Canadian Astronaut, Colonel Chris Hadfield recently published a book, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth." It is an interesting read, and it was his interview on NPR prompted me to buy the book. If you are interested in the NPR interview, click here.
Here is a quote from the interview,
"I've been so lucky to have done two spacewalks. If you looked at your
wristwatch I was outside for about 15 hours, which is about 10 times
around the world. ..."
A book review is worth the 5 semester points toward your Science final grade. This translates to a half a grade increase. Please feel free to contact me for more details.
"That flow, that spark, that crown, you looking at the King of the Jungle now..."
- Flo Rida
* Here's my suggestion,
1] Go to the bottom of this video and start up Flo Rida's song in the YouTube link below.
2] Then come back up here and scroll through the pictures.
3] When you are done, play the video on running, located here at the top.
4] Enjoy
I attended the Cross Country event this past Saturday,
I had a chance to see our runners, and I've Got a Good Feeling...
They have a lot of heart,
and Coach T. is doing an awesome job.
I decided to start posting some videos that have to deal with the science of running.
The video at the top of this post was created by Ken Taylor, aka "The Speed Doctor." This man knows about running, and his videos offer excellent pointers for running that are based on scientific principles.
I will be posting more videos that cover the Physics of running plus other sports, the science behind them, and how to optimize movement with the aim of increasing efficiency while reducing the risks of injury.
Check with Coach T. or any of the CC team members to find out where and when their upcoming competition is scheduled to take place.
Make sure you get out to see them, and show your support.
On occasion, one of my students will offer up a suggestion of something interesting to post. This one comes to us on recommendation from one of my favorite students. Thank you Mr. Mini Fitz!
"And so I say to you, trust yourself - and believe. Whatever happens, don't give up." William Kamkwamba
This is a fascinating story about a 14 year-old young man - William Kamkwamba - from Malawi, Africa whose ambition to learn about electricity brought about tremendous changes in his life, the lives of his family and his community.
He also wrote a book about the experience in, "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind" - I picked up the book for my e-reader for $2.99. That's a bargain, and it is a good read.
Note: This book qualifies as a 5 point maximum extra
credit paper for your semester's final Science grade - that's a half a grade added to your final grade.
However, it must meet the following criteria: 1500 word minimum (to 10,000
words maximum) to include a summary of the video and an exposition that
discusses a topic of your choice mentioned in the video. Make sure it
is copy edited, spell checked and set-up in a word document.
Should you elect to take this challenge, your essay on this post ought to be fun, and rewarding for you. If you take any other approach to it, or if it ceases to be fun, then you are doing something wrong.
I also wonder if this is something that might be repeated in Smart Lab...
I want you students to realize that there is a world beyond Albuquerque. It can be seen if you get yourselves a good education. And, when you do see it, so much of it will make sense to you because of the investment you have made into your acquisition of knowledge - for the sake of learning.
May all that you are learning become a contagion for everyone around you. More than that, may you be filled with life-long curiosity and a deep sense of wonder because you are educated. I hope you are sharing these posts with your family and friends.
The good news is you will one day make decisions about your world. The bad news is that one day, you will have to make decisions about your world. You will be held responsible for the decisions you make.
Being educated enough to know how to spot a miracle and make a miracle happen "in a very short time-line" will be to your benefit.
Something to ponder:
What does this mean?
CO2 = P x E x S x C
Please discuss.
Note: This video qualifies as a 5 point maximum extra
credit paper for your semester's final Science grade - that's a half a grade added to your final grade.
However, it must meet the following criteria: 1500 word minimum (to 10,000
words maximum) to include a summary of the video and an exposition that
discusses a topic of your choice mentioned in the video. Make sure it
is copy edited, spell checked and set-up in a word document.
Should
you elect to take this challenge, your essay on this post ought to be
fun, and rewarding for you. If you take any other approach to it, or if
it ceases to be fun, then you are doing something wrong.
As I watch these dancers, I see the intersection between Art and Science. There is so much Physics going on in here that it is mind blowing.* You can click on the pictures below for greater detail.
Some physics and mathematical concepts in these dance steps include:
1] center of mass
2] gravity
3] levers and simple machines
4] rotational dynamics
5] kinetic vs. potential energy
6] Resolution of force vectors
7] friction
Moreover, these performers moves would be greatly helpful for animators,
engineers and robot designers. The Human body is so complex, and what
these guys are doing would take up lots of computer space to study and
replicate.
The two drawings of Break Dance moves posted above were created a by French artist, Florian Nicolle for Volnorez dance school. Human movement is not easy explain and understand. Using math, to explain the physics behind it however,
it can be done.
For those of you with ambitions of heading to M.I.T after graduation, here is a glimpse of what they are doing...
Worried about how many megapixels on your cell phone has? How about having a camera that is capable of looking around corners? What do you think about video recording at the rate of 1 trillion frames per second, and seeing just what a photon does - or perhaps even observing what Einstein imagined when he thought about light behaving like a wave, and a particle?
There is a reason for everything you are studying. You just don't see it now.
Albert Einstein cautioned us that, "Everything should be made as simple as possible but no simpler."
His advice echos a commonly practiced principal in science called, "Occam's razor."
Keep
this principal in mind whenever you approach a problem. This strategy
will also prove helpful in the future when you are designing experiments
and explaining how, or why something is the way it is. It is even a
helpful tool to use when dealing with whatever problems you encounter in
life.
Here is a pretty good explanation of the concept:
"Ockham's razor - also written, 'occam' is attributed to the fourteenth century Friar, William of Ockham, has become the hallmark of scientific theories ever since.
Ockham stated that 'Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.' This has been taken to mean that whenever two or more explanations exist for a given phenomenon, the simpler one is generally preferable.
In other words, scientists use Occam's 'razor' to cut away any superfluous elements of a theory preferring to leave only the simplest explanation necessary, for logic dictates that the simpler answer tends to be more preferable than an overly complicated one. This little rule is useful in any logical situation, even beyond the realm of science."
- From: Physics - Everyday Science at the Speed of Light, 2010
For your viewing pleasure, I have posted this video of wingsuit flyers. As you view this video, from the science and mathematics perspectives, you will have an appreciation for:
1] The Physics concept of Acceleration due to Gravity
2] The phenomenon of airfoils
3] The phenomenon of friction
4] Wind resistance
5] Fluid dynamics
6] Resolution of vectors
7] Mass-vs-weight-vs-density
8] Force = mass x Acceleration
9] Kinetic - vs - Potential Energy
10] The difference between velocity and acceleration
I could go on, but you get the point. Here is a nice explanation;
