Download The Essential Question:

The Essential Question in Physics:
In what ways do I see energy moved and transformed in my
every day life?
The Project:
Physics is the study of the physical world. The goal of physics is to use a small
number of basic concepts, equations and assumptions to describe the physical
world. Once the physical world has been described, physics principles can be
used to make predictions about a broad range of physical processes.
Because the physical world includes chemistry and biology, there
will be some overlap in the examples you present. You must
explain the physics!!
Physics in Coordinated Science 2 will be divided into 3 broad topics
as shown below. You will work with a team of students to collect
digital pictures and videos that answer the Essential Question in each of the topic
areas and assemble them into a 2 – 3 minute video.
We will continue to learn how to assemble these images using Windows Movie
Maker, add titles and voice narration explaining how the image illustrates an
answer to the Essential Question.
This project will be graded on how completely your team answers the Essential
Question in each topic area, not on the quality of the video. Video and still
pictures from phones and web cams will be good enough.
Due Date: One week before the Semester 2 Final Exam
What you will need:
 digital camera (phone camera is ok) that you can take video and still photos and
download to your computer. (someone on your team needs to know how to do
this.)
 microphone for a computer or digital recorder to record audio tracks over your
video
 flash drive to store project – 512K or 1GB should be big enough.
 internet access – home or at school.
 Windows Movie Maker (free download).
 the everyday materials and objects you need to explain your ideas.
Topic 1: Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes
You know that the Earth’s crust is made of many
separate moving plates. These plates move toward each
other (converge), move away from each other (diverge),
and slide past each other (transform) all over the Earth.
When they move, sometimes volcanoes are formed, and
earthquakes occur. When an earthquake occurs, energy
is being converted – can you describe the change?
We can’t predict earthquakes, so you are not expected to capture images or
recordings of an actual earthquake. What you can do is study current events and
incorporate earthquake events from around the world in your video. Include
images, the epicenter location and the magnitude, on the Richter Scale, of each
earthquake. Include the personal accounts of people that experienced the
earthquake by making up a skit where one team member is a newscaster and
another team member is being interviewed about the earthquake.
Topic 2: Waves
A wave is the motion of a disturbance. Some waves
require mechanical medium to travel, like sound, and
some do not, like visible light. In all cases, wave
movement involves the transfer of energy from one
place to another. The transfer can be longitudinal,
parallel to the wave motion (sound), or the transfer can
be transverse, or perpendicular to the direction of wave
travel (visible light).
When a wave travels freely, it is simply transferring energy. However, when a
wave encounters an object or a different medium, its properties change and
some energy is converted to another form. You know this because you have
experienced the energy of the sun being converted to heat when it touches your
skin. There are many examples of energy being transformed in modern living.
Your job is to find them and explain them to us. Begin by listing the different
forms of energy you know, and then find an example of each. More than likely,
you will find that each source of energy is being created by transforming another
type of energy. Be creative and use your imagination.
Topic 3: Electricity & Magnetism
The basis for electricity is in the fact that charged particles
attract and repel each other. Remember your chemistry –
like charges repel, and opposite charges attract. Every
charged particle is surrounded by an electric field force, and
we can use that fact to transfer charged particles through a
conductor. This is called electricity, and it can be used to
do work. (w =fd) Any time work is being done, energy is
being converted from one form to another. For example, the charged particles
moving through the filament of a light bulb have so much energy, they lose some
as light and heat!
Just as the interaction between charged objects can be described using electric
fields, magnetism can be described by the magnetic field surrounding any
magnetic particle. The modern uses of magnets is too long to list, and includes
electromagnets (maglev trains), motors, loudspeakers, microphones, “old
fashioned” magnetic recording devices like tapes, doorbells and even automatic
car door locks! Almost all of these devices involve transforming energy from one
form to another, and usual several different conversions. Figure out how the
electromechanical devices in your life work, capture some images, and explain
the physics.
Grading Rubric: The overall project has a value of 100 points. You will earn
points in each of the following categories according to the quality of your product:
100%
Contains a wide
variety of images
that show
thoughtful
consideration of
the question.
80%
Contains many
lackluster images
that address the
topics.
60%
Many images are
off topic.
Narration connects
the image with the
essential question
very well.
Narration does not
fully address the
essential question
or is off topic.
Narration does not
explain how the
image is
connected to the
essential question.
Topics are covered All 3 major topics
are covered fully.
20 pts
All 3 topics are
covered, but one
may be weak or
partial.
Less than 3 topics
are addressed.
Creativity
Interesting, eyecatching and
unique approach
to the topics using
original
photography and
audio.
Mix of “canned”
Basic treatment
and original photos using clip art or
and audio that are internet images.
interesting but not
unique.
All members’
faces, voices and
participation are
obvious.
One team member
is missing from the
project.
Images address
Essential Question
30 pts
Explanation of the
Physics
30 pts
10 pts
Team Effort
10 pts
More than one
member is missing
from the project.