Capacitance

This week we learned about capacitance, and we can find capacitance by using the formula C=(Eo)(A)/(d). Eo is the permitivity of free space and has the constant 8.85x10^-12 c2/nm, A is the area, and d is the distance of separation in meters. I learned that with this, I can find the magnitude of the charge between two plates. I understand this unit a little more better, I did the rest of the PA by myself, and I think I understand the new lesson of capacitance that we learned.

Batteries

This week in class we learned about batteries, and their energy potential. We learned that between a tripple A battery, and a double A battery has the same battery voltage. The different size of the battery, represent how long it can last. Event though a double a battery, and a triple A battery may have the same voltage, the double A battery has a longer battery life span. In class we lit up a light bulb by connecting two alligator clamps to one battery. The light bulb could tolerate the voltage of the double A battery, however when we connected the 6 volt battery, the light bulb couldn't handle it, it short circuited the light bulb. I learned that the size of the battery, measures the potential that the battery contains. 

Notes

This week in physics we learned more about electric fields and forces. I took a picture of of the PA that we worked on this week. I have to say it somewhat helped. At first I didn't get the concepts of the different formulas that I learned this week, but when I did the PA, I started putting the formulas to use, for example I was already introduced to protons, electrons, and neutrons.  Those terms I was already familiar with. This PA also helped because I started actually applying the notes that I took in class to the problems that were given to me to practice with. It helped me prepare for the test this coming week, and gave me a better understanding of what I was learning. 

Neutrons, Protons, & Electrons

This week we learned about protons, neutrons, and electrons and how they all have their own charges. We learned that when two like charges are put together, they tend to repel from each other. On the contrary, when two opposite charges are put together they tend to attract to each other. However, when two neutral charges are put together, they have no effect on each other. The lesson that we learned in class this past week relates to this picture because magnets have the same effect. When you have two magnets, each with positive, and negative end on it you can observe something. You can observe that when you put the positive ends of the two magnets together, which are like charges, they will repel each other. However, when you put the positive end to a negative end, they will attract and attach to each other. 

What I Learned This Semester...

                      

This semester I definitely learned a lot about physics. From simple concepts like acceleration, velocity, scalars/vectors, and other terms, I have expanded my knowledge and outlook on different aspects in life. From simple kinematics, to 3-D kinematics, to momentum, and finally to energy, I think a person would’ve had to be totally oblivious to not take something away from this semester. I think my favorite section that we learned, even though it was our last, was energy. I found it interesting how everything has energy in some sort of way. We can find how much energy is stored in one specific object, such as a spring. When it’s compressed, it actually has stored energy, very interesting. In my picture, I chose a picture of the wind chimes that are outside my house, and a toy car that was in my garage. I chose these thinsg because now I can actually apply to physics to real life situations. If I wanted to calculate the maximum speed at which the wind chime goes when the wind is blowing it I could. If I wanted to find out the acceleration of the race car, and its velocity, I could. I realized that with the concepts I learned, I can apply it to a lot of things in life.

                This semester I found that learning physics can be fun. Thank you Mr. Blake for making the first semester  fun and easy to learn. Even though some concepts were hard to grasp, you made it easier  for us to learn them, and actually utilize them. I learned this semester that you and Mr. Freitas make an excellent singing group, haha. Overall this semester was really fun, and I hope to learn more in the upcoming semester.



Energy

This week in physics, we learned about energy and "work." We learned about gravitational potential, and spring potential. An important law that we learned was the law of conservation, which states in an isolated system energy is neither created nor destroyed. Above is a picture of a sling shot, which is similar to a spring. When pulled back it is compressed, to find the potential of it you need the distance at how much it is pulled back, and the k which is the spring or in the case, the sling shot constant. I also learned about gravitational potential which is found when given the mass, the force of gravity, and the height at which an object is at in relation to the ground. I learned alot of new concepts and formulas this week in relation to energy and "work." 

Egg Drop Lab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9nOID0lLxo&feature=player_embedded
This week we did out egg drop lab. My group included melody and kawai. We  thought that the more cushion we put in the box, the more safer our egg would be. So our group decided to use a shoe box and pack as much cotton balls as we could both in the actual box and on the cover, so that it would protect the egg in case the box flipped over during the fall down from akahi. We decided to put a box in the middle of the shoe box to hold the egg. Then we decided to wrap the egg in felt, to cushion the fall even more. When it came time to drop the egg, we were extremely nervous. Melody dropped the egg from the top, and all we heard when it hit the ground was a hard thud. We thought for sure that our egg was cracked, when we opened the box we found that the egg was surprisingly still intact. We were so happy when we found out that our egg survived the incredible fall. We learned more about physics, and how things like contact time, gravity's pull, friction, and many other factors play a role in such a simple experiment such as this egg drop lab.