Hon Chemistry 8-31-20 Scientific Notation & Conversion Factors

HON CHEMISTRY: Can estimate out how fast you can drive in at least one parking lot in Guatemala – and can you show me how you solved the problem? Even better, can I trust the validity of your work?

Good job on remembering how to use conversion factors! Remember, this isn’t just about getting an answer – some of you can do that in your head. This is about being able to convert from one unit to another using the Q-formula. (And yes, you have to do it that way!)

There’s problem with today’s vodcast – NO AUDIO! I’m posting it below if you’d just like to follow the writing. Below that I’m posting the vodcast from last year – it has audio but we didn’t get as far in the lesson last year as we did today in class.But that may be good for you!

Last year’s lesson:

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Chemistry 8-28-20 Significant Figures & Calculations

CHEMISTRY: Happy Friday! I wonder how you do sig figs if you’re calculating on an abacus?!

So today you learned how far to carry out answers when you’re working problems. Here’s our discussion from today – using significant figures in calculations.


Photo Credit: Arend Kuester Flickr via Compfight cc

Physics 8-28-20 Cars, Swimmers, & Emily, etc., Velocity Problems

PHYSICS: Great job thinking through the problems today!

Remember a few things: You weren’t born knowing how to do these – give yourself a little time. On the really good ones, just one formula won’t work – begin with writing what your know. These are some of the hardest problems we’ll work in physics – not because the formulas are hard, but because knowing how to reason through them is so challenging.

You are doing a great job! Some good advice – go work them again! I promise, it will be good for you. Remember, don’t open the solutions you wrote in your notes! Try them without it!! If you have to, peek, but then don’t stop until you can work the entire problem through without looking!

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Chemistry 8-27-20 Significant Figures

CHEMISTRY: I LOVE the way you are catching on to significant figures! And how will you really unlock the puzzle of sig figs? Practice!!

Super important – keep up with your homework!! The reason I give it to you so you can practice and put together all we talked about in class ….cuz I love you! 🙂

Be sure and check your syllabus every day – top and bottom!!


flickr photo by Henry Hemming

Chemistry 8-26-20 Accuracy & Percent Error

CHEMISTRY – Here’s our look at expressing accuracy with percent error. Keep that formula handy!

What about that SI Quiz tomorrow? Great practice with the types of questions in class today. Did you know the answers? Make sure you are actively studying these things:

Everything in the SI Prefixes chart: symbol, exponent, meaning, and how many in one of a larger one. For example, 1 L is how many cL?
SI fundamental and derived quantities and their symbols
SI fundamental and derived units, their symbols, and the quantity they measure
SI standard unit for all the quantities


Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash

Hon Chemistry 8-26-20 Percent Error & Significant Figures

HON CHEMISTRY: Great job remembering significant figures! Tomorrow we’ll apply a bit more to what you learned today. Fun times!

Speaking of tomorrow – how about that SI Quiz? Great practice with it in class today. Did you know the answers? Make sure you are actively studying these things:

Everything in the SI Prefixes chart: symbol, exponent, meaning, and how many in one of a larger one. For example, 1 L is how many cL?
SI fundamental and derived quantities and their symbols
SI fundamental and derived units, their symbols, and the quantity they measure
SI standard unit for all the quantities


flickr photo by Igor Spasic

Hon Chemistry 8-25-20 Derived Units & Accuracy/Precision

HON CHEMISTRY: So you think Goodman Road is getting crowded? How’s this for a “high density” city? Great work with derived units today. Now on to accuracy and precision. Can you apply what you’ve learned? Hmmmmm………

Speaking of which – How are you doing with getting ready for the QUIZ on SI prefixes, Quantities & Units? It’s a ton of important info to know for the rest of the year. Practice, practice, practice it and don’t wait until the last minute!!

If you’re unsure of what’s going to be on the quiz or how I’ll ask the questions, go back and watch the last couple of days vodcasts. Here are the topics for the SI Quiz on Thursday:

Everything in the SI Prefixes chart: symbol, exponent, meaning, and how many in one of a larger one. For example, 1 L is how many cL?
SI fundamental and derived quantities and their symbols
SI fundamental and derived units, their symbols, and the quantity they measure
SI standard unit for all the quantities


flickr photo by chromogenic