On Monday we will probably be able to finish the radios, but likely we will have to wait till the following week to try them out. To make a homemade "ear bud" bring a tin can to class, and if you have a good magnet (neodymium) bring that. An old telephone receiver would be good, if you have one to donate.
Thank you for your patience in class yesterday; I think our project actually went as good as it could, kinda like a first draft on a writing project, and so if it did not go well for you, it probably will go much better when we do it over. I have never done this before myself, but I think this will be a fascinating and enlightening project; radio and television has always been just "magic"- what I mean is it made no sense to me. Hopefully, we will start to get glimmerings of how it works.
Here is a video from 1943--that's right in the middle of WWII!-- explaining how radio is broadcast. In your notes, copy the flow chart near the end (at 8 minutes) that shows the steps, even if you don't entirely understand. A Blast from the Past!
Here is a video that talks through all the steps of building a crystal radio; however, it is not precisely the same as the version we are making. We will be building the capacitor next; that is the paper towel tube with the aluminum foil/paper slider, so pay special attention to that. So, somehow get a hold of a paper towel tube by next Monday!
We will also need to find various sound amplifiers, like do you have an old corded phone in your junk pile? We may need to build some earphones, requiring strong magnets (neodymium)
This is a schematic of what we are going to build -- it's like a code --can you figure any of it out?
The parts are as follows: antenna, capacitor, coil, earphones, diode. (A diode is a little bitty part that makes all the electrons go in one direction only--like a one-way street.) We are missing a ground wire.
TEXTBOOK READING: If you finished watching the NASA videos having to do with the electromagnetic spectrum (from the last blog) , you may skim over chapter 13, section 2 from your textbook, and proceed to reading section 13.3 (chapter 13, section 3) pages 403-406 ONLY on radio and television communication.
If you did not yet watch all the videos from last blog, time to do so.
Homework is watching some short videos. This site has a playlist of 8 short videos on Electromagnetic Radiation. Watch all 8 (I have only watched the first one yet, but I think it must be good, 'cuz it's NASA,?) Maybe you should take a break half-way through. http://missionscience.nasa.gov/ems/emsVideo_01intro.html (
(sorry about the missing link -- computer problems! It's 32 minutes total time, but if you can only do the first half, that's fine. One thing to understand from these videos is how much we have been able to learn about the universe by "tuning in" to all the wavelengths of EM radiation.) Tak
Wonderful, wonderful evening of music last night! I doubt very much that you were thinking about how those sound waves traveled, or about fundamentals and overtones, about whether any nearby zoos were having trouble with their elephants, or it the wine glasses were in danger of shattering...I am so proud of all of you.
So here are the videos we missed yesterday; I was hoping to enjoy them together, but it was not to be... starting with the Power of the Pentatonic Scale...
And now for a commercial from our sponsors...
And a summary of this last chapter, but super-speed... (If you understand it all, you're a genius)
That's enough for Tuesday; on Wednesday, read the first section of the next chapter. Electromagnetic Waves, section 1. As you read, underline or highlight the summarizing sentences of each section. Here are two worksheets to assist you: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B07s3-bcUr7tMmZkMmxxWTF2SEk/edit?usp=sharing *** If you are planning on taking a beach trip, get up early to do homework, or do all your homework on Tuesday.
I will give back your mousetrap cars on Thursday, but I also wanted to take pictures and play with them a bit. If you have yours still at home, would you bring it to class on Thursday?
Nicely done, it was fun. Thank you for your presentations yesterday. Homework for Monday is to continue reading till the end of the chapter and follow each section with the handout pages. Leave the last Review page for later. {If a certain person has misplaced their copy, I can't get you another one, because I misplaced the whole book! Taking really good notes could replace the worksheets, as well as the end-of-chapter assessment.}
If you recall, you were also supposed to look up the missed answers on last week's test, chapter 11.
My computer, along with bookmarks, is in the shop, so I'm keepin' it simple. Work hard on Friday, then enjoy the weekend.
I wrote the blog this morning, but it was somehow deleted. In brief, the homework was this, finish the musical instruments and be prepared to present it to the class, a short demonstration and how it works, 2 minutes max. The younger kids will be joining us, as they are also studying hearing/sound.
Then textbook reading, chapter 12 (Sounds) sections 2 and 3 (properties of sound / music) I did assign the worksheets that would go along with them, but if you need extra time, you can continue on Friday.
Sorry about the mix-up. And thanks, MD, for letting me know.
And we will be sharing our instruments with both our class and the youngers! so rehearse your demonstration--I'm sure your mom would love to be a practice audience. :) Just 2 minutes maximum; demonstrate your instrument and explain how it works.
Textbook Reading, Chapter 12 (Sound) sections 2 and 3: Properties of Sound/ Music. Worksheets which correspond are pages 18,26,27,30,and 31. Review your previously done worksheets.
That should be plenty! Hopefully you will do section 2 on Tuesday and section 3 on Wednesday, in order to retain more of what you've learned.
If you are still looking for ideas for a musical instrument, check the previous blog.
Friday, May 2, 2014
I know! It was a hard test! Consider it practice...although, if you did great, consider it an accomplishment:) Homework today is to find the answers to the problems you missed on the test, by searching your textbook, and to make OK answers better answers.This is to be written down. Use extra paper.
Homework also is to work on musical instruments:
Finding and choosing an instrument to make yourself. Not too easy; not too hard. Consider the limitations of your time, tools, and materials. Ask your mom whether she thinks it is a reasonable choice. Ask your dad too, and getting help is fine; anything dangerous like using power tool, have adult supervision.
Getting the materials
Building it.
Learn to play a simple song.
As you can see, this is a medium-sized project, so don't put it off.
Here are some resources (see also youtube, pinterest, and Google "homemade musical instruments") and from Instructables, here is a picture-list to browse from http://www.instructables.com/howto/musical+instruments/ -- LOTSSsss of ideas!
The parts are as follows: antenna, capacitor, coil, earphones, diode. (A diode is a little bitty part that makes all the electrons go in one direction only--like a one-way street.) We are missing a ground wire.
