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As part of our ongoing mission in this class to better understand the world around us by taking our theoretical classroom knowledge and applying it to the ‘real world,’ I’d like to review our experimental assignment known as “Physics Phridays.” Adapted from an AAPT article by Maria Falbo, the assignment will run as follows:

• Each student is to find three (3) examples of physics inaccuracies or misrepresentations in the media over the course of the year.
• Highlighted examples are reviewed on Fridays as single-page PowerPoints, videos, whiteboard explanations, podcast episodes, or other live presentation explaining why the example is inaccurate and what could be done to correct it.
• Examples are to be relevant and substantial (i.e. misspellings and typos don’t count).
• Examples may not be repeated within a class or across classes. First to present is first to get credit.
• All three examples will count as one test grade (100 points) for the fourth quarter. Extra credit may be given for truly outstanding presentations.

Per request, I am attaching links to a number of popular physics books written at a conceptual (and fun) level discussing some of the weird/strange topics in physics that many of you have shown an interest in. Note that a number of these books may be available on the book cart in the back of the room, or through the school library!

http://filmtvindustry.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_3d_movies_work_with_digital_technology
http://www.obsessable.com/feature/the-third-dimension-how-3d-movies-work/
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/3d-movies/
http://www.3dglassesonline.com/how-do-3d-glasses-work/

Several students have asked about review materials for the upcoming physics Regents exam in June.  In past years, we have ordered review books from the school bookstore, but have been left with a surplus of books year after year.  Instead, this year I will post links to some of the more popular review books, available from the attached links from Amazon.com, or at many of the local bookstores.

(Note that if you do purchase through Amazon.com by clicking on the links from this web page, a portion of Amazon’s proceeds are donated back to help cover the expenses associated with this website through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.)