Concepts of Physics
Chapters 12–14
Other Chapters

Course Info.
Syllabus
Class Rules
Class Rosters
Physics Top Ten
Writing Lab Reports
Formula Card

Contacts
Discussion Group
E-Mail Mr. Flint
AOL IM w/Mr. Flint

Other Links
Current Weather
Online Calculators

Color Key
Black: In Class
Green: Due/Test
Red: Homework
Blue: Related links

Updated 3.4.2008

Cool Links:

Spy Satellite Images - Williamsport | Mr. Flint's Pad | Lake Courage (lake where Mr. Flint worked for 10 years) | WAHS

How does the GPS system work? | Another GPS link - more detailed

Moon Hoax - Site 1 | Site 2 | Site 3 | Site 4

Download a gravity simulation - Gravitator 2 (Mac), Gravitation 5.0 (Windows)

Tuesday, February 19

  • Ch. 10 Quiz
  • Read Chapters 12 – 14

Wednesday, February 20

  • *Lunar eclipse tonight!
  • Return Chapters 9 & 10 Quizzes
  • Field trip: a tour of the solar system
  • Speed of the Earth in orbit
  • Satellites as high speed projectiles

Thursday, February 21

  • Gravity lab
  • Last 15 minutes: Universal law of graviation; calculating Saturn's graviational attraction to the Sun

Friday, February 22 – No school – Snow Day

Monday, February 25

  • What gravity Really is - an attraction between any two pieces of mass in the universe
  • What gravity isn't caused by only by planets, spinning objects or the atmosphere
  • Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation example problems
  • Elliptical orbits

Tuesday, February 26

  • Video: Space shuttle (19 minutes)
  • International Space Station video

Wednesday, February 27

  • P. 180, 15–20 due
  • How to calculate g
  • Pass out "It's a g thing"
  • Read What is GPS? by today
  • Review "What is GPS?"
  • All about the Huygens probe
  • Deep Impact probe

Thursday, February 28

  • P. 181, 22–27 due
  • Homework Q&A
  • Calculating g examples
  • Look at StarryNight simulations

Friday, February 29

  • Gravity Lab Due
  • Types of orbits
    • There are about 8000 satellites in orbit right now. Most are operational.
    • STS/ISS orbit
    • Geosynchronous orbits (weather, etc.) 4.23 e7 m
    • Iridium satellite phones called iridium because there were 77 satellites. Now there are just 66. Polar orbit of 421 miles above the earth's surface.
    • Military surveillance satellites are not geosychronous
    • Elliptical orbits (XM vs. Sirius)
      • Russia launched Sirius satellites aboard Proton rockets
      • There are three Sirius satellites in elliptical orbit so that at least two are above the U.S. at all times
      • Boeing's SeaLaunch launched 2 XM satellites from a ship at the equator into geosynchronous orbit; one at 85°W longitude (Rock) and the other at 115°W longitude (Roll). A third backup is on the ground and will be launched in case of failure.
  • What causes tides?

    Monday, March 3

    • It's a g Thing due
    • All about eclipses

    Tuesday, March 4

    Wednesday, March 5

    • Gravity Review Due
    • Go over review problems in class

    Thursday, March 6

    • Gravity test