Learning Objectives:
- Core Concepts: Forces, thermal conductivity, electricity, light systems, and biological signals.
- Data Skills: Crafting custom experiments, analyzing complex data sets, and using live plots to predict outcomes.
Session Grouping:
- Bootcamp (Sessions 1-2): Introduction to experimental crafting and advanced live data analysis.
- Investigating Physics & Chemistry (Sessions 3-7): Conduct hands-on investigations into pressure, heat, and forces with custom apparatuses.
- Custom Systems & Electrical Measurements (Sessions 8-9): Build and analyze custom light systems and electrical circuits.
- Capstone Project (Session 10): Students craft their own experiments, collect live data, and perform multi-variable analysis, presenting their findings.
Data Analysis Skills:
- Complex Analysis & Prediction: Students work with advanced graphing techniques, detect detailed trends, and make accurate predictions based on multi-variable data.
Session 1: Speed & Acceleration with Ramps
Details:
Students build custom ramps and measure the speed and acceleration of a cart using photogate sensors. They analyze how surface friction affects motion.
Session 2: Advanced Chemical Reactions & Mass Conservation
Details:
Students measure changes in mass and pressure during chemical reactions, exploring the Law of Conservation of Mass and gas production.
Session 3: Oscillations & Pressure in a Syringe
Details:
A motor creates oscillations in a syringe sealed at one end. Students measure pressure changes and investigate why the pressure variation isn’t perfectly sinusoidal, linking this to factors like air compression and friction.
Session 4: Air Expansion & Heat
Details:
Using custom containers, students heat air and measure pressure changes. They apply the Ideal Gas Law to study gas behavior and thermal insulation.
Session 5: Thermal Conductivity with Insulators in Microclimates
Details:
Students explore how humid vs. dry environments impact heat retention in insulated containers. They observe how humidity slows cooling through latent heat release, connecting these effects to real-world applications like building insulation.
Session 6: Buoyancy with Custom Objects
Details:
Students build objects of different shapes and densities, testing their buoyancy in various liquids, and calculating displaced volume to verify Archimedes’ Principle.
Session 7: Heart & Muscle Sensors
Details:
Students craft simple sensors to measure heart rate and muscle activity, comparing them to ECG/EMG sensors. They analyze bio-signals during physical activity.
Session 8: Resistance & Ohm’s Law with Custom Circuits
Details:
Students build complex circuits using resistors and capacitors. They measure voltage and current to verify Ohm’s Law and analyze circuit performance.
Session 9: Light-Responsive Systems
Details:
Students design and build a light-sensitive system using an LDR. They program it to perform tasks like activating a motor or triggering an alarm based on light levels.
Session 10: Capstone—Craft & Experiment
Details:
Students design a custom experiment, build their setup, and collect data using MeasureLab. They analyze and present their findings, applying all skills from previous sessions.