Week 4

 

The big question addressed in lab, and a description of what you did.

In lab, we learned about pendulums and the science behind them. We did this by building our own pendulums with a pencil, string, and a paper clip. Then we tested how many swings we got with different weights and learned that the weight of the pendulum does not affect the speed. We also talked about the science of the wild, and personal development, and did an experiment with mixing colored water. We did the color wheel to teach students how to do experiments. 

A description of what you learned in Thursday's lecture.

In Thursday's lecture, we learned more about pendulums and learned why the weight of it does not affect the speed. The weight does not matter, because while a heavier mass will pull more on gravity bigger masses are harder to accelerate and therefore the two effects cancel each other out and make weight irrelevant to the speed of the swing. We also talked more about friction and Isaac Newton's law which says that an object in motion stays in motion until acted upon. We saw this demonstrated through a video of two guys playing air hockey.

Answer questions about the weekly textbook reading: What did you learn?

I learned through the reading that a pendulum swing switches between using potential and kinetic energy. It was also a good recap on pendulums, however, most of what it went over was not new as we learned a lot about pendulums in lab and lecture. 


What was most helpful? I think the most helpful thing this week was the poll Jeff did on why we thought the weight of a swing did not matter because he further explained why and how the gravity from weight is canceled out by the slow acceleration that happens with a higher mass. 

What do you need more information on? I think this week was well explained the only information I feel that was slacking is how to get students interested in this type of lesson. 

What questions/concerns/comments do you have? I do not have any questions currently. 

 

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