oscillations

We put closure on the Sugar Content activity. We had some trouble finishing properly the previous week. We asked each group to give us their density for regular Coke. We put the values on the board. We calculated the mean and the A.D.M. We used the mean. We did not use the A.D.M. We used it as a review of activity 1.

We distributed a graph of density versus concentration for sugar solutions that we did with the equipment, sugar, and water they used in their activity. The points formed a straight line. The values differed from tabulated values, but the graph was very straight. We asked them to draw a straight line through the points and determine the sugar concentration of regular Coke from the graph.

Surprisingly, there were difficulties. There was a similar question in the class pretest and the results were good for that question. There were also problems reading the graph. This tells us that this is an area to be focused on in the future.

The results were the following: The average density of Coke for the class was 1.02 grams/mL. This gave a sugar concentration of 11.8% according to our graph. The sugar concentration of Coke was 11.4%.

Remember that we were going to do this activity via films as opposed to using a stopwatch to time the motion. We were going to use QuicktimePlayer to step through the film and time the motion. As we were introducing the activity, dripping water from the floor above started to cause small electrical explosions. Eventually, one of our light fixtures went out. We decided to call the class off. Surprisingly (and to our satisfaction) there was no massive joy at this happening.

Before they left we gave each group a copy of the film we were going to use. They put it in their USB drives. With the instructions we gave them and the film, they could actually do most of the activity at home or at the computer courtyard. We told them they could go ahead if they wanted to, but did not assign the work formally.