Homework 8/31

Name ___________________________________

Date __________

Homework: Scientific Inquiry and Key Terms

Chapter 1

Use your notes and pages 6-15 in your book to answer the questions and define the terms.

1. Observations – Look at the picture above. What are three things you know or can observe from the picture?

a.

b.

c.

2. Inferences – Make three inferences about what might be true about the picture.

a.

b.

c.

3. Are there any Quantitative data that can be gathered from the picture? Give three examples.

a.

b.

c.

Key Terms – Define the terms from the chapter.

1. Inferring-

2. Scientific Inquiry

3. Hypothesis-

4. Parameter-

5. Manipulated Variable –

6. Responding Variable-

7. Controlled Experiment-

8. Scientific Theory –

Velocity Lab

Name ____________________________

Date ______________

Scientific Inquiry – The Scientific Process

How Does Weight Position Affect Velocity?

Purpose: - Practice the scientific process

- Discover how mass affects the velocity of a car on a ramp

Background:

Velocity is speed in a direction. The formula for calculating velocity is

Velocity = Distance OR Velocity = Distance ¸ Time

Time

Hypothesis:

What will happen to the velocity of a toy car if you change the position of a weight on the car from the front of the car to the middle of the car and then to the back of the car? Will the car go faster when the weight is at the back of the car, the middle or the front? Why? Write your hypothesis below.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Materials:

Toy Car Ramp Washers for Added Weight Tape

Stopwatch / Timer set to seconds

Procedures:

1. Set up your Ramp. Keep the height of your ramp the same for the whole experiment.

2. Mark your starting line with one piece of tape at the top of the ramp.

3. Measure the distance to the bottom of the ramp in centimeters (cm). Record the distance on your data table. You will keep the distance the same for the whole experiment.

4. Tape washers onto the front of your car. Using only gravity to move the car, let the car roll from the starting line to the bottom of the ramp. Record the time it took for the front of the car to reach the bottom of the ramp (in seconds).

5. Repeat two more times.

6. Move the same weights and tape to the center of the car and record the time three times.

7. Move the same weights and tape to the back of the car. Record the three times.

8. Calculate the average time for each weight position.

9. Use the average time and distance to calculate the velocity of the car at each position.

10. Write your conclusions. How did changing the location of added weight affect the velocity of a car on a ramp?

Data:

Distance down the ramp = ____________________ cm

	Time 1 (seconds)	Time 2 (seconds)	Time 3 (seconds)	Average Time (seconds)
Weight In Front
Weight In Middle
Weight In Back

Velocity with weight in the front = __________________ cm/s

Velocity with weight in the middle = _________________ cm/s

Velocity with weight in the back = ___________________ cm/s

Guidelines and Procedures

8^th Grade Physical Science

Classroom Procedures and Requirements

8^th Grade Physical Science is the study of the properties of matter and energy and how matter and energy interact. We will also study the physical and chemical properties of the universe.

Unit 1 – The Nature of Science and Physics

Unit 2 – Chemistry

Unit 3 - Astronomy

Email: ljenner@lvusd.org

Blog: www.mrsjennersclass.blogspot.com

Classroom Rules

1. Be on time to class and bring materials and homework

2. Follow lab safety rules

3. Show respect for others and their property

4. No backpacks on the lab tables or lab aisles

5. No electronic devices on in the class unless noted for a lab

Required Materials

1. Sharpened pencils (please have more than one)

2. Spiral Notebook or Composition Book for Science Notes only

3. Notebook paper

4. Calculator (you may not use cell phones or iPods for tests)

5. Ruler for homework

Homework

The purpose of homework is to review vocabulary, practice and think about concepts discussed in class, and to complete labs.

Homework will be assigned about two times per week. Homework assignments will be worth 10 points each. I do accept late homework until the day of the unit/chapter test. One point is deducted for homework turned in one day late. Three points are deducted from the overall score on all other late homework.

Tests and Quizzes

Tests and quizzes will be primarily multiple-choice. Students may make up tests and quizzes if they score below 70%. Makeup test scores will be averaged with the original test score. Makeup tests will be given Friday at lunch.

Students will also take District Common Assessment tests in Physics, Chemistry and Astronomy. There will be no makeup for these tests and district test questions will be worth more than normal classroom test questions.

Labs

Labs and experiments will make up the majority of work in 8^th grade science. Some labs will be student designed and others will be teacher directed. I expect safe and controlled behavior in the lab at all times. I will assign lab groups. In labs you should:

- Be focused on the problem and complete work

- Be respectful of group members

- Follow lab safety rules always

- READ and follow directions

Labs will usually be worth 20 or 30 points each depending on the complexity and duration of the lab.

Science Fair

8^th grade students participate in science fair in the spring. Projects are due the week before Open House. Projects should be “open-ended” (which means that you don’t know the outcome of the experiment when you start), controlled, and interesting to you.

There may be an opportunity to enter projects in the L.A. County Science Fair. If you are interested in participating, please let me know. It would mean having your topic ready early.

Technology Policy

Photos and recordings are not allowed at school. There are times when you will be able to use electronic devices for calculations and as timers. If you want to use the Internet in class to look up a topic we are discussing, please ask first. No texting, emails, phone calls, etc…

Please sign that you are read and discussed the requirements for 8^th grade science. Return this portion to class tomorrow.

_________________________________________

Student Name (Please Print)

_________________________________________

Parent Signature