Apologia Physics: Excel or Google Sheets

Today in class we learned how to enter physics problems and formulas into either Excel or Google Sheets, which is the Google version of spreadsheets.  (Before we tackled Excel, we tried to troubleshoot Vernier's Physics app.  We need to put this on hold, for now.  In order to figure out the intervals between points captured of the missile's parabola, we need the angles and heights.  In other words, we'll come back to Vernier's app after Thanksgiving.). Back to Excel.  Rob used the tutorial above and entered all of the data, inserted the formulas, etc. first in Excel.  Next, he reentered all of the data into Google's sheets.  We had two laptops and a desktop.  We tried entering data and formulas online into Google sheets on an iPad.   Not. At. All. Easy.  The Google sheets are similar to Excel.  So, as long as we used the laptops or desktop, we only had to contend with inexperience with Excel.  It literallly took an hour to set up the data and enter the formulas together.  Here's why this exercise is useful.  As you're manipulating the data, you still need to understand the relationships among velocity and velocity y.  I'm going to try to use the Excel app for iPad to see if it's any better.
Update: The Excel app is a bit better and data can be successfully entered.  But, boy is it awful!

Apologia Physics with Vernier

Today we are trying Venier's Video Physics for iPad.  Our plan is to capture video of a catapult in slow motion, import the video into the app, export the data to Vernier's Logger Lite software, AND import this same data into a  Google spread sheet.  Completely uncharted territory.  The kids have no experience with spreadsheets, like Excel.  So, we're starting with Excel 101 only with Google sheets, beacause Google Docs are free.  Here are the videos we're using.

Apologia Physics: Vernier Physics App

Tomorrow, our plan is to go over some problems in projectile motion.  I bought an app for my iPad, Vernier's Physics.  Tomorrow, I plan to broadcast a youtube video explanation and let the boys see if we can figure out how to analyze motion with the app.  I plan to make a full disclosure of my ignorance.  We shall see.

Science Outreach Program for Elementary

My husband, Rob, and I are doing a program for a local elementary school.  The librarian wants to implement "Five Minute Science Stations".  This afternoon, Rob and I worked with a fifth grade class to test the program with catapults, hot wheels, and CD spinners.  The idea is for the fifth graders to test an idea and develop a video for their peers.  Other students can watch the video and replicate the experiment.  We used a launcher and track to teach speed.  It took a bit to convey the idea of speed and have the kids determine how to measure speed with Hot Wheels.  We did the same thing with craft stick catapults and CD spinners.

Hot Wheels took a bit of time.  Eventually, the kids were able to use an iPad as a timer and understood to take a least three measurements to average.  We even talked about the problem with reaction time and timing the speed, as well as converting feet per second into miles per hour.  With the catapults, we emphasized angle and distance.  As to the CD spinner, I showed the kids a few optical illusions and gave them CD patterns to color.  Here are the photos.

Apologia Physics: Quick Update

Yesterday we had Physics class at our house because the library was closed for voting.  The guys made new catapults using their favorite designs and collected data. The guys shot their catapults in the basement.  Our favorite six year old, Paul, set up army men as targets and collected marshmallows for the boys.  The guys targeted Paul with their marshmallows.  He had a ball.  My husband, Rob started to explain the math and vector analysis.  He's going to go over the calculations again Thursday.

Update: Rob went over the problems which I taped.  Then when I tried to upload the video I remembered I needed to limit the film for youtube.  So, that was an enormous waste of time.  Next time, I'll capture one problem as Rob explains it.

Apologia Physics: Projectile Motion Catapults

Today's class went as expected.  The guys built catapults in the Maker Lab.  It attracted a lot of interest.  The guys spent the whole class period refining their catapult models.  Rob wanted them to collect data.  They did, but were modifying their catapults so much they didn't get much in the way of data.  On Thursday, they'll take their best models and collect data to analyze.  We also captured some video to try to use with Vernier's Video Physics app. We captured video with my older iPad and the new iPad, which can video in slow motion.  Fingers crossed it works.
 Update: The library posted photos on Facebook and received over 2000 hits! Yeah!
Another update:  Rubber band canon

NSTA Review

Yeah!  The latest review is up!  I liked the software I tested.  I just wish it were more available to home-schoolers.  From the pricing, I think the publisher is directing the program to later get public schools.

Designer Baby Blog

Here are the components of the Designer Baby blog: video, links, articles, definitions, and editorials.
Big question is, "What does the Catholic Church teach regarding reproductive technology?"
First we need to create a blog.  The only tricky part in using blogger is to create a unique title.  The kids need to define all of the terms, add germane links and videos, and discuss where reproductive technology can go wrong, i.e. divorce custody issues regarding embryos or errors in embryo transfer.

Designer Baby Terms

There are loads of terms associated with 'designer babies': reprogenetics, In vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer, embryo cryopreservation, embryo donation, pre-implantation diagnosis, 'savior sibling', commercial surrogacy, and custody of embryos.