Unit 3 blog reflection

In this unit I began by learning about Newton’s third law, which states for every action there is an equal, and opposite reaction. This knowledge was accumulated with our first lab. This lab was to learn that when a big truck hits a small car they have the same force. Because they have the same force the big truck has a larger mass but a smaller acceleration, and the small car has a larger acceleration and a smaller force. We then learned about action and reaction pairs. If the action were bat hits ball the reaction would be ball hits bat. We then learned that the horse pulls on buggy and buggy pulls on horse, but the reason it goes forward is because the horse hooves have a greater friction then the wheels of the buggy. The perfect answer to this question is as follows: The reason the horse and buggy move forward is because the horse pushes on the ground harder then the buggy does. Both the buggy and the horse pull each other with the same force. We know this because of Newton’s 3^rd law, which states for every action there is an equal, and opposite reaction. We then learned about vectors. Vectors are used when you are cannoning down a river with or against a current. They are also explaining why a box slides down a ramp. Along with this we learned how tension affected things like hanging frames or holding an object with a rope. Next we learned what force depends on. It depends on 1. Mass of an object, force is directly proportional with mass. 2. Distance between the objects, and the further apart = less force. Therefore, distance is indirectly proportional to force. Also the universal gravitational formula which is: F=G(m1)(m2)/d^2. The next topic was tides. The moon affects tides, and the moon has a larger force between the moon and earth then the sun and the earth. In one day there are two low tides and two high tides and they come about 6 hours apart. Tides are caused by difference of forces felt by the opposite sides of earth. Spring tides à very high +very low. Our next topic was momentum and impulse. We first tackled the question of Why do we have airbags? The perfect answer to this question is as follows:  p=mv and the change in P=Pfinal-Pintial à the car will go from moving to not moving no matter how it is stopped, the change in the P is the same. J=the change in P à the impulse will be the same regardless of how it is stopped. F=F ^, J=Delta (no air bag), J=Fchange in t (with airbag) à the air bag increases the time of the impulse in the force on you is less small force=less injury. If the impulse sticks then it is: MaVa+MbVb=(Ma=+Mb)Vab  don’t stick: MaVa+ MbVb=MaVa+MbMa

The most difficult unit I studied was vectors. I had a very hard time figuring out how to draw the guidelines, and how to correspond the lines with each other. The other thing I had a bit of trouble was with writing out the perfect answer to the question that asked why we use airbags, and gymnast matts and things like that. Both of these were very difficult because they are made up of very specific answers and it involves a lot of repetition.

I overcame these two difficulties by redoing the problems over and over again. For the question about the importance of air bags I rewrote the equations and answer over and over again. And as for the vector problems I also redid them multiple times. I also went in early for the vector problems and one on one help helped a lot.

My effort towards class is pretty consistent and I feel that I am a persistent participant. I also go in early when I feel that it is necessary. And my effort is reflected in-group work especially, which is a time that I am fully involved with the activities. I do my homework almost every night. The only time I didn’t was when I was not clear on the assignment. I always try to find real life videos and then explain them instead of having a video teach you the lesson, I feel as though this reflects that I am dedicated to having an engaging blog. By going in early and asking questions in class I feel that I have strong communication. My self confidence in physics has gone up this was especially reflected in the impulse lab when I did not think I understood the unit but persisted through it and ended up getting a 0% error on the lab activity. And my creativity was reflected when making the podcast, and how my partners and me would use real life examples and then further discuss them. My goal for the next unit is to make sure I study before each quiz and go in early to be tested on my knowledge of that particular unit.

The connections that I can make to everyday life are mainly with cars. We learned the importance of air bags, which are things that affect most everyone’s lives, and have saved millions of people throughout the time they have been alive. I also learned that even if a giant truck gets in a crash with a small car they still exert the same force unto each other. I also learned about the change in momentum when lets say women on roller skates picks up her child. I also learned about why a pool ball goes in a certain direction, and the direction a canoe goes when canoeing with a current.