Electric Circuit Kid's Toy (Snap Circuits)

As I was studying for my Physics final I realized that there was a toy I got from my parents as they have always given me "educational toys."  This one I found showed me how circuits work in an extremely simple format.  Using the snap circuits you can easily construct parallel, complex, and series circuits.  I got this toy, and who knew it could help me so much?  A simple child inspiring toy, applied toward the qualitative understanding of physics.

Here is their link: http://www.elenco.com/

Connections Through Circuits! Shocking!

SERIES CIRCUIT- In the diagram above we see a series of identical resistors on a wire in a closed loop. The current through the wire is constant, but the voltage is variant upon the resistors in which it travels. The voltage found across both resistors is equal to one half of the voltage across just one resistor because the resistors are identical and the voltage must be provided for both light bulbs. The equivalent resistance we can find in the circuit is equal to the sum of the values of resistance in Ohms added to each other. Therefore we can conclude that the current is constant across the entire wire as there is not a paralell circuit.

PARALELL CIRCUIT- In the image above we see a paralell circuit. In this circuit there are two equivalent resistors that can be treated with an equivalent resistance acting upon the current of the entire wire. The equivalent resistance can be found by adding the inverses of resistances.  Inside the paralell circuit the voltage is constant, but the current varies. We can look at voltage as the capacity to do work.  

COMPLEX CIRCUIT-  In this complex circuit we have a battery, a switch, and then a series of resistors, two in paralell, and one in a series.  The voltage flows from the battery without resistance that sends a current through the wire that feeds the light bulb with electricity.  The voltage across the wire adds up to the voltage provided by the battery, but is variant upon the resistance.  Voltage "pressure" makes the electrons move, and this "pressure" depends on the resistance in which it travels through, similarly to knotting a hose.  The current is constant on the wire outside of the paralell circuit, but inside the paralell circuit the current is reduced because it must feed upon the two light bulbs (resistances) in the paralell.  The paralell circuit has an equivalent resistance, and therefore we can treat it as an individual resistor for total current, and voltage.  The current through each resistor is not then same, but the current sum inside the paralell circuit is the same as the current that goes through the lone resistor on the wire.

A DC (direct current) is the flow of charge that does not vary in direction.  Direct current is used in batteries, solar panels, and when electricity is transported large distances across a wire.  This require a closed loop, a switch, and resistors across the wire.  In a direct circuit there is a direct flow of voltage.

Optics Reflection

In our most recent unit, geometric optics, I learned quite a lot about how light travels and interacts with mirrors, lenses, and various mediums.  We began our units by learning about waves and sound.  Through this unit we were introduced to the most basic topics that were necessary to understand color, light travel, refraction, diffraction, and reflection.  This unit introduced us to frequency, speed, wavelength, and the Doppler effect. In this unit we also used online wave simulations that demonstrated interference, whether it be constructive, or destructive.  After this briefing, we began to talk about mirrors.  We had various labs where were experimented with flat mirrors, concave (converging) mirrors and convex (diverging) mirrors.  In these experiments we were proved the relation between the focal point and the radius of curvature.  After these qualitative experiments, we were introduced to a style of determining the qualities of images formed by mirrors called the ray-tracing method.  We proceeded to learn about the focal point, radius, center of curvature, real images, virtual images, upright images, and inverted images.  This style of ray tracing has three standard light rays (1, 2, and 3) that go from a fixed position on the reflected object to the mirror in a certain fashion as follows:  ray 1 is drawn parallel to the normal line, and is then reflected off into the focal point; ray two is draw through the focal point, and then reflected off of the mirror parallel to the normal line; ray 3 is drawn from the figure to the center of curvature.  As we draw these ray-tracing models we write down the characteristics of the images formed.  After mastering these concepts we learned the quantitative application to optics.  We discussed and determined how to conclude image characteristics based on our numbers we solved for.  After this we learned about Snell's Law of image refraction.  We then moved on into lenses and talked about the uses of lenses for people with poor vision and how glasses work.  This was particularly fascinating when Cyrus, one of my classmates who is a very fascinated and driven by studies in the brain, gave a presentation from his blog on how the eye works.  We learned about diverging and converging lenses, and learned how to do ray-tracing diagrams for these as well.  We learned that the characteristics of the images lenses produce are very different from how we call the characteristics of images formed by mirrors.  This was a very informative unit full with information and plenty more to study, discover, and explore in the future.

In this unit we covered a lot of material in a very timely manner and I found lenses very difficult.  I thought that I had understood mirrors very well, but when we began studying lenses I was fascinated, but a little bit overwhelmed by the differences.  I found converting quantitative numbers in problems difficult to turn into characteristics and apply them.  

My problem solving skills have become even better in the recent months.  In this unit I was able to draw diagrams that helped me even when they were not asked for.  In my geometry class I have applied this technique of approaching problems and solving them, as I found both this unit and my geometry class very similar.  Especially when I had a hard time answering a question that was more qualitative in more general circumstances, I found that by drawing a diagram I was able to understand the problem more clearly.  This unit not only taught me about optics, but also introduced me to a whole new way of dividing difficult problems into smaller, easier ones.

-Eric

Parabolic Beauty

In Parabolic Beauty, we can see the parabolic motion of water from a garden hose.  The pressure which drives the water through the hose and causes the initial water velocity and is derived from a water reservoir elevated above the level of the hose.  The gravitational attraction of the water to the earth is based on the mass of the water and the earth.  The potential energy is converted into kinetic energy when the water flows downward through the pipe system to the hose nozzle.  The velocity of water in the horizontal direction is constant.  In contrast, the gravitational force of the earth, constantly accelerates the vertical component of the water’s motion.  At the apex the water's vertical motion is zero.  Likewise, when the water reaches the level of the hose the vertical component of velocity is equal to the vertical component of velocity when it left the hose, except that the vector is in the opposite direction.  In addition, the beautiful red color of the roses and the verdant green foliage are examples of natural pigment reflection.  In the case of the roses, the pigment that makes the roses red absorbs other colors of light, and reflects the red wavelengths of visible light causing them to appear red.  

Einstein Quote (Response to the Responses)

In my personal opinion, as of now, I think that school is a great place to be introduced to accepted knowledge, and touch on topics that are required in the curriculum.  In my formal education I have been exposed to many new topics and concepts that are very important to further learning and discovery, as well as everyday life.  Through my classes I have learned very much about English, Science, Spanish, History, and Math, but much of this learning, in my opinion, has involved a lot of pure memorization, "busy work," and strict methods of problem solving.  In fact, Einstein had the same accusation of modern education.

Similarly to Einstein, I think that all of the "busy work," and memorization has been done only to do well on the assessments, but it has not actually helped me in any other sector.  Einstein was a master of solving problems, and I think that problem solving is a skill that does not come naturally.  In my learning in math over the years, the problems introduced to us have merely been execution and routine.  I commonly find myself doing the same problems with different variations.  Although this is very important, I do not believe that this should be the responsibility of the teacher.  I think that in school teachers should introduce a topic and be accessible for assistance, and extra challenges to improve our problem solving skills.  I am forced to ask myself, "In modern education is it possible to educate the entire youth population without forcing students to do "work"?"  "What is the responsibility of the curriculum for advanced and deeper studies?"  "Is deeper knowledge the responsibility of the student?"

In education, you get from your classes from what challenges you take upon yourself. Students have the opportunity to take honors and AP classes, excel in the class, and complete the work thoroughly.  In one of my previous reflections I mentioned that one of my goals as a student has been to not only complete the assigned work, but also fully grasp the topic.  This takes a great amount of discipline as I also have great amounts of other work to complete, and as the hours of work become greater.  To a certain extent I think that the school system has forced the student to learn knowledge that the student is not interested in,     and this causes for behavior issues that disrupt the rest of the class from advancing in our studies, and cause students to lose focus and determination in school.  At the same time teachers give students such a burden of brainless busy work that when the teacher has them in class the student has trouble focusing, and get behind in the class.

The reason why schools teach students this style of learning in order to succeed in academics is very valid.  If there is not work imposed on the students they conclude that the student will not learn independently.  As a society, the majority of the youth population would not choose to sit through certain classes, or have the desire to grasp topics.  As a nation we value the importance of education for many reasons.  Having an educated population helps our economy, makes our nation more productive, keeps crime and poverty to a minimum, and also provides opportunity to be successful.

One idea that I have had is what would happen if we let students study in certain fields of study more heavily?  To be honest I am more excited to learn in certain classes.  One conversation my study hall had involved three categories. First being the information we know, second being the information we do not know, and thirdly the information we know that we do not know.  This conversation we had recently caused me to be more appreciative of the classes where I am not so thrilled about learning.  We had a discussion about broadening the category of the things that we know we do not know.  We discussed how the smaller this is "the more scary of a person we are."  Although in whatever field of study we pursue we may not ever need some of our imposed knowledge, it makes us less ignorant of other studies that we now know we do not know.

In conclusion, I believe that the school system does a fairly good job of educating.  The current solution to these problems is by offering these advanced courses for the student who is excited to take on challenges, and deepen their knowledge.

Einstein Quote

"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."

After studying Einstein in my younger years I have learned that Albert Einstein was a trouble maker in school and commonly did not do his work using methods that were taught, or he did not do the work at all.  In fact Einstein thought that organized education was rather silly as it narrowed his ability to explore more areas of learning.  Einstein was a very bright kid and proved his genius later on in his life through studies in science, theology, and physics.  Einstein was never shy to take on challenges and to think out complicated thoughts and problems.  In fact he once said "It's not that I'm so smart , it's just that I stay with problems longer ."  I think that in Einstein's rare case school was not an opportunity to become very complex in thinking, but to learn more about the things that he knew that he didn't know that made him less ignorant and more driven to explore.  Obviously Einstein was frustrated with formal education and thought that it was a mere waste of his effort, but I do believe that school introduced him to concepts for that which he was able to deepen his studies and explore independently. 

Group 6: Ski Jumping

For Group 6's project we used a glogster and a pixton to explain our topic of Ski Jumping in the winter Olympics. Enjoy!!


Below is a Pixton. It is a digital tool used to help to create online comic strips. Our group used it to explain how physics relates to Ski Jumping as well as the winners for the 2010 winter Olympics.




Below is a glogster, which is a digital took which helps to create an online collage, being used to explain and introduce ski jumping as a sport (including rules, equipment, and even two video)


Ski Jumping Glogster




Attributions:



1. (ski jumping images) Flickrstrom author: johnny9s

2. (ski jumping videos) Youtube

3. (information) www.abc-of-skiing.com, www.wikipedia.org,and

www.canada.com/sports