Thursday, October 3, 2013
Week 6 Blog, Due Sunday, October 6th by 11:00 pm
This week we started our unit on uniform acceleration. Think about the two labs we did (the one with the car and the metronome and then the motion detector lab). What do you remember from physics last year about uniform or constant acceleration? What problems did you encounter in the lab? What concepts or graphs are the most confusing? I know that we just started this unit, so I am not expecting anyone to be an expert already, but I would like to know how comfortable you are with the topic right now. Remember, to receive full credit for the blog, you must post an original comment AND reply to someone else's comment. If you have any problems, please contact me by email or on edmodo. Happy Blogging!
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I don't remember a lot from last year just the acceleration is f=ma. I personally am not very comfortable with the topic but we are doing a similar thin in calculus. The confusing parts about the lab was knowing if the velocity was positive or negative.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The concept does relate to what we're doing in Calculus. The most confusing part of this lab was the Velocity Vs. Time graph. Whether if it was negative or positive really confuse me.
DeleteYes, distinguishing if it's positive or negative is confusing. Hopefully more practice will get me to understand more clearly.
DeleteI agree with you Kim, I think it's confusing knowing whether it's positive or negative.
DeleteI agree, we couldn't tell how the velocity was positive was neg or pos! And when we thought our prediction was right we ended up being wrong :( but once ms. Ego showed us, we started to figure out how to do it and actually realized it was exactly like what we've been doing in calculus
DeleteDistinguishing whether the velocity is positive or negative is basically the same as in calculus, if it's under the x-axis it is negative and if it's over the x-axis it is positive. The signs (+) or (-) represent direction left or right.
DeleteUniform acceleration is the change in velocity by an equal amount at every interval. The one problem I had with the motion detector lab was trying to determine the direction and magnitude of the velocity, but at the end of the class the concept finally stuck to me. I would say determining the velocity based on position graphs was the most confusing part, at first, but with practice, or in this case experimentation, it should become easier.
ReplyDeleteSame here. The concept started becoming much cleared towards the end of class. For me, it was hard determining whether acceleration would be positive or negative. I though acceleration would be negative whenever it was slowing down and positive when it was speeding up, but it varies. I just remember that acceleration is the slop of velocity. and it can be determined much easier that way.
DeleteI don't really remember much about acceleration from Physics last year. However, the concept we're learning in physics at the moment relates a lot to what we're learning in Calculus. The lab we did in class was fairly easy but the only problem we as a group had was graphing the Velocity vs. Time graph. We argued with each other and each others thoughts made the concept more confusing. The Graph Ms. Ego Showed us at the end of the class really gave us more indication into what we needed to do.
ReplyDeleteYep it's awesome seeing how calculus can be used to understand physics. We have Isaac Newton to thank for that.
DeleteI agree the group discussion with the lab really confused us more. However the graph ms ego showed us really helped understand but I think we were overthinking it.
Deletemost definetly that group discussion really confused me and threw me off !
DeleteWhat little I remember from last year is that constant acceleration involves the four kinematic equations, which are only used when there is a constant acceleration. This is very similar to what I learned in Calculus, so it makes it easier to comprehend. On the physics concept itself, I am kind of confused, but when i apply the logic I've learned from Calculus, it makes it easier.
ReplyDeleteTrue, the calculus material we're learning in Hockman's is very helpful and puts everything into perspective. The derivative of a function really helps understand what the instantaneous velocity is of an object at any given time. Also, the second derivative helps determine the acceleration at any given time.
DeleteI honestly don't remember a lot from last year. The lab with the metronome was fairly easy however the other one was not. Graphing velocity vs time is difficult when trying to figure out if it's positive or negative.
ReplyDeleteI also have difficulty graphing the tvelocity vs time
DeleteI also had many difficulties graphing them. It wasn't til Ms. Ego graphed the chart on the board that i understood how to graph it.
DeleteI don't recall going over uniform acceleration last year but if it's exactly like what we do in calculus then I might be able to understand it better with a bit more of practice.
ReplyDeleteI agree I dont remember going over uniform acceleration in physics last year. yes, calculus does help me in the class, but at the same time it confuses me. So I will try to not relate them too much unless I have to.
DeleteI would rather relate it more to calculus, because that is just taking the derivative of velocity at graphing it. I don't like graphing acceleration based on another graph, it confuses me.
DeleteI truly agree with you. Over tinge we'll be able to understand this much more.
DeleteI momentarily forgot a couple of the kinematic concepts that I learned in physics last year but it’s coming back now. I recall constant acceleration and the lab over it was some good review. If there’s any problem that I’m encountering then it would definitely be determining when an object’s acceleration is positive or negative. I'll probably just apply some calculus so I can have a more shrewd understanding. Other than that I’m pretty sure I got the hang of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the lab was a good review for this concept and things are starting to come back. I will also be applying some calculus, because it does indeed help in understanding a few things about uniform acceleration.
DeleteFinding out what is a negative or positive acceleration in the lab was difficult. Like for me, when I was observing the motion detector, or rather the car, we are taking the data from the motion. However, if you look at the opposite way things look well weird. I guess if it is going towards the motion it would be positive and away would be negative.
DeleteOh wow I completely forgot about the kinematic equations.
DeleteThe last lab was a very difficult one to comprehend. Especially when we had to do the graphing. I was really confident at first but I began struggling because I didn't understand what made acceleration positive or negative. I feel now I am having less struggle with it but with more practice I think I could master the subject. Another problem I have is that I need to stop thinking calculus when I'm in physics.
ReplyDeleteexactly what i said. but it has helped us so far and helped me keep a high grade.
Deletepeople say the last lab was hard but i thought it was fairly easy. when graphing acceleration i thought of it as graphing velocity and when graphing velocity i thought of position. but i think it is only easy right now because it is similar to calculus but i know as we get deeper into it i will have to stop thinking that way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I guess since we know about particles, it's easier for us.
DeleteI don't remember much from last year on constant acceleration which i think might stop me a bit. I though the first lab was easy but the second one was a bit confusing with the graphs in general, but i hope reviewing helps me do better.
ReplyDeleteyes I agree the second one was a little confusing because of the graphs.
DeleteYea I feel like the motion thing confused me. I didn't know how to transfer the graph from the machine to my paper cause they came out wrong.
DeleteI hardly remember anything from last year, but as i begin to start working out problems and experimenting, it comes back to me. Like a few of us have mentioned, some of the things we're doing now we've done something similar in calculus, so it wasn't that hard to comprehend. Thankfully, if i get confused on this concept of uniform acceleration, one of my group members probably knows what they're doing so they'll help me out if i need it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, because if i'm struggling with something one of my group members will help me understand it better.
Deletei really do not remember much from last year but i know more practice in class will refresh my mind and i will understand the concept perfectly. The problem my group encountered was that we all began arguing about how the graph looked and we really confused each other. once you showed us the examples, i began understanding it more so i know more practice will help me master the the whole graphing concept.
ReplyDeleteDoing the lab with the car and metronome labs reminded me of the lab we did last year in physics class about the mouse trap. On that lab we had to calculate the velocity. while doing this lab I had trouble doing the velocity graphs and acceleration ones too. I'm not really that comfortable because I get lost throughout the topic. I would like to learn more and refresh my mind in which way the velocity graphs go.- Lucero. Muñoz
ReplyDeleteYeah the graphs and plus if they're positive/ negative. The mouse project just focused on velocity and this one on all.
DeleteIn all honesty I don't remember much about that from last year, I have a horrible memory. But with a quick review in class it will all become clear again. The problems my group encounter in the lab was graphing it weather the velocity or acceleration was positive,negative, or constant. At the moment i'm not sure what i'm confused about, I feel as if I understand the concept pretty well do to the fact that we are doing something fairly similar in calculus at the moment. But with due time i'll figure out what i'm struggling with.
ReplyDeleteIt seems most people had problems with the velocity vs. time graphs. I agree that with time we will find out what we need to work on more.
DeleteI don't seem to remember this from last year. I was more comfortable with the motion detector lab, but I guess it was because I didn't really know how metronomes worked. I am not that comfortable with the topics but i know that if I just keep practicing and pay attention I will comprehend them much better.
ReplyDeleteSame here! I am not comfortable with the topic yet, but if we survived last year, i'm pretty sure we can this year too!
DeleteThe motion detection lab was very easy, I'm sure we'll get a hang of it if we stay for tutoring.
DeleteTo be honest I don't remember a lot from last year about acceleration :( at first this topic was so confusing to me! My group and I couldn't figure out if the velocity and acceleration was positive or negative. So we had trouble drawing the graphs. But once you showed us at the end how we were supposed to do it, it seemed pretty easy. I guess we were just overthinking it!
ReplyDeleteSame here. My group and I over thought the graphs too. We all knew some parts but our explanations were different. I agree, the graph she drew at the end did help a lot.
Deletenobody remembers nothing from last year. Seniorits is kicking in
DeleteI had a lot of trouble with the second lab. My group and I kept getting confused. We got the calculus portion of the lab but when it cam to determining whether it was in creasing, decreasing, positive and negative we had a lot of trouble. I don't remember this at all from last year but I hope to fully understand it soon.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't remember much about last year. During the lab, the only thing that confused me was acceleration. The way to graph it confused me in general. However, i'm positive i'll learn this quickly with more practice.
ReplyDeleteAna M.
Determining whether the acceleration was positive or negative was hard for me too. I think as we have more practice with the graphs and all we will understand it clearly.
DeleteI remember from Mrs. Pascuals class that constant acceleration is acceleration that doesn't change obviously and that the velocity increases @ same rate. During the lab i was confuse if acceleration were positive or negative. I can't really say what concepts or graphs were confusing yet since we just started but overall i believe if i practice more with these, ill have mastered these.
ReplyDeleteFor me me it was the graphs that get me but I know the math behind it. F=MA that's what I remember from last year and clips of that video. All I need to do its do some practice problems and I'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteEverything that I do remember from last year is all jumbled up in my head but with more refreshing and practice I should be able to pick up everything again. The second lab was very confusing. I kept getting the graphs all mixed up and figuring out my acceleration graphs had me confused as well. With the chart you made at the end of class though, I understood it better and cleared most of it up. I just need more practice though.
ReplyDeleteI was having trouble with graphs big time ! I hope we learn more about them!
DeleteFor me I really don't remember much from last year, but I do know that uniform acceleration means that acceleration does not change. On the other hand, the most confusing part for me, was graphing acceleration and determining its direction.
ReplyDeleteI'm really having a difficult time trying to understand the graphing portion of the labs. I'm really hoping we get to learn more graphing because I feel like that's my trouble right now.
ReplyDeleteI remember that acceleration is the slope of velocity, so that would mean that they have a relationship with each other. I kinda understand the topic, I just need more practice.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do remember about constant acceleration and uniform acceleration is that they do not change due to gravity, which is 9.81m/s. And since gravity is associated with going down so it would be a negative constant velocity. My problem with the motion detector lab was that the little stopper is in the way, sometimes it doesn't pick up the car, or the hand is in the way. Other than that, it was pretty alright at the most. Nothing to crazy except the car shoots at a 70mph launch so we would need even more books or it will fly off. Only problem I do have is when a car position is changing because sometimes its negative and sometimes it is positive. Depending on if it is launching outwards or sliding down.
ReplyDeleteI really don't remember anything from las heart by I do find the graphing a bit confusing. Like knowing whether or not its positive or negtive or curve. I think I just need it explained slowly.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't remember much about uniform and constant acceleration from physics last year. During the lab, I was frustrated on not getting a good graph, so I was kind of confused. For me, the concept that is the most confusing is what direction is acceleration going, positive or negative? I'm working on it though, so I am understanding it more!
ReplyDeleteI really don't remember it from last year but I'm not sure about it I need a refresher. I do remember that weigh can have an effect on acceleration. Its a really confusing subject be I forget how to know when its negative or positive
ReplyDeleteWell last year I didn't have a good physics teacher. We honestly played ping pong and watched YouTube videos of how to do physics. All that I remember is that acceleration is f=ma. I hate graphing.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time reading the graphs but ever since we did the foldables I've been kind of getting better at them.
ReplyDeleteI do know that in calculus to find acceleration you have to take the derivative twice.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is correctly getting a proper prediction. Even though it's not meant to be correct I would like it to. I just need more experience.
ReplyDeletePractice makes perfect.I just wish it were easier.
DeleteI don't really remember much about Physics from last year because I haven't practiced it. As soon as I practice it enough I'm sure I'll understand it.
ReplyDeleteI related acceleration in graphs to acceleration inside a car (RPM) to help me grasp the concept, it is a little confusing when velocity changes but with more practice i'll understand better.
ReplyDeleteSome of the problems my group and I encountered during the experiment were being able to time the intervals at which the marker on the wheel passed the revolution mark and also trying to keep the cars on a straight path was a hassle.
ReplyDelete