opinion that physics was boring. To me, physics was applied algebra showing how trains collide and gravity pulls bowling balls off skyscrapers. But one day, my older brother returned from a lecture given by a candidate for a professorship at Bard College about quantum gravity, and fervently recommended that I look out for this lecturer. Later in the summer of my sophomore year, I found out that the quantum gravity lecturer, Hal Haggard, was indeed accepted as a new Assistant Professor of Physics at Bard
stick together in an inelastic collision. Whether a collision is an elastic collision or inelastic collision momentum would always be the same before and/or after the collision as long as you have a close system. According to Asif Shakur, Chair of Physics and Engineering at Salisbury State University, explains, “Aluminum is a hard material. It doesn't have a lot of "give." In other words, aluminum is highly elastic. Therefore, very little of the ball's initial kinetic energy (the energy associated
As we worked on our Rube Goldberg Machine, we uncovered the physics that was taking place. Many aspects of physics come into play when building and testing a Rube Goldberg Machine. Some examples are Newton’s three laws, collisions, conservation of momentum, efficiencies, forces, energy, work, simple machines, and projectiles. We ran into Newtons First Law, which claims that an object resists change in motion, as the marble rolled down the floor it didn’t stop until it was acted against by friction
Aside from being one of the most accessible (and best!) sports out there, many aspects of bowling can be expressed with physics. Achieving maximum power, throwing a hook ball, and getting good pin action can all be broken down into physics issues and represented with equations. I will cover four aspects of bowling that can be explained with physics terms and show you how to use this knowledge to optimize your game. Gravitational Potential Energy Depending on the height from which the bowler
Measuring the Moment of Inertia of a Flywheel Objective ========= Measure the angular velocity of a flywheel and use conservation of energy to calculate its moment of inertia. Apparatus ========= Flywheel String Slotted mass on hanger Stop-watch Vernier caliper Metre ruler Theory ====== The rotational kinetic energy can be defined by the equation K=1/2 I ω2. Where I is the moment of inertia of the body about the axis of rotation. In this experiment
Physics is a part of everyday life. It is evident in the modern technological devices we use in every day experiences and objects around us. Although physics is understood to be only useful in the classroom, physics can also be applied to one the most popular activities on the planet, basketball. Whether jumping for the ball, or leaping for a slam dunk, the human body follows the same laws of projectile motion as do other objects. The sport that includes shooting, passing, running, and dribbling
Energy is a property of matter which can be transferred to other matters or transformed into different forms, although it cannot be created or destroyed. A common definition of energy is that it is the ability to do work. Work is the transfer of energy. Work is done on an object when energy is transferred to that object. If one object transfers energy to another object then the first object does work on the second object. Work is when a force is applied over a distance. To calculate work, find the
The Purpose of our Mouse Trap Car project was to find a way to use what we have learned from Physics and Newton's laws to make a mousetrap powered car. We had a goal to create a car out of material you already had that goes 3 or more meters across the room. We had to find a way to get all the parts and build it with nothing but glue and tape and whatever you had in you house. This challenged involved many aspects such as building/engineering, time management, focus, and most importantly science.
Ever wondered how roller coasters work? It’s not with an engine! Roller coasters rely on a motorized chain and a series of phenomena to keep them going. Phenomena are situations or facts that have been observed and proven to exist. A few types of phenomena that help rollercoasters are gravity, kinetic and potential energy, and inertia. Gravity pulls roller coasters along the track as they’re going downhill. Potential and kinetic energy help rollercoasters to ascend hills and gain enough momentum
Title Investigating how the final velocity of an object in motion is affected by the angle of an inclined ramp on which it travels. Research Question How does the angle of inclination (º) of a ramp affect the velocity (m/s) of an object in motion, if calculated using the formula [V= (2s/t) –u]? Hypothesis The prediction for this experiment is that the final velocity of an object in motion will be affected according to the angle of inclination of the ramp. The higher the inclination or greater
Rolling Bearing Life Prediction, Theory, and Application: Introduction:- A bearing which carries a load by placing rolling elements (such as balls or rollers) between two bearing rings called races. The relative motion of the races causes the rolling elements to roll with very little resistance and with little sliding. A rolling bearing uses a shaft in a much larger hole, and cylinders called "rollers" tightly fill the space between the shaft and hole. As the shaft turns, each roller acts as the
Introduction Suppose a ball is released from a distance and rolls down an inclined plane, as shown in figure 1. At the bottom of the inclined plane, the ball strikes a level tabletop and bounces away. The inclined plane may be rotated to give a steeper angle, which will affect the time of travel across the tabletop. The ball’s horizontal component of velocity is (Walding, Rapkins and Rossiter, 2004, pg. 62): v_x = v cos θ Figure 1: Experiment set up. Red indicates acting forces, green indicates
to study- from inertial forces to gravitational ones- they all utilize at least one of those functions. Impact forces are no exception. Impact forces are those that involve a collision between two objects (Lawler, 2018). Impulse is a concept in physics that is governed by these ever-present forces. Impulse is the product of force and time that equals to the amount of change that the product of mass and velocity (momentum) undergo (Lawler, 2018). Human movement incorporates force in two ways: by
Introduction: Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, also known as tracks. It is also commonly referred to as train transport. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles run on a prepared flat surface, rail vehicles (rolling stock) are directionally guided by the tracks on which they run. Tracks usually consist of steel rails, installed on ties (sleepers) and ballast, on which the rolling stock, usually fitted with metal wheels, moves
can be competitive or for recreationally. But what separates the good skaters from the bad ones is the good ones understand, the physics behind it. They know that when they are skating there is friction, all three of Newton’s laws, they know how to control their speed. They also understand what happens to them collide with the walls of rinks. There is much to the physics behind roller-skating. The skaters know that there is more skating just putting on the roller skates and going. Friction is a
Mountain biking is enjoyed by millions of people throughout the year, and is attracting more and more people everyday. Physics plays a vital role in this sport and without it, mountain biking would have no challenges and would cease to exist. The concept of mountain biking is simple. Just take your primitive bike riding skills, and ride trails found off the beaten path. From this notion of riding a bike, an Olympic sport has evolved and many people have found meaning and joy in their lives. m
Basic Concepts Issac Newton was the first to state the concepts that are necessary to understanding the physics of collisions. His three laws are used again and again in all the fields of physics: Newton's 1st Law In the absence of external forces, an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion with a constant velocity. This law can be best observed in space, far from the gravity of a star or planet, where there is no friction or air resistance. If, in the
often the cause for this rush is overlooked. Physics plays a crucial role in skiing and without it, there would definitely be no skiing. The concept of skiing is simple. You attach a ski to each foot, go to the top of a hill or incline, and slide down, turning side to side. From this basic concept of sliding down an inclined plane, a worldwide sport has evolved. In this paper, I hope you gain a useful knowledge of the vitally important role that physics plays in the sport of downhill skiing.
In short brakes are a tool that turn kinetic energy into heat(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brakes). This is accomplished by applying friction in one way or another. In the case of disk brakes friction is created because the braking mechanism exerts a force on the break pads which pushes them into contact with disk. It is this contact combined with the fact that the disks are rotating that causes kinetic energy to be converted to heat. If the purpose of brakes is to convert kinetic energy into
The Physics of Basketball The more and more I look around I begin to see how physics are integrated into practically everything that we do. These things would surely go unnoticed without making a conscious effort to notice them. For example simple things like riding a bike, or driving a car, or playing catch with a son or daughter. Just as these activities are loaded with elements of physics, sports are also, especially basketball. Physics play a part in every aspect of the game, from dribbling