Chemistry and Physics

Documents Listed by Topic

Useful information

Chemistry

Course Home Page, Chemistry 3
Course Home Page, Chemistry 2
Course Overview Documents
SHS Chemistry 3 Overview
SHS Tech Chem/Bio Overview
Lab Safety Rules (RTF file)
Three-ring Binder Information
Lab Notebook Information
Common Lab Report Format (SHS) (Word doc)
Lab Report Writing Information
Alternate Grade Scale for Labs/Projects

Math Skills


Group Activity: SI Conversions 1 (html)
Group Activity: SI Conversions 2 (html)
Conversions Homework (PDF)
Activity: Temperature (html)
Conversion Competition (PDF)
Dimensional Analysis Notes and Practice (doc)
Group Activity: Dimensional Analysis (html)
Homework: Metric and Cubic Units (html)
Dimensional Analysis Homework (html)
Group Activity: Size of the Solar System (html)
Scientific Notation Drill (w/answers) (html)
Group Activity: Scientific Notation and the Mole
Group Activity: Scientific Notation Alone (html)
Additional Examples for Scientific Notation (html)

Uncertainty, Significant Figures and Measurement

Lab: Measurement and Significant Figures
Group Activity: Measurement Uncertainty (html)
A New Standard for Measurement Activity (PDF)
Group Activity: Significant Figures ID (from ChemTeam) (pdf)
Homework: Significant Figures Identification (html)
Group Activity: Calculations with S.F. (Mult/Div) (html)
Homework: Calculations with S.F. (Mult/Div) (html)
Group Activity: Calculations with S.F. (Add/Sub) (html)
Homework: Calculations with S.F. (Add/Sub) (html)
Homework: Significant Figures Fable (inspired by ChemTeam) (html)

Density and Intensive/Extensive Properties


Group Activity: Density
Density Lab (PDF)
Lab: Thickness of Al Foil and Diameter of a Cu Wire
Lab: The Size of a Molecule
Intensive/Extensive Properties Activity (PDF)

The Periodic Table


Periodic Table (PDF) from http://www.webelements.com/
Periodic Table Image suitable for printing
Periodic Table colored by groups
from http://www.chemicool.com/
Group Activity: the Periodic Table and Atomic Structure
Homework: Atomic Structure (html)
Older Versions of Atomic Theory:
Group Activity: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table (html)
Group Activity: Atomic Structure (html)
Group Activity: Practicing Atomic Structure 1 (html)
Group Activity: Practicing Atomic Structure 2 (html) color the periodic table by groups
Group Activity: Atomic Structure, Part II: Electrons (html)
Homework: Atomic Structure II (html)
Group Activity: Average Atomic Mass (html)
Homework: Average Atomic Mass (html)
Lab: Atomic Mass and Average Atomic Mass
Lab: Beans for Protons and Neutrons (html)
Lecture Notes: Periodic Trends (html)
Lecture Notes: Creation of the Elements (html)
Demo: Lithium, Sodium, Potassium Reactivity (html)
Lab: Flame Tests (html)
Group Activity: Electron Configuration (html)
Homework: Electron Configuration (html)
Lab: Electron Configuration (PDF) this activity is courtesy of the University of Souther Maine PLTL program
Lab: Shapes and the Rutherford Scattering Experiment (html)

Nuclear Chemistry


Activity: Introduction to Nuclear Chemistry
I no longer use the following activity because students find it too confusing:
Group Activity: The Table of Isotopes (html)
Homework: The Table of Isotopes (html)
Group Activity: Alpha and Beta Radiation (html)
Group Activity: Positron and Electron Capture Radiation (html)
Homework: Radiation (html)
Lab: Shapes and the Rutherford Scattering Experiment
Group Activity: Half-lives (html)
Worksheet: Thoughts on the movie Fat Man & Little Boy (html)
Project: Nuclear Chemistry (html)
Activity: Mass Defect, Fission and Fusion
Activity: Half-Lives

Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Group Activity: Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Homework: Light
Other assignments: Find the wavelength of three radio stations
Create an annotated and æsthetically pleasing Electromagnetic Spectrum
Lab: Flame Tests and Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Elements, Mixtures, and Compounds


Group Activity: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table (html)
Group Activity: Atomic Structure (html)
Group Activity: Practicing Atomic Structure 1 (html)
Group Activity: Practicing Atomic Structure 2 (html) color the periodic table by groups
Group Activity: Atomic Structure, Part II: Electrons (html)
Lecture Notes: Ionic Compounds (html)
Lecture Notes: Naming Ionic Compounds (html)
Group Activity: Naming Ionic Compounds (html)
Lecture Notes: Types of Formulas (html)
Demo: Burning Magnesium (html)
Lab: Iron Cereal Separation (PDF)
Group Activity: Chemical Formulas and Compounds (html)
Lab: Solubility of Salt in Polar and Non-polar Solvents (html)
Homework 1: Chemical Formulas and Compounds (html)
Homework: Using the Ionic Construction Kit (html)
Homework 2: Chemical Formulas and Compounds (html)
Homework 3: Chemical Formulas and Compounds (html)
Ions Reference Handout (html)

The Mole


Lecture Notes: The Mole (html)
Activity: the Mole, Chemical Equations, and Solutions
Group Activity: Scientific Notation and the Mole
Molar Mass Competition (html) or do these as practice
Lab: Iron/Copper Moles (html)

Bonding and Lewis Structures


Lecture Notes: Covalent Bonding (html)
Lecture Notes: Lewis Structures (html)
Group Activity: Bonding (PDF)

Organic Chemistry Modeling

Activity: Organic Modeling 1 (html)
Assignment: Build the models on the back of the handout (not available electronically). Building all 8 is worth 70%. Each additional model you build is worth 5 points up to a total of 100%.
Activity: Organic Modeling 2 (html)
Article about NASCAR racing from ChemMatters (html)
Project: Research about the Chemistry of NASCAR (html)

Chemical Equations


Lecture Notes: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations (html)
Activity: the Mole, Chemical Equations, and Solutions
Group Activity: Balancing Chemical Equations (html)
Extra Credit: Balance Chemical Equations (html)
Lab: Finding an Empirical Formula (html)
Lab: Theoretical vs. Actual Yield (html)

Stoichiometry


Lecture Notes: Stoichiometry (html)
Group Activity: Stoichiometry (html)
Lab: Theoretical vs. Actual Yield (html)
Extra Credit: solve stoichiometry problems for a homework grade (html)

Gas Laws


Activity: Temperature (html)
Group Activity: Gas Laws Introduction (html)
Group Activity: Gas Laws Problem Set 1 (html)
Group Activity: Gas Laws (html)
Lab: Boyle’s Law (html)
Lab: Mass of a Text Book (html)
Lab: Molar Volume of a Gas at Room Temperature and Pressure (html)
Lab: The Gas Laws in Action (html)
Lab: Illustrating the Gas Laws Graphically--advanced (html)

Solutions


Lecture Notes: Solutions (html)
Group Activity: Solutions (html)
Activity: the Mole, Chemical Equations, and Solutions
Lab: Conductivity (html)
Lab: Solubility of Salt in Polar and Non-polar Solvents (html)
Lab: Salt, Ice and the Coldest Mixture (html)

Chemical Equilibrium


Lecture Notes: Equilibrium I (html)
Group Activity: Equilibrium I (html)
Lecture Notes: Equilibrium II (html)
Group Activity: Equilibrium II (html)

Interesting Articles, etc.


Article about the viability of liquid explosives as a tool for terrorists
Article about Flatus from ChemMatters
Article about NASCAR racing from ChemMatters

Labs


How to Keep a Good Lab Notebook (html)
Lab: Observing a Candle (html)
Lab: Observing a Candle, Inquiry Style (html)
Sample Lab Report for Observing a Candle (doc)
Lab: Soda Straw Balance (html)
Density Lab (PDF)
Lab: Density (Inquiry Style)
Lab: Atomic Mass and Average Atomic Mass
Lab: Beans for Protons and Neutrons
Lab: Thickness of Al Foil and Diameter of a Cu Wire
Lab: The Size of a Molecule
Lab: Theoretical Yield in Stoichiometry (html)
Lab: Boyle’s Law (html)
Lab: The Molar Volume of H2 (html)
Lab: The Gas Laws in Action (html)
Lab: Illustrating the Gas Laws Graphically--advanced (html)
Lab: Mass of a Text Book (html)
Lab: Extracting Iron from Fortified Cereal (PDF)
Lab: Iron/Copper Redox Stoichiometry (html)
Lab: Glurch and Oobleck (Colloid Chemistry) (html)
Lab: Shapes and the Rutherford Scattering Experiment
Lab: Introduction to the Conservatino of Matter
Lab: The Conservation of Matter (Citric Acid and Baking Soda) (html)
Lab: Introduction to the Bunsen Burner (html)
Lab: Solubility of NaCl in Water and Isopropyl Alcohol
Lab: Salt, Ice and the Coldest Mixture (html)
Lab: Flame Tests and Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
Lab: Dialysis (html)
Lab: Hard Water (html)
Preparing for the Lab: the Size of a Molecule
Lab: Size of a Molecule (html)

Physics

Course Home Page, Physics 3
Course Overview Documents
SHS Physics 3 Overview
Three-ring Binder Information
Lab Notebook Information
Common Lab Report Format (SHS) (Word doc)
Lab Report Writing Information
Alternate Grade Scale for Labs/Projects


Math Skills


Lab: Physics Measurement (doc)
Group Activity: SI Conversions 1 (html)
Group Activity: SI Conversions 2 (html)
Conversions Homework (PDF)
Conversion Competition (PDF)
Dimensional Analysis Notes and Practice (doc)
Group Activity: Dimensional Analysis (html)
Dimensional Analysis Homework (html)
Group Activity: Size of the Solar System (html)

Labs

Excel: Graphing Ticker Tape Data (xls)
Lab: Free Fall (using gravity to measure the height of an object) (html)
Lab: Acceleration and Distance—Rolling Ball (html)
Excel: Rolling Ball Spreadsheet Example (xls)
Lab: F = ma Cart Lab (doc) from G. Bither
Lab: Atwood’s Machine (html)
Lab: Physics Measurement (doc) from G. Bither
Lab: Projectile Motion (doc) from G. Bither
Excel: Projectile Motion Spreadsheet Example (xls)
Lab: Friction (html)
Lab: Measuring the Speed of Sound (html) from G. Bither
Lab: Moment of Inertia (doc) from G. Bither
Lab: Angular Momentum (doc) from G. Bither

Kinematics (Physics of Motion)

Kinematics Equations (html)
Graphing Slopes: Relation between Velocity and Acceleration (xls)
Lab: Free Fall (using gravity to measure the height of an object) (html)
Lab: Acceleration and Distance—Rolling Ball (html)
Excel: Rolling Ball Spreadsheet Example (xls)
Excel: Graphing Ticker Tape Data (xls)
Lab: Projectile Motion (doc)

Newton’s Laws

Hmwk: Newton’s Laws Part 1 (html)
Hmwk: Newton’s Laws Part 2 (html)
Lab: F = ma Cart Lab (doc)
Lab: Atwood’s Machine (html)
Group Activity: Friction (html)
Homework: Friction (html)
Lab: Friction (html)

Waves

Lab: Speed of Sound (html)

Rotation, Torque, Angular Momentum

Lab: Moment of Inertia (doc) from G. Bither
Lab: Angular Momentum (doc) from G. Bither
Simple Rotation Worksheet (doc) from G. Bither
Rotataional Motion Worksheet (doc) from G. Bither
Rotational Motion Homework (doc) from G. Bither
Homework: Rotation and Angular Momentum (html)

Gravitation

Notes: Gravity (doc) from G. Bither
Worksheet: Universal Law of Gravitation (doc) from G. Bither
Lab: Gravity Simulator (doc) from G. Bither

Electricity and Magnetism

The following are all from G. Bither
Electricity Notes (doc)
Ohm’s Law Lab (doc)
Series & Parallel Circuits Worksheet (doc)
Lab: Series & Parallel Circuits (doc)
Lab: Electric Motor (doc)

Astronomy

Gravity

Worksheet: Universal Law of Gravitation (doc) from G. Bither
Lab: Gravity Simulator (doc) from G. Bither

Solar System

Web Assignment: Prove that the Earth is Round (html)
The Motions of the Sun
The Size of the Sun
Project: Motions of the Moon
Activity: Size of the Solar System

Stars

Introduction to the Planisphere, Part I
Planisphere, Part II


Useful Information

top

Group Work Defined


Working in small groups to solve problems is a great way to learn science. Here are a few documents to give group work some shape and definition so that it can be a self-regulating learning tool:
Group Work Definitions
Group Work Process
Group Work Observer Form
Group Work Recorder Form
Group Work Presenter Grading Form


A few useful links

Chemistry Links
Periodic Table (PDF) from http://www.webelements.com/ Link goes outside the Scarborough School Department Web Site
Periodic Table Image suitable for printing
Periodic Table colored by groups from http://www.chemicool.com/ Link goes outside the Scarborough School Department Web Site
Examples of Chemistry Problems
Vapor Pressure of Water Data
A fully-functional scientific calculator for chemistry including a table of useful constants.
A Partial Bibliography of works consulted
And here’s a useful download: a program that will quickly and easily convert units for you. Download and unzip to use.

Teachers and other Professionals:


This material is copyrighted but I grant permission for in-classroom use. Please give the URL and not copies to other teachers. Only pages directly downloaded may be used, do not distribute paper copies. Requirement for use: send me an email and give me feedback on your success with these materials.
a k e l l e r  [at] scarborough . k12 . me . us
You will have to remove the spaces to use this address.


Important note regarding printing

Make the left margin 0.75 in (1.9 cm) and the other margins 0.5 in (1.3 cm) so that the page breaks I built into the pages work as intended. Use only Internet Explorer or Opera browsers to print as Netscape and Firefox both seem to mess things up a bit.

Some of the files are PDFs and you need the Acrobat Reader available from Adobe. Some files are MS Word 97 or RTF documents, which just about anyone should be able to view. Several files are MS Excel spreadsheets. If you have trouble, try going to www.microsoft.com to download the Word Viewer and/or the Excel Viewer.

Last updated: Mar 11, 2007        Home