The Physics Modeling Notebook

Student success in the Physics Modeling classroom depends upon a consistent effort
that includes participation in class pre-lab and post-lab discussions, involvement in laboratory investigations, reasonable attempts to solve problems, asking questions
during whiteboard presentations, and keeping neat and accurate records of all
classroom and homework activities.

You wouldn't expect a worker to arrive at a job without the appropriate tools, and
likewise, you shouldn't arrive in physics class without your up-to-date notebook. With
 it, you will have all the necessary tools to complete your tasks. Without it, you will
be lost.

You must have a three ring binder (one and a half inch size is ideal) to hold all your
papers. A set of tab inserts are required.  Use the tab inserts to separate the units covered   For each unit, the following must be included in your binder for it to be
considered complete:

 

•    Pre-lab Notes                                     •    Handouts

•    Laboratory Results Summary        •    Worksheets

•    Post-lab Notes                          •    Quizzes

•    Class Notes                              •    Other Homework

 

A three hole punch will be available in the classroom. Listed below are some details about each of the required sections of each unit in your notebook.  

             Pages should be arranged in order discussed by date.

Pre-Lab Discussions

 

In most cases, a unit will begin with a laboratory investigation. The pre-lab discussion
will establish the following:

 

•   A question to be answered or a problem to be solved.

•    Definitions of important terms and new vocabulary.

•    The variables to be measured.

•    A general purpose.

•    The options for using appropriate equipment to achieve the purpose.

•    Possible experimental and human errors.

Your notebook should have a listing of these items, as well as a sketch of the
apparatus used.
 

Laboratory Results Summary

 

Even though you will usually be submitting for evaluation a group laboratory report,
 it is important that you keep your own record of the results of an investigation.
Your Laboratory Results Summary should include:

 

•   A sketch or copy of all graphs including original and modified graphs.
 The sketch should include axes labels, units, minimum and maximum
axes values, and sketch of the graph shape (curved or linear).  These
 sketches may be hand drawn or printouts from the computer.  Hand dra
wn graphs must be reasonable representations of the originals and must s
how the significant features of the graph (axes, labels, units, shape, slopes,
 y intercepts etc)

•    All mathematical models in final form.

•    A draft of your conclusion, including the meanings of slopes, areas,
                and y-intercepts of all graphs.

Post-Lab Discussions

 

The post-lab discussions will typically involve several groups presenting their results to the class,
with a discussion of differences and/or similarities among the results. When completed, the class,
as a whole, will come to consensus as to the meaning of the results.

Your post-lab discussion should include:

 

•    Consensus results (the model).

•    Alternative methods used and results achieved.

•    Clarification of the effects of experimental errors.

•    Any new terms or units of measurement.
 

Worksheet First Attempt

 

After the post-lab discussion, you will typically be asked to deploy the model derived in the laboratory investigation in new problem situations. In most cases, your first attempts should be done on your own paper or on the worksheet if enough room is available for you to show all of your work.  Your assignment will be checked at the beginning of the next class period. Instructions about exactly what is expected will be given in class.  Often the accepted answers will be posted on the bulletin board on the wall for you to check you answers before class begins. Other times, the problem solutions will be presented by class members on whiteboards during the next class period.   You  should be prepared to defend and discuss you preliminary solutions to the problems.   Final solutions will then be reached after group discussions and presentations the next day. Final answers are of minimal point value and final answers without any work shown will receive little credit.

 

Completed Worksheet Solutions
 

Classroom discussions of worksheet problem solutions are perhaps the most important
times of a unit.

To succeed in this class, you must maintain an active role during these discussions!

Simply copying down another group's whiteboard solution will not be of any help to you if
you don't understand how the solution was derived. Your completed worksheet solutions
should include:

 

•    Corrections to your original attempts, if necessary.  Use a different color ink.

•    Notes to yourself about how to avoid common problem solving mistakes.

•    Alternative problems solving strategies.

 

It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct solution for every problem at the
end of each problem discussion session.  Quiz and test problems will be based on
(but not identical to) problems covered in class.

Your Physics Modeling Notebook will be collected at the completion of each unit, usually on the day of the unit test. However, notebooks can be collected at any time during the unit.  It would be wise to keep your notebook up to date at all times instead of planning to assemble your notebook the night before (or minutes before) they are to be collected.  In a typical unit, the points available from the notebook total will approximately equal the points for a quiz or lab report.