Journal Entry 4/25

Sorry this blog is so late...when I checked the website, no assignment was posted. Here's my work though:

(1) If you were to pour some orange juice into a glass, the glass is acting as a force of the juice. The glass does not shatter or fall in on itself, so clearly the force of the glass on the juice is counteracted by some other force. This means that the orange juice must have a force on the glass. For orange juice to have a force on something else, it must be made up of tiny particles that are in constant motion. This makes sense because I know that if I were to leave that glass outside, when I came back the juice would have evaporated from the glass. If the particles inside were not moving, how would that orange juice have evaporated? It wouldn't have. I am confident in my belief that the collisions of the particles within the juice, which are moving, act as a force against the glass and prevent the glass from falling in on itself.

(2) I know that gases are made of very small particles, in constant motion, with a lot of empty space between them. If I were to position 5 people at different spots on the floor, then spray, consecutively, two fragrances into the air, the person closest to the initial spray would smell the fragrances first and the person farthest away would smell it last. Every single person, regardless of their position, would smell the fragrances. This is because the empty spaces in the air take in the particles of fragrance. The fact that people in different locations all eventually smell the fragrance proves that gases are in constant motion. The fact that fragrances (plural) can be sprayed into the air proves that there is empty space in said air. If there were no spaces, then the fragrance wouldn't go into the air at all and no one would smell it.

(3) I know that liquids are also made of small moving particles because of evaporation. When a liquid is spread across a piece of paper, that spot gradually and slowly shrinks. The liquid particles do not go into the desk, they jump off the paper into the empty spaces in air. I also know that the empty space within a liquid is present, but less than that of air. If I was to combine two liquids, let's say 50 ml of blue liquid and 50 ml of green liquid, these two would form one liquid that was slightly less than 100 ml, like 96 ml. This proves that some particles of one liquid go into the empty spaces of the particles of the other liquid. The fact that the two colors mesh into one also proves that the particles are moving (hitting off of one another) and falling into empty spaces. There are less empty spaces than in gas though because there is only so much additions to the water that you can have, before there's too many.

(4) When you add heat to a system, the particles begin to move faster and they hit off of each other more frequently. For example, when you put a pot of water on the stove and then turn it on, you are adding heat to the system. Initially, the water is still. With time though, the water begins to boil. The molecules of water are hitting off of each other so much (with the addition of heat) that they begin to break through the surface. In contrast, when a substance is cooled, the particles begin to slow down. This is turn lowers the frequency of their collisions. If you take a glass of water and put it into the freezer, it will eventually turn to ice. This is because the cold is slowing down the particles to a point where when they collide with one another they begin to stick together, rather than bounding off. These connections reduce the area of the water and turn it into a solid, rather than a liquid.

Journal Entry 3/27

What type(s) of energy can be identified in the system in the initial state?

There is elastic potential energy in the system because the spring is being compressed.

What type(s) of energy can be identified in the system in its final state?

In the final state of this system, the car has gravitational potential energy (more so than in the before state).

Is there any work done on this system? How do you know?

No work was done on the system because there were no external forces influencing the objects.

How does the total energy of the system in the initial state compare to the total energy of the system in the final state?

The total energy of the system in the initial state equals the total energy in the final system. The elastic potential energy was converted into kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy. The gravitational potential energy is larger than the kinetic energy because the car is at the peak of the track. Therefore it is at the highest point away from the ground. The kinetic energy cause the car to move though, hence its presence in the final state.

Journal Entry 3/14

Can a light object have a large momentum? Give two examples and explain.
Can a heavy object have a small momentum? Give two examples and explain.

Momentum is directly related to both mass and velocity. The size of momentum is large or small in relation to its size and speed. If a light object is moving extremely fast, like a tiny chihuahua running at top speed, its momentum will be large in terms of its small size, but in the scheme of things it will not be that big. If the little dog weighed 0.5 pounds and was running at 5 mph (which is probably really fast for a chihuahua), it's momentum would still only be 2.5. That's not very large. If that same chihuahua was dropped out of a plan however (and fell at 125 miles per hour) it's momentum would be 62.5. Although this momentum is much larger than when the dog was running, it is still not that big. The same thing goes heavier objects. It is nearly impossible for them to have small momentums. When mass is so large, it doesn't matter how slow the object is moving, their momentum is still larger than fast moving light objects. If there was a cement truck (75,000 pounds) moving along the road at 1 mph, the truck would still have a momentum of 75,000. The only time when a heavy object could have a small momentum would be if it was at rest and had no momentum.

Can a small Mini Cooper and a large Cadillac ever have the same momentum? What would that look like? Explain.

A Mini Cooper and a large Cadillac could have the same momentum. A Mini Cooper weighs about 2,700 pounds and a large Cadillac weighs about 7,000 pounds. Lets say that the Cooper was speeding along the highway, going 90 mph. Under the overpass of the highway, a large Cadillac is driving along the residential road at 35 mph. Because moment is calculated by multiplying mass and velocity, both the Mini Cooper and the Cadillac have a momentum of 243,000. They are equal!

Journal Entry 3/07

As a freshman, my goal was to graduate from High School with a firm and resolute idea of what I would do with the rest of my life. Looking back on this idea as a senior, I realize that my goal was unrealistic. I don't think it's possible to plan your future. There is no way to predict what obstacles I will face or what triumphs I will enjoy. Although the High School did not fulfill my freshman objective, it went above and beyond that. Pequannock Township High School opened my eyes to the many wonderful components of this world. I have always tended to have a rather rigid perception of the world; success has always been equated with a high-profile job as a lawyer or a doctor. Through the teachers and students I have met though, I've come to realize that there is so much more to life than just monetary prowess and fame. Teachers should push their students to continually search for the "truth and beauty" you so often talk of. By exposing kids to a diverse body of knowledge, the High School will go a long way in changing students lives for the better. In response to the teachers actions, students need to remain open-minded at all times and be willing to embrace things outside of their comfort zone. I am fortunate to have encountered teachers who have changed my way of looking at things, and because I held on to these insights I am all the better for it.

Four years from now I hope to be preparing to graduate from a distinguished university (such as Cornell!!) and be setting my sights on either law school or other graduate work. As I truly enter the "real world" I hope that I find a job that will satisfy all of my desires. I am dedicated to making the world a better place, however cliché that may sound. It is important "to be the change you wish to see in the world", as Ghandi said, and I know that I want to live in a society with an improved set of values. We need to come together and disregard all our differences so that everyone can benefit from the wonders of this world. At this point in my life I'll probably be dreading payments on loans and wishing for millions of dollars, but I'll still be true to myself. I know that I will be a much more diversified person. Right now I live in the bubble that is Pequannock. After college, I will have met people from all over the world, and I know that their experiences and their beliefs will all serve as influences on me!

Ten years from now I see myself completed with my graduate studies and securing a position at a law firm or in some corporation. I will also be working a lot on networking. I want to stay in contact with the people I meet at college because I know that they will be crucial when I decide to enter into the political arena. Because I will not have been out of college for very long, I probably will not be in a serious leadership position at this point. I will however be dedicating myself to my profession, while again remaining true to myself. I feel that I have very strong convictions and I would not violate them for anything. My goal is to not get caught up in the drama that seems to be constantly corrupting the world. I know that I will be able to evaluate myself through other people. I will contact friends from high school and get together with them. If they feel that I have changed greatly, in a bad way, from our last encounter, I will know that I did not achieve my goal.

Twenty years from now I will be testing the waters of the political pool. It has always been/always will be my dream to become President of the United States. I know that I cannot graduate from college and head to Washington, intent on securing the position as Leader of the Free World. After I have established a stable foundation upon which to live, and have begun my family, I will take the time to do what I really want, serve the people. I see so many things that are wrong with society, and I know that I am not alone in my beliefs. I hope that by the time I am ready to become a representative of the people, their faith has been restored in our government. If it has not, then there will really need to be drastic changes, many of which will hopefully come with my assistance. As I evaluate my life twenty years from now, I know that I will continually ask myself whether the world is a better place because of me. If it is not, I will need to reevaluate my priorities, because I am determined to make this land that has fostered me, great for those around me and those to come. Looking back on high school, I think that I will remember all of the laughter that I experienced. I don't think a single day has gone by when I haven't been smiling. I have felt some of the purest happiness amidst the walls of Pequannock Township High School, thanks to both my friends and my teachers. If I am ever feeling down I know that I can look back on my high school years, and they will lift up my spirits.

If I were to send a message to myself, twenty years from now, I would say, don't forget the calm you found in high school. It's so easy to get caught up in the stresses of life and to blow things out of proportion. With every dilemma you face, take a deep breath and search for the best solution. If you have a problem, that problem remains whether you are screaming or whether you are staying calm and addressing it. Also, don't ever lose sight of the goals that you set for yourself years ago. The journey of your life may have taken you down a rather unexpected path, but you still have the potential for greatness!

Journal Entry 2/14

1) The three experiments mentioned have prompted the discovery that circular motion is the result of an unbalanced force in the direction of the center of an object.
--> Bowling Ball: When the ball is rolled in a straight line, an unbalanced force is necessary to change its path of motion. Rapid taps on the side of the ball cause it to move in a circle. This tap is a force toward the center of the object. The path of motion that ensues is circular.
--> Bucket: When the bucket is swung in a circle, the water does not come out. The rope is an unbalanced force pulling on the bucket. Because the rope is pulling towards the center, the bucket moves in a circle and the water stays inside.
--> Air puck: If the air puck is turned on it will glide in a straight line. When it is attached to a string anchored to the floor, however, it begins to move in a circle. The string is an unbalanced force on the puck. Because this net force is pulling towards the of the object, said object moves in a circle.

2) When a small ball is rolled inside a ring-shaped track, the same pattern is observable. The track acts as an unbalanced force on the ball, pushing inward on this object. This causes the ball to move in a circle. The notion that the track is an unbalanced force can be tested if a piece of the track is removed. When a piece of the track is removed, the unbalanced force is removed from that portion and the ball leaves the track in a straight line.

Journal Entry 2/1 Continued

Newton's Third Law: F a on b = - F b on a

1. You are seated on a bench. The earth exerts a force on you, and the bench exerts a force on you. Do these two forces represent a Newton’s Third Law force pair? Explain.

In this situation, both forces are being exerted on me, which means they violate Newton's Third Law and cannot be force pairs.

2. A pen sits on a desk. The desk exerts a force on the pen, and the pen exerts a force on the desk. Do these two forces represent a Newton’s Third Law force pair? Explain.

In this case, the pen is object A and the desk is object B. Both are exerting a opposite force on the other, making them a Newton's Third Law force pair.

3. You pull on a rope. The rope pulls on a wagon. Do these two forces represent a Newton’s Third Law force pair? Explain.

Although there are two forces being exerted here, they are being exerted on different objects. Object A (me) is pulling on object B (rope). Object B (rope) however is pulling on Object C (wagon). These forces do not support Newton's Third Law.

4. A book slides across a tabletop. The book exerts a downward force on the table, and the table exerts a frictional force on the book opposite the direction of its motion. Do these two forces represent a Newton’s Third Law force pair? Explain.

Although there are two forces here, the book's downward force on the table and the frictional force of the table on the book, they do not correlate because one is a vertical force and the other is a horizontal force.

In my original post, I continually remarked that an object could not be moving without an unbalanced force. This is a false statement. Through recent lessons I have to come to realize that an unbalanced force is only necessary for initial movement. Once an object is in motion, there does not need to be an unbalanced force. For example, after a bowling ball is rolled and it reaches a constant speed, there is no unbalanced force on it, but it is still moving.

Journal Entry 2/7

Describe in words how the magnitude of the frictional force that the table's surface exerts on the block varies in opposition tot he forces exerted by the spring pulling on the block.

As the force exerted by the spring increases, the amount of friction exerted on the object by the surface increases. once the force of the spring overcomes the force of the friction however, both forces lessen. When there is constant motion, there is constant friction. These support Newton's Third Law which says that the Force of object A on object B is equal and opposite to the Force of object B on object A.