Week 17 Reflection

This week in physics, our class focused on projectiles and their motion. To do this, we experimented with different objects launched in two different directions. We looked at the landing times of an object dropped and the other thrown to the side. It was concluded that both objects would land at the same time due to their gravitational pulls acting on their inertia. Their pull from the earth differs, however, it is needed to overcome their inertia, causing them to hit at the same time. We did this in the classroom with two balls and on the roof launching the rockets. We found it to result in the same position with both circumstances.

We also looked at the speed of the projectiles and how they have horizontal and vertical tendencies acting upon them. The object continues going straight due to its inertia, or tendency to continue what it's doing, but it starts to gradually slope downward due to the earth. However, when the projectile is in motion, it moves at a constant velocity. I also learned that the time it takes divided by the horizontal range equals the initial launching speed. Thus, the change in velocity over the change it time calculates the acceleration of the object on the ramp.

On Friday, we were to have our final assessment of the semester, but instead of having a normal assessment on paper, each group was assigned a number to complete on whiteboards. This way the class could discuss the answers an show they came to them. This personally took a lot of pressure off of me and prepared me for the midterm. For the midterm on Friday, I plan to complete the review study guide on google drive and put as min as I can on my note shirt. Due to studying for my other classes, I have not started my shirt yet, but it will get done.

Wish me luck on my exams! :)

Week 16 Reflection

This week in physics we expanded and experimented with free falling objects, the velocity at which they fall, and at what position they are at in specific seconds during the fall. We reviewed that objects fall at the same speed despite their differing weights due to the earth's gravitational force of -10 m/s/s. In addition, we also continued drawing position vs. time graphs, velocity vs. time graphs, acceleration vs. time graphs, and motion maps. We discovered that an object falling is speeding up in the negative direction with the velocity getting more negative and a constant acceleration.

We then looked at the path pattern of rockets being propelled into the air, which have the same tendencies of a free falling object. Because a free falling object creates a quadratic shape on a graph, it is half of a parabola. This means that the launching portion of the travel is symmetric to the ending portion. The rocket starts with an abundant velocity and continues to lose speed as it reaches its peak. At the maximum height, the rocket stops momentarily before reversing to a negative direction. As the rocket fall, it accelerates each second and covers more distance than the second before. As the rocket hits the ground, its velocity is equivalent to its starting velocity when launched.

On Thursday, we were able to go outside for the rocket experiment, in which we were able to launch rockets of different strength. It was interesting to see how long it took for the rocket to reach its peak and then hit the ground. My groups rocket, which was a super powered, took 7.1 seconds, which means that it took 3.55 seconds for the rocket to reach its peak. It was an exciting experiment and I enjoyed it. On Friday (today), we took our assessment on this unit. I though it went pretty well, but there were some parts that I was a but confused on. But, I cane arm further and reassess next week if need, so no worries.