Bio:
Dr. Cox grew up in Arlington and graduated from H.B. Woodlawn Secondary school . She studied theater at Boston University for a year, and then wound up in California and graduated from UCLA with a BS in Astrophysics. She received her MS and PhD in Astronomy from the University of Michigan , followed by research and teaching at the University of Virginia for a few years. She has been at GWCS since 2000.
In her spare time, Dr. Cox hangs out at the public library, sews, helps out with her daughter's Girl Scout troop and is sometimes persuaded to play bridge. She sits on panels at science fiction conventions when that gets her in for free. She and her husband recently renewed their wedding vows at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria . She wants to know if you have any good vegetarian recipes that will be enjoyed by both a child who eats cheese but not tofu or beans and a man who eats tofu and beans but not cheese.
Courses Taught:
- Astrophysics
-Honors Physics is a deep and narrow course that focuses on Newtonian Mechanics using algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Students will put themselves in Newton 's place and, through problem-solving, come to understand motion and forces. In the fourth quarter, we will study energy and momentum in depth and visit an amusement park. Students will never again ride a roller coaster without thinking of Newton 's Laws and conservation of energy! The students will also take on the challenge of designing and building a cardboard boat to enter in the Lake Accontink Cardboard Boat Race, held the first weekend in June.
Physics is the basis of all other sciences. It sets the rules. In this class, students will learn the physics concepts that rule the universe, and use them, along with some algebra and geometry, to answer questions like:
- Is an astronaut in space really weightless?
- Why does the lift hill in a roller coaster have to be taller than all the other hills?
- Why does an ice skater's spin speed up when she draws in her arms?
- Why doesn't the moon fall down?
- Why can you make different notes sound with the same guitar string?
- Why does rubbing a latex balloon on your head make your hair stand up?
- Why do you get a rainbow when you pass white light through a prism?
Hours Available For Extra Help:
The best time for students to get extra help from me is during lunch or advisory. Since I only teach in the mornings, it is best to make an appointment to see me during these times.
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