Mechanical Waves

This week we explored mechanical waves in detail. There is much more to learn and I'm sure you have more questions. Please go to the websites to the left and enrich your minds. I encourage you to watch the videos in "How Stuff Works". Type in Sound or Mechanical Waves and it will lead you to a host of videos. Also check out the discovery channel on TV or Time Warp interative videos for more fun. Have a safe winter break and enjoy the holidays.

Extra Credit Opportunity!

Your assignment is to conduct a search for information about infrasonic waves and ultrasonic waves. Using a computer and/or other resources provided by the web, answer TWO the following questions:

o What is a natural source of infrasonic waves and how can these waves affect the

environment?
o How are infrasonic waves used for communication or entertainment by animals or humans?
o How can ultrasound waves be used to help doctors diagnose health problems or observe

other medical conditions inside of humans?
o Which animals use ultrasound waves, and how do they use these waves?

You have until winter break is over. Have a safe break!

Wave Energy (Dec 8- Dec 12)

This week we explored how waves are related to energy. Waves are a very important part of your life. Cooking your food, watching the television, predicting the weather, or calling a friend on your cell are just a few examples of how you use waves each day. Please check out "how stuffworks.com" (to the left) and under the search engine type the word "Light". You will be able to see videos, pictures, and written explanations that will further your understanding of what we talked about in class this week.
Keep your journals updated and don't lose your focus as the holidays approach. If you want to look ahead, our next topic will be "Mechanical Waves". Feel free to explore the web and find what you can. Have a great weekend

Question for the Week: If a tree were to fall in a forest, and no one was around, would it make a sound? Be able to back your answer up with scientific evidence.

Waves/Videos

This week we finished our study guides, and took our unit test on heat. How did you do? The next unit is Waves and Energy. Go to discovery channel.com and check out the show Time Warp. It has interactive videos that allow you to see energy waves passing through substances. If you can't watch it on your computer, check it on Wednesday nights at 8pm or on the weekends in the afternoon on Discovery Channel. Great show to extend what we are learning. have a great weekend.
Mr C

Welcome to Our Blog

Hey guys,
This is our first meeting over the internet. I hope you take the chance to explore the sites I posted to the left. The "howstuffworks" site is really cool for ANY questions you may have. There are videos, explanations, visualizations, etc... Enjoy your break and remember: progress reports go out Tuesday Dec 2nd. make sure you do not have any missing work. Happy Thanksgiving!
Mr. Crandell

Ingram's Pond/James Farm

Please remind your parents that we need chaperones for the upcoming field trips (at least two per day).
dates:
Periods A and B - April 14, 15th
Periods C and D- April 16, 17th

This week we investigated the season's and why they occur. The earth's tilt of 23.5 degrees and the revolution around the Sun were the main causes.

Next week we will explore the causes of the Moon phases. Please keep looking at your skylogs and evaluating your data. We took over three weeks worth of observations. Look for the patterns!! They will help you explain the phases.

Question of the Week: Name and explain one theory that describes how our solar system was formed.

Extra Credit!!!!

Here it is, my friends. Please try hard and help yourself out. You must answer 5 of the 10 questions for the extra credit!!!

Question #1: Which planet has the most moons?

Question #2: How hot is it on Venus?

Question #3: List two reasons why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

Question #4: What's the difference between a meteor and a meteoroid?

Question #5: Where do we believe most comets originate?

Question #6: How old do we think the Sun is? How long before it dies?

Question #7: Does the Sun rotate? If so, how long does it take?

Question #8: What is the largest known asteroid called? Where is it located in our solar system?

Question #9: Is Saturn the only planet that has rings? If not, what others have rings around them?

Question #10: Name the order of the planets from closest to furthest from the Sun.

Good luck.

Extra credit before break

Please check out the moon phases each night. We've been logging the moon phases and the tides and I think it is important that you see the actual moon phase. It will help you put a face with a name. Watch how it changes over spring break and see if you can't get a grip on why it does. Also, extra credit questions will be posted tomorrow. Be sure to check them out and help your grade over break.

Question of the day: Is it possible for a planet to have a day that is longer than it's year? Explain.

Special Guests

I'd like to thanks James Stevens and Corey Stranick (former students) for presenting their research projects today in our classes. I hope you found their projects interesting and fun, much like I did.
Get some rest and mentally prepare yourself for the next (last) two days of DSTP testing.

Question of the day: If light travels 186,000 miles per second, how far is a light year?

Galactic Address

Most people can tell you there phyical address, such as 1314 Pine Ave, New York, NY. But what about Earth's address? Where do we fit in among the stars? Today we investigated this question. The purpose of this is to allow your brain to freely "zoom in" and "zoom out" to any object within our universe although you've never been there. It's a skill that taps into your spatial intelligence. To practice this skill try using Google Earth or the program Celestia (introduced in class- free download). Explore our Earth and beyond. Familiarize your brain with what surrounds it on Earth and in the universe.

Extra Credit can be found on www.nasa.gov

Question of the day: If the Sun sends white light to Earth, then how come it looks yellow?

DSTP Week

I know this week is tough on everyone. Our schedule's are upside down and the lack of continuity make for a tough learning environment. Please make sure you are well rested for the testing each day and that you eat a full breakfast. Lunches will be pushed back later in the day because of testing (approx 1:00pm each day).
As for science, keep checking out the website www.nasa.gov for current news and tutorials on what we discuss in class. There will be no homework this week, but class participation is expected from EVERYONE. If you are in need of extra credit, see me. I have some ideas.
Good luck on your tests!

Activity One

Today was spent learning what we did and did NOT know in Astronomy. The pre assessment was given on the 4th grade curriculum (True and false worksheet). Please keep that in your folders.
I have asked that your journals have a table of contents page and page one should have the following items:

1. List two things you already know about astronomy (stars, planets, sun, moon, etc...)

2. List two things you want to learn about astronomy in this unit. (keep in mind, you may ask these questions at our visual conference with the professors from Chico State.)