wat i lernd (first semester)

I have learned many things during this semester of physics (spelling was not one of them). So far we have study 6 units of physics. Some of these units covered are Kinematics, Vectors (2-D Kinematics), Forces, Newton's Laws, Momentum & Collisions, and Work & Energy. Learning all these things are important because they help us to know why certain things are the way they are. All this physics information is important, but we would not have learned them well without "life lessons" and without songs.
        Life lessons are the sort of random stories and information Mr. Blake gives us that will benefit us in certain situations. One of the first life lessons he shared with us had to do with fighting. If we were to get into a fight then we should put our keys in our hand for two reasons. The first to increase the mass of our hand so that we have more momentum so we can do more damage. The second reason was so the keys can stick in between our fingers and we can scratch up the person. If it ever came down to a situation like that I would remember this. I find these life lessons interesting and useful in the "real world".
       The songs in class are exciting yet educational. Without the songs I would not have remembered to bring my beloved calculator to class everyday, or I would not know my SohCahToa, or that weight = mass x gravity and that if you have the mass than multiply by 10! These songs are what I learned in physics this year.
        The last thing I learned this year is that procrastination is no bueno. I have learned that turning everything on time is of the utmost importance. Although I have turned in many things late, I have learned that turning it in on time will give me even more points. So...I have to stop my procrastination and finish my work before the day of class.

        The picture for this final blog of the first semester is of Chayse's and my ornament we made for the christmas tree. This ornament, named Oscar the Ornament, will forever remind me of all the things I have learned in physics this year. It will also win the ornament competition for period 6.

Blog #15

ENERGY!! The last unit we are going to work on this first semester of physics is about ENERGY! So far we only learned about 2 types of energy. Energy of Position (Potential energy) and Energy of Motion (Kinetic energy). The two formulas we can use to find potential energy are gravitational potential (PEg) = mass x gravity x height (mgh) and spring potential (PEs) = 1/2 x spring constant (N/m) x distance squared(distance stretched). The kinetic energy formula is 1/2 x mass x velocity squared. We also learned that energy in = energy out. Thus energy is conserved. Using these formulas you can find out how much potential or kinetic energy you have. When energy changes it is called work. Work is found by multiplying force by displacement (Newtons x meters). The unit for work is Joules. The rate at which work is completed (done son) is known as power. The faster you do work the more power or the more work you do the more power. If you want more power than you need to do more work, or to do work faster.