here, one can find tips for extra help as well as a discussion about how quarterly grades are determined as well as a decoder for Schooltool information.
Another helpful page will be the Technicality Tips page
Additional Sources for Help
Khan Academy Khan got super rich from this!
Youtube - You can learn almost anything! Truly amazing!
Hyperphysics - Concept Map oriented resource. Excellent
HOW TO JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER?
(How do we present the solutions?)
Click link above or see below for downloadable Word doc