Payment for Science Classes

Hi folks,

Just a reminder, that payment is due for the final session of classes. The cost is $250 for the full 2 hour class and $180 for the 1.5 hour class.

If you wish to mail your payments, my address is 3105 Whitfield Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful spring-like weather.

Jim Mueller

2/20 Physics update and homework due 3/6

Hi Folks,

Today we got into the concept of Potential and Kinetic energy and how they change into each other.  We also discussed energy efficiency and conservation of energy.

For homework this week:

Find the energy the ramp stole from the ball (if you haven't already finished that in class). 

Find the energy efficiency of the ramp.  Take the work out (the energy the box was hit with) divided by the work in (the potential energy the ball started with) and multiply that by 100 to convert it to a percentage.

Read the Potential and Kinetic Energy chapter in the eBook

Open the following simulation and use it to answer the following questions in the .pdf.

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-skate-park

Physics Class Canceled

Hi folks,

I've got freezing rain happening here as we speak so I think we need to confirm and cancel the class.

Be safe and be warm out there everyone.

See you next week.

Jim Mueller

Update on Physics Class this week

Hi folks,

I'll email tomorrow with a confirmation, however, my wife reminded me that we may not have power tomorrow if the ice storm is as bad as it's supposed to be. If you DO NOT hear from me tomorrow please assume that I have no power and as such I am probably not traveling either.

Again, just to clarify, if you do not hear from me, there will be no class tomorrow.

Off to fill some water jugs. :)

Be safe every one.

Jim Mueller

Weather looking iffy for Physics class

Hi folks,

I just checked the weather (and looked out the window) and noticed that things may not be looking good for road conditions tomorrow. According to Weather.com, we are supposed to be having either wintry mix, snow or freezing rain until 4:00 tomorrow afternoon. I'll email again tomorrow to confirm but just wanted to let you know that we may need to cancel class tomorrow.

Stay warm and safe everyone!

Jim Mueller

Weather looking iffy for Physics class

Hi folks,

I just checked the weather (and looked out the window) and noticed that things may not be looking good for road conditions tomorrow. According to Weather.com, we are supposed to be having either wintry mix, snow or freezing rain until 4:00 tomorrow afternoon. I'll email again tomorrow to confirm but just wanted to let you know that we may need to cancel class tomorrow.

Stay warm and safe everyone!

Jim Mueller

.PDF for homework

Hi folks,

Looks like the .pdf for this week's homework didn't come through for some reason. Here it is.

2/6 Physics update and homework due 2/13

Hi folks,

Today we continued our investigation into simple machines and their relation to work. We did some work with pulleys and discovered the inverse relationship between distance and force.

For homework this week:

Read the pulley chapter in the book.

Take a look at the enclosed .pdf and do all the questions at the end.

Also, answer the following questions.

1. With the pulleys, how did work out relate to work in?

2. With the levers, did work out relate to work in? It should have. So what wasn't measured that caused work out to not relate to work in in the same way as the pulleys?

3. What relationship did force have in regards to distance as you worked with the pulleys?

4. As you increased the number of pulleys, what effect did that have on the effort force? What effect did it have on the effort distance?

5. a. If you were lifting a load that required a force of 10N with one pulley, what effort force would be required?
b. Same question, but now you're using 2 pulleys?
c. How about 10 pulleys?

6. a. If you were lifting that load 1 meter, what would the work in distance be for one pulley?
b. 2 pulleys?
c. 10 pulleys?