Crystal P. LaVoie
Vocabulary is by far one of the most common stumbling blocks that students have in my classes. I will try to drill constantly using many different learning styles in order for students to really get a handle on the primary vocabulary. Two strategies will be employed to tackle the vocabulary that will be required initially in order for the students to handle the complicated concepts that are coming up. Students will be given the list of vocabulary words on the board and will have to copy them into their notebooks. We will then divide the list up such that each student is responsible for two words. It is alright if a word is assigned to more than one student, as it is always advantageous to compare different students’ answers.
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Energy:
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- the ability to do work. Any object that has energy has the ability to create force.
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Work:
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- the force times the distance moved in the direction of the force. Only the part of the force in the direction of motion does work.
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Efficiency:
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- the ratio of the work output to the energy input
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Power:
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- rate at which work is done, i.e. work divided by time.
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Heat:
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- a flow of thermal energy from one object to another object due to a temperature difference.
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Thermodynamics
: the branch of physics concerned with the conversion of different forms of energy.
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Potential energy:
energy of position; stored energy that is capable of being active, but is not at that particular time.
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Kinetic energy:
energy of motion; depends on mass and speed.
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Transformation:
when energy is changed from one form into another.
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Conversion:
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- energy is changed from one form to another.
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Conservation:
energy is neither created nor destroyed, but is converted from one form to another
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Chemical energy:
the type of energy stored in molecules. Examples are the food we eat, and the fossil fuels we burn.
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Mechanical energy:
the type of energy possessed by an object due to its motion or its stored energy of position (thus, can be either kinetic or potential energy). An object that has mechanical energy can do work.
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Electrical energy:
a type of energy that we usually take for granted and is actually provided by other sources of energy, like fossil fuels.
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Nuclear energy:
a type of energy that comes from splitting an atom, or fusing two atoms together. This is often used in power plants to make electricity, but not in CT.
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Electromagnetic energy (or radiant energy):
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is light energy that is made up of waves;
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heat from the sun is one form of radiant energy.
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Temperature:
a measurement used to quantify hot and cold; related to the
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- average motion of molecules in an object.
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Combustion reaction:
a reaction in which a carbon-containing substance combines with oxygen to release a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light.
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Reactants:
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- substances that enter into and are altered during a chemical reaction
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Products:
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- substances that are produced in a chemical reaction from reactants.
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Conduction:
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- transfer of thermal energy by the direct contact of two bodies of different temperatures.
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Mass:
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- the amount of matter an object has (measured in grams).
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Speed:
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- movement from one place to another over time (measured in distance/time, e.g., meters/sec).
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Gravity:
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- the attractive force that exists between any two objects that have mass. Earth’s gravity results mostly from the force between us and our sun.
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Motor:
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- a machine that produces motion or power for doing work at
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- the expense of some other form of energy.
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Engine:
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- a work machine that converts energy in a chemical form to mechanical force and motion for the performance of work.
Many other strategies will be employed to drill home the vocabulary while we cover the unit. We will design a “word wall” where student assignments related to the vocabulary will be posted on a growing display directly related to the unit. Students will not only reproduce the definitions of the words for display, but will also be required to submit entries where they are required to use the words in context. Students will also be required to make a set of flashcards that they will use to study from for weekly quizzes, that lead up to the unit exam. We will also use a Jeopardy style game for review prior to the quiz. Teams of two will be formed, and the definitions will be read aloud by me, and the students must come up with the question. Point values are assigned based on level of difficulty, and will be tallied and used to reward bonus points on the unit exam. Homework and review will include word puzzles (see Appendix D).
