Sophomore Physics Momentum Lab!!!!

Sophomore students closed their Physics journey by investigating the Conservation of Energy and Momentum Laws.  All student get a chance to use the Go! Motion sensors, digital force meters and Graphical Analysis software to streamline the data collection process and to improve accuracy and precision during lab work.  The "Collisions' lab is one the more technical labs of the year and it was followed by the light-hearted and fun 'Water Balloon' lab where students investigate the forces needed to change the momentum of an object, known as Impulse.

Final round up in Engineering II

Seniors and juniors in the Engineering 2 class have been making good use of their three terms of 3D Design experiences and skills.  In the final project of the year, they have been using the cloud-based OnShape 3D drawing (CAD) software to recreate everyday objects that consist of multiple parts and then assembling and animating them.  The final group design was a recreation of Radio Flyer's Big Wheel trike (as modeled below by junior TJ Keane).  This inaugural class has worked hard on a number of projects covering topics like Materials and Measurement, Statics and Structures, Coding and Robotics, Electronics as well as 3D Design and Printing.

End of year Chemistry fun!
As the year winds down, a great lab that we perform in chemistry is the science behind tie-dye! Students bring in a cotton-based t-shirt or socks, make a design with the use of rubber bands, then color their garment in any way they want! Students then take home their dyed clothing and it is there’s to keep and wear.

AP Physics students present their final projects!!!!

 

Students recently in chemistry investigated the properties of dry ice and how they relate to different states of matter. Both temperature and pressure determine what state of matter a substance is in. In this lab, we witnessed a rare feat - the triple point - where a substance is experiencing solid, liquid, and gas phases simultaneously! We showed this using dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide. Watch what happens when the pressure continues to build in the system!

Dry Ice

Physics - 10th grade - Mr. Cowell

This week in Physics students have been using the Power of their own bodies to lift objects and climb stairs... all normal daily activities, but these students are using equations to calculate exactly how powerful they are as they perform these actions! The wattage of a leg or arm is no different from the wattage of a light bulb, as these students are discovering! 

The Lesson: How much power does a human have? As much as they are willing to utilize!

Anatomy & Physiology

A&P students recently tested different reflexes and reaction times, including pupillary, patellar and Achilles reflexes.  Using reaction time rulers, students discovered that reactions times increased with distractions such as talking on their phones.

High School Science Curriculum Update

APES

The AP Environmental science class recently explored exposure to toxins in our lives including hidden fragrances - everyone should watch the movie "Stink". We had an enlightening presentation by Medfield parent Erica Reilly on hidden toxins in household items and what we can do about it. The environmental impacts of air and water pollution are also on our agenda - all of this while preparing for our upcoming AP exam.

BIOLOGY

In Biology I students learn about the scientific method and how to write a good lab report. Recently students had the opportunity to apply what they learned by designing their own experiment to determine the effect of a variety of variables on enzyme activity. Students conducted their experiment, then organized and analyzed their data to determine what the effect of their chosen variable e.g. temperature, pH, or enzyme concentration, was on the action of their enzyme.

High School science curriculum update

9th-grade Biology students recently learned about how living things use and produce energy.  As part of a photosynthesis unit, students designed and conducted their own experiments to determine the effect of different factors on the rate of photosynthesis.

Currently, Biology students are learning about their DNA making models and creating videos to show how DNA replicates!!!

Anatomy & Physiology students are learning about the structure and functioning of muscles.  Students tested rabbit muscle to determine the effect of different solutions of ATP and ions on muscle contraction.  Students also built sarcomeres using pipe cleaners to show how the proteins, actin, and myosin are arranged within the muscle cell.

Chemistry Curriculum update - January 2019

This year in chemistry class our juniors have worked through the concepts of Periodic Trends, Chemical Reactions, and the Mole to name a few. We started at the level of individual atoms and have progressed into reactions between compounds on a larger scale. Students have performed weekly labs to hone in on key concepts and also relate class material to real, tangible substances. For instance, recently students explored the science behind desiccants, or substances that remove water from the air and how that impacts our food and shipping processes. Students have also made slime to explore intermolecular forces, created decorations using supersaturated solutions, and viewed color changes that chemicals have when exposed to flames.

The second half of the school year will focus on more specialized topics such as electrochemistry, and organic chemistry. We will continue to connect topics and use prior knowledge to investigate concepts such as Acids and Bases, Oxidation-Reduction, and factors that affect the rates of reactions!

High School Science Curriculum update

Biology students continue to model biological concepts using models of the cell and transport. Students designed a cell membrane using a variety of materials provided in class. Students used their models to investigate which materials simply diffused through the membrane and which materials required assistance. Students evaluated the models and practiced engineering concepts by suggesting redesigns.

Physics students have investigated the nature of sound, light, radiation, earthquakes, and electricity. Students have conducted experiments with lasers, mirrors, lenses, and even slinkies to uncover the mysteries of the universe. They have calculated the speed of sound using a tuning fork, and have discovered several ways to bend a ray of light. They have tested the capabilities of small electrical systems, determining through experiments what factors affect the amount of electric current in a circuit. Recently, Physics students learned how electric circuits make our homes, cars, and cell phones work. Students constructed simple and complex circuits during lab investigations, using precise scientific measuring tools to determine how electricity works. Students began the new year learning about outer space, planets, stars, and gravity, opening their minds to the possibilities of future human exploration into the solar system!