Physics Class Fun!

Thanks to our phenomenal teachers and our classical curriculum, St. Ambrose students have a variety of tools to engage in learning beyond a textbook: primary sources, research, an emphasis on developing excellent writing skills, field trips, and hands-on activities and labs to relate to what they’re learning.

Our array of science classes offer excellent experience in conducting well-designed experiments, collecting data, understanding concepts, and developing many skills that will be useful for advanced study and research, both within and beyond scientific pursuits.

Physics teacher Mr. Patrick Carey has a rich treasury of engaging labs to give students hands-on understanding of the concepts they learn in class. Keep reading for a glimpse into the classroom experience of a Physics student at St. Ambrose Academy!

Experiment #1

Physics students use a resonance tube to determine the speed of sound. As the height of the water in the tube is changed, the loudness of the tuning fork increases and decreases. The height at which the sound is loudest is equal to the one-fourth the wavelength of the sound waves. Multiplying the wavelength of the sound wave by the frequency of the tuning fork gives an estimate of the speed of sound, usually within a few percent of the true value.

Experiment #2

Physics students use chocolate bars to study the speed of microwaves. By heating a chocolate bar within the microwave, hot spots are generated. From measuring the distance between the hotspots, the wavelength of the microwaves can be calculated. Multiplying the wavelength of the microwaves by the microwave frequency provides an estimate of the speed of the microwaves within the oven. Since microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes visible light, this lab also provides a reasonable estimate of the speed of light itself. Graham crackers and marshmallows are needed for the disposal of the chocolate bars when the lab is concluded.

Experiment #3

Physics students calculate the speed of wave propagation across a slinky. By measuring the frequency at which the slinky oscillates and the length of the slinking wave, students can multiply those two quantities to get the speed of the slinky wave.

Experiment #4

Using a wave oscillator and a string attached to a set of weights, Physics student study the relationship between string tension and the speed of a wave propagating across the string. As the tension increases in the string within increasing weight, the speed of the wave also increases.