Consultation and other stuff

I will be available for consultation everyday until your Physics examination in Week 4. These are the guidelines to set an appointment consultation with me:

1) Please check my calendar to see when are my available slots. When I am booked for a consultation, I will block out time on my calendar.

2) Please book an appointment slot via sms, at least one day in advance. This is for me to check if I am really available during that time, and for me to block out the slot for you.

3) Individual consultations are capped at 1 hour. Group consultations up to 3 hours.

4) I will make it a point to stay in school until 7pm earliest everyday. School closes at 9pm, so no later than that.

5) I can do weekends under very special circumstances, but I will be quite busy some weekends as I am helping out in 2 different weddings.


Please also note the following Dates:

Tuesday 15/9: Superposition Lecture Test
Friday 18/9: Kinematics & Dynamics Lecture Test
Monday 21/9: No school due to Hari Raya Puasa on Sunday
Tuesday 22/9: WEP, Circular motion, Forces Lecture Test (AND Electricity Tutorial Test for IP2A)
Wednesday 23/9: Electricity Tutorial Test for IP2C
Tuesday 6/10: Physics Promotional Exam


Lastly, please try to submit all tutorials you owe me by This Friday 18 Sep, including CoE and DC Circuits tutorials. This is so that I can return them to you by Tuesday 22 Sep and you can use them to study for your promos. I will still entertain submission after 18 Sep, but cannot guarantee that I can hand them back to you in time for you to study. I will not accept submissions after promos.

Mugging Sessions during Sep Hols

First mugging session will begin on Tuesday 8 September, 2-6pm. Topic will be on Superposition.

Venue TC15

PLEASE BRING YOUR PAST YEAR PROMO PAPER (i.e. 2006, 2007 Promo Paper given out in Lecture last Friday)

Subsequent sessions TBA.

POSTPONED: Evening Study Session

Dear all,

the evening study session tonight has been postponed since I'm not feeling too well. We'll start having some afternoon sessions during the school holidays.

Evening Study Sessions

Sorry for those who were not informed about tonight's study session. I have several things on my plate right now, and publicity for the study sessions skipped my mind.

The next study session will be next Thursday 3 September,7-9pm, at canteen extension, and will be on Superposition.

I will probably have 2 to 3 afternoon/evening sessions in during the Sep holidays, and evening sessions will probably continue for the first 2 weeks of Term 4.

Answers to Current of Electricity Tutorial

Please take note of the following typo in your CoE tutorial, self-attempt question 1b):

Each copper atom has 29 electrons NOT 64 electrons. (It's atomic number is 29, but mass number is 64)

S1 a) 8.98 x 10^-4 kg
b) No. of Cu atoms = 8.36 x 10^21
No. of electrons = 2.4 x 10^23
c) number of electrons moving per second = 6.25 x 10
fraction = 2.58 x 10^-5

S2) 20 C

S3 a) 600 kJ
b) 2500 C
c) 0.25 A

S4 case1: 6897 Ohm
case 2: 113 Ohm

S5 a) I = 2.0 A, R = 6.0 Ohm
b) pd = 6 V, Power dissipated = 12 W

S6 a) pd = 0.9 V, I = 4.1 x 10^-4 A
b) No change
c) R = 300 Ohm

7a) R = 0.175 Ohm
b) 3.51 x 10^-5 Ohm metre

8a) 86.4 MJ, 24 kWh
b) $3.96

9) R = 384 Ohm, l = 0.04 m

10) E = 21.1 V, r = 0.56 Ohm

11) She never give me solutions =(

12) increases by 4 times

13) We go through in class

14) 6.25 x 10^17 ions per second

15 (a)(b): E = 0.3 V, r = 1000 Ohm
(c) 0.225%

16 (b) 0.0114 Ohm
(c)(i) 1050 A
(d)(i) 1.8 x 10^5 C
(ii) 28.6 min

17(a) Total bill: $415.97

22nd June Monday: Massive Physics Mugging Session

I will be conducting a massive Physics mugging session on Monday 22nd June in school. I have reserved TC 15 and TC 16 from noon till 7pm for these purposes.

Here is the schedule for Monday afternoon:

1st Half (Topics covered in both H1 and H2 Physics) 1.00 - 3.00pm
Measurement
Linear Kinematics
Projectile Kinematics
Dynamics I (Newton's 3 Laws & Free Body Diagrams)
Dynamics II (Impulse & Collisions)

2nd Half (Topics only covered in H2 Physics) 4.00 - 6.00pm
Circular Motion
Forces (Equilibrium, Hooke's Law, Upthrust)
Work Energy Power
Thermal Physics

I will going through theory tutorial style in class, and time permitting I will go through questions given in the past year common tests, so PLEASE BRING YOUR PAST YEAR COMMON TESTS!!

See you all there.

Consultations with me during Week 10

I know most of you don't check this blog anymore, but here is a last minute annoucement:

I'm free most of Monday and Tuesday next week for consultations. (make appointment with me via sms). Wednesday is possible, but I'm reserving that time for my civics class. Thursday I'm mostly busy, but Friday I'm free.

The week after that (1st week of June hols) I'm away for Staff Training, and the 2nds week of June hols I'm in Australia. I highly recommend you try and get me next week instead of waiting till the last 2 weeks of hols for help.

This applies not just for Physics but also Project Work.

IP2C: Solutions for Thermal Physics Tutorial

Those of you who wants the solutions for Thermal Physics, send me an sms with your email. I will then email the solutions to you. It is a good idea to look through the solutions, because there is alot of qualitative questions in Thermal Physics.

Tutorials for Term 2 Week 7

Opps I so busy with PIs that I totally forgot to blog Week 6 stuff. Heh.

Monday 4th May
Half Day (No Lessons! Woooo!)

Tuesday 5th May
IP2C: Dynamics II Tutorial Due. Finish Forces Tutorial. Start on WEP.

Wednesday 6th May
IP2C: Change of Plans. You will join Mr Yong's lab at 1030am to see a SHORT demo (on datalogger). Then you are dismissed.

Thursday 7th May
H1 Physics: Finish Dynamics I.

Friday 8th May
H1 Physics: Start Dynamics II.

Tutorials for Term 2 Week 5

Monday 20th April
IP2C: Circular Motion Tutorial

Tuesday 21st April
IP2C: Dynamics I Tutorial
Due: Circular Motion Tutorial + Assignment

Wednesday 22nd April
IP2C: PT4 (Bring long ruler for practical)

Thursday 23rd April
H1 Physics: Dynamics I Lesson

Friday 24th April
No Lessons (I am not in school - SYF rehearsal)

IP2C: 2nd Lecture Test CONFIRMED

Date: 18 May Monday (Week 9, ISSF restructured time table)
Time: 130-230pm
Location: LT1
Topics: Circular Motion, Dynamics II, Forces, Work Energy Power
Format: 4 short structured questions (1 hour)

The better of your 2 lecture test results will be used for your 5% of promotional grade.

Some of you might be involved with ISSF activities or competitions. Let me know ASAP if you haven't already told me. I will update if there is to be a retest.

Tutorials for Term 2 Week 4

Monday 13 April
IP2C: Circular Motion PBI

Tuesday 14 April
IP2C: Random Stuff

Wednesday 15 April
SPEECH DAY

Thursday 16 April
H1 Physics: Linear Kinematics Topical Test. Finish Projectile Motion lesson. Start on Forces.

Friday 17 April
H1 Physics: Forces.

IP2C: 2nd Physics Lecture Test

It is confirmed that we will have a second Physics Lecture Test. This will be held either on Monday 18 May OR Monday 25 May (either week 9 or week 10)

Topics that will be tested are:
Circular Motion
Dynamics II
Forces
Work Energy Power

We will compare the results of this Lecture Test with the first one you did, and take THE BETTER RESULT for your 5% of your final grade. This is to encourage those who did badly the first lecture test that there is still hope: put in effort and study for your 2nd Lecture Test. Please be aware that IMMEDIATELY after June holidays will be the common test (20% of final grade), so treat this Lecture Test as preparation for your Common Test as well.

Tutorials for Term 2 Week 3

Monday 6th April
IP2C: Dynamics Tutorial due, Circular motion PBI

Tuesday 7th April
IP2C: Circular motion PBI

Wednesday 8th Apirl
IP2C: PT3

Thursday 9th April
H1 Physics: Projectile Kinematics

Friday 10th April
GOOD FRIDAY

Tutorials for Term 2 Week 2

Monday 30 Mar
IP2C: Due Kinematics Tutorial (SAQ, DQ and AQ). Prepare Dynamics I tutorial to go through.

Tuesday 31 Mar
IP2C: Continue with Dynamics I tutorial.

Wed 1 Apr
IP2C: April FOols Day! Circular Motion PBI (Physics by Inquiry)

Thurs 2 Apr
H1 Physics: Vectors Topical Class Test! Continue Projectile Motion lecture.

Fri 3 Apr
IP2C: Standing Broad Jump PBL due!
H1 Physics: Linear Kinematics Assignment due. Continue Projectile Motion lecture.

Tutorials for Term 2 Week 1

Monday 23 March
IP2C: We will do revision for Lecture Test, and maybe go through Dynamics Tutorial. Come with questions on any of the topics tested for Lecture Test.

Tuesday 24 March (Friday Time Table)
IP2C: Lecture Test
H1 Physics: Errors & Uncertainties Topical Class Test. Resume Kinematics lesson.

Wednesday 25 March
IP2C: Go through Practice Task 1 & 2. Please bring your SPA handout. Will finish the last part on graphs.

Thursday 26 March
H1 Physics: Resume Kinematics Lesson

Friday 27 March
H1 Physics: Projectile Motion. This lesson will be observed by HOD Science.

Reminder: Physics Tests on Tuesday 24 March (Friday Timetable)

Please be reminded that Tuesday 24th March is on Friday's timetable. Both my Physics classes will have tests that day.

IP2C: H2 Physics Lecture Test 1130am LT5
45 minutes, 30 marks. 10 marks on Physical Quantities & Units, 10 marks on Kinematics, 10 marks on Vectors and Dynamics I. This test accounts for 5% of your final grade.

Please also be reminded that your Standing Broad Jump PBL task is due in Term 2 Week 2.

H1 Physics: Errors & Uncertainties Topical Class Test

IP2C: Answers for Kinematics Tutorial

Below are the answers to the Kinematics tutorial. Contact me if you have difficulty arriving at the correct answers.

Rectilinear Tutorial

D1) 30 ms^-1

D2) 0.143 s

D3) Speed = 87kmh^-1 (Yes he is speeding)

D4) 10th Floor

D5) (i) -7.00 ms^-1
(ii) 0.017 s
(iii) It is correct

Projectile Tutorial

D1) 20 mm

D2) Yes it can. However, only the vertical velocity may be used for transfer to potential energy, as horizontal velocity is constant throughout the whole time of flight.

D3) (a) Horizontal = 12.1 ms^-1; Vertical = 7.0 ms^-1
(b) 0.714 s
(c) 10 cars

D4) (a) B = C, D > E, E = F
(b) A
(c) B = C, E = F, D > E
(d) A
(e) C > B, F > E
(f) F

D5) Hit the road first. Answer went through in class.

D6) (c) a = -g/(2)(u^2)(cos^2theta)
b = tan theta
c = 0

Reminder: Tutorial and Assignment due Term 2 Week 2. Dynamics Tutorial & Assignment due Term 2 Week 2 as well.

Tutorials for Term 1 Week 10

IP2C 9 Mar Monday
Due: SPA Practice Task 1
Prepare: Kinematics (both Rectilinear and Projectile) Discussion Questions and SAQ
We only have 2 lessons to discuss kinematics, and probably will not have enough time to go through every single tutorial question. I will probably focus more on projectile kinematics.

IP2C 10 Mar Tuesday
Prepare: Kinematics (both) Discussion Questions and SAQ
Last tutorial before end of Term 1. Will have one more tutorial (first day of Term 2) before Lecture Test (24th March)

IP2C 11 Mar Wednesday
SPA Practice Task 2
Please bring your SPA handout. Time permitting I will go through the remainder of the SPA handout, and your Practice Task 1 if I had completed marking by then.

H1 Physics 12 Mar Thursday
Going through Errors & Uncertainties Assignment. Start topic on Linear Kinematics.

H1 Physics 13 Mar Friday
Topical Class Test: Errors & Uncertainties
Continue lecture on Linear Kinematics

Tutorials for Term 1 Week 9

[Sorry, haven't really been updating this blog. Too busy/tired to remember. So I'll try something else instead: I'll blog during the weekend what I hope to do with tutorials for that one week. At least you all will have a heads-up this way.]

IP2C 2 Mar Monday
Prepare: Vectors (Self-attempt, discussion. Assignment if possible)
I will try to finish Vectors in one tutorial. Do your assignment if you have the time. I probably won't talk about vectors again.

IP2C 3 Mar Tuesday
Prepare: SPA handout (read everything and attempt all exercises)
I will finish the SPA handout during tutorial (so that we can start a practice task by Wednesday). If we have some extra time, may talk about Kinematics.

IP2C 4 Mar Wednesday
Due: Vectors Assignment (submit together with self-attempt and discussion questions)
Prepare: Nothing, but remember to bring long ruler for lab.
Practice Task 1.

H1 Physics 5 Mar Thursday
Topical Class Test: Physical Units & Quantities (remember to study!)
Will start on Vectors lesson

H1 Physics 6 Mar Friday
Due: Errors & Uncertainties Assignment
Continue on Vectors lesson

H1 Physics 26 Feb Tutorial

Due: Physical Quantities & Units Assignment

We'll be continuing the lesson on Uncertainties. Please bring your worked examples and study sheet.

IP2C: 23 Feb Tutorial

Due: 1) SI Units Tutorial, 2) SI Units Assignment, 3) Errors & Uncertainties Tutorial, 4) Errors & Uncertainties Assignment, in class. Hand in to me in one set.

Supposedly we were supposed to go through Vectors Tutorial, but I have decided that we spend some time on Uncertainties instead. I may not have time to go through Vectors at all, so please complete the tutorial and assignment by yourself. Will discuss with you when to hand in.

I will not go through your Pressure and Upthrust tutorial in class yet. It's actually the next topic after Kinematics (called "Forces"), so we'll go through it with the rest of the cohort. Similarly, I'll talk more about Free Body Diagrams in Term 2, which will be the topic after Forces.

But I'll post feedback and comments on your pressure & upthrust tutorial when I'm done marking it (didn't bring answer key home, so couldn't mark this weekend...=P)

For IP2C: Tutorial Stuff

Reminder: The rest of your pressure/upthrust tutorial is due tmr 19 Feb. Hand in to Yulong who will put it in my letter tray.

By now, Mr Yong would have told you that you need to do the tutorial and assignment sections of both 1)Physical Quantities & Units and 2)Errors and Uncertainties, and hand in the whole thing to me on your first tutorial next week in class. You are also expected to do the Vectors tutorial, and we are supposed to go through that the first tutorial in class.

This is a level wide thing, and I cannot make an exception for your class. In particular, since this will be recorded for purposes of your final grade (5% submitted work component), it is unfair to hold your class to separate standards. So please take note what is due the first Physics tutorial next week.

However, I very much am aware that many of you are uncertain what is going on during lecture, particularly for errors and uncertainties. I will be blogging something about it soon, so pay attention to my blog. I may also print out study sheets for you all (if I can get it done in time). At any rate, please try your best not to copy work, because when you do so, you lower your learning efficiency by around 70%. Always always try to do your own work. Wrong answers in tutorials and assignments will not be penalized for your 5% component; and you can always make appointments with me if you need more help with your tutorials or assignments.

Pressure and Upthrust Tutorial Feedback

A couple of you calculated force as pressure/area, instead of pressure x area. Very careless error, but also shows that you haven't really memorized your equation properly:

Pressure = Force / Area

Qn 1(a) Ans: 420N, 1(b) Ans: 1.5 x 10^6 N
Generally no problem with this question

Qn 2 Ans: 4400N
Some of you have a difficulty understanding the question. You need to recognize that the air inside the airplane is atmospheric pressure, i.e. 760mm mercury, while the air outside has a lower air pressure, i.e. 210mm mercury. The net force on the window is then the difference in pressure multiplied by the area. The question also wants you to use pgh to calculate pressure, instead of just using 10^6 Pa.

Q 3
I wrongly assigned this question. This is an upthrust question, will go through together with the other upthrust questions.

Q 4 Ans: 800 kgm^-3
No problem for most of you, except many of you left the answer in gcm^-3 instead of SI units. Always leave final answer in SI units unless otherwise specified.

Q 5 (a)(i) Ans: 345 kPa
(a) (ii) Ans: 245 kPa
(b) (i) Ans: 690 N

Generally not much problem for the first 3 sub-questions. Question b(ii) is very unclear what it wants from you, therefore I basically marked everybody correct. This was what the original question wanted to ask from you:

Consider the gas as an object. The force acting on the gas from the top is only 276N (are you able to get this value yourself?), but the downward force the gas is acting on the bottom of the tank is 690 N. Where does the extra 414 N of force come from?

Most of you answered something along the lines of oh Pascal's Principle states that the pressure of the tank must be the same, and hence the larger area below means a greater force is applied, since F = PA. While this statement is true, it doesn't explain where the extra 414 N comes from. So what's the real explanation?

The extra force comes from the top of the tank, the horizontal part adjacent to the shaft. What happens when you compress the gas (and hence increasing the pressure), the gas pushes outwards against the container walls. By Newton's 3rd law, all the container walls push back on the gas, exerting force on the gas. If you look at the container walls at the top of the container, the force exerted is downward, and this force accounts for the missing 414 N of force.

Second Q5 Ans: 31N
Not many people got this correct, even though the working is simple. Many identified the key concept is that the Pressure at A = Pressure at B. However, many forget to include the pgh of 8m of fluid when calculating the pressure at B.

Due Tuesday: Do the rest of the tutorial, including Q3 and the second Q5 if you have not done these questions.

Change of Location for H1 Lessons

To my H1 students, please take note that your Tuesday lessons have changed location to classroom TC15.

Monday's lessons remain in AVA room. However, AVA room is a horrible place to hold lessons, so we may hijack some unused classroom during that time slot. Will keep you updated.

This arrangement will remain until your permanent timetable is out.

Monday 16th Feb: We will be starting lesson on Physical Quantities and Units. No preparation necessary, just bring writing materials.

H3 Physics: Quantum Theory of Light

I was going to write on my blog who is assigned to do which question, but I didn't bring that information home. So hopefully you guys know what question you are supposed to do and to present. If we manage to finish all 10 questions on Monday, then I may just close the topic and let the next teacher start on Friday. So please come prepared.

In the meantime, you can use this blog entry as a forum of sorts on Quantum Physics: feel free to leave any questions, comments, thoughts and/or swear words wrt to Quantum Physics by commenting on this thread. I'll try my best to respond. =)

Happy CNY!

SH1 Consolidation: This Wednesday we will be doing superposition. Bring your notes and your questions about waves/superpositions. We will miss lesson on Monday (CNY), so next Wednesday will be the last time I see you (assuming you're not in my class). I will give you a test to do on topics we would have covered by then: Forces (Static Equilibirum), Dynamics, WEP and Superposition, and we'll go through the test after that. And after that, I will shake your hand and wish you best of luck.

IP2C: I will only see you on Wednesday after CNY. I will answers questions from lecture, and go through your FBG test and your pracitcal. I don't think we would have time to go through the pressure tutorial, so I'm going to ask you to submit it in for me to mark. Please do tutorial questions 1 to 5 to be submitted on Wednesday. You may do questions 6 to 10 as well, but I may not have time to mark (I will give you the answer key if that's the case).

All in all, please have a good time this CNY break. Please eat CNY goodies until fat fat; go collect ang paos and then spend them all on Valentine's Day; eat and rest lots during the break. Once we hit Feburary 2nd, we will be going on a very fast pace. Brace yourselves. =)

PHIP2C: Wednesday Jan 14

Tomorrow you will be given a concept test on Free Body Diagrams, and time permitting I will go through lab techniques with you after that.

I strongly urge you NOT to study for your Free Body Diagrams test because I want to see how much you know without studying. Therefore, no preparation of work is needed for tomorrow's lesson.

You may ask questions about the Pressure lecture, or about the 'A' level syllabus in general at the beginning of tomorrow's lesson, before we start the concept test.

SH1 Consolidation: Schedule for Wed Jan 14

For the double period on Jan 14 (8-10am), we will be covering Mechanics, with a focus on Collisions and Work Energy Power. If possible, bring your notes (if you can find them), and bring your questions if you have any. Questions from other topics within Mechanics also can.

Wrong Email

To the Physics SH1 Consolidation students I just met today, I realized I've given you my wrong email address (I am very typo-prone).

My personal email (also my facebook account) is: wongyann [at] gmail [dot] com.

Previously I gave you "wongyan" instead of "wongyann".

I can also be reached at yanndao [at] gmail [dot] com, whichever is easier for you to remember.

I've also forgotten to mention that I sit at the second level staffroom, but my letter tray is at the first level beside the General Office (the school bully me, make me walk so far to go check my letter tray).

Keep checking this blog for more annoucements regarding Wednesday.

Thanks.