Concept Physics so far has been really exciting! Everyday, I look forward to physics because there's something new to learn, and the class always makes me smile and laugh. I enjoy the labs, the demonstrations, and other activities such as the Van De Graff generator and the slinky. My goals for the course is to continue to achieve good grades and to improve them and to continue learning with a great attitude. I feel I can improve my study habits by studying more for test and quizzes raising my scores. My performance so far throughout the first quarter has been awesome with no missing assignments and the quality of my work is great but needs to be greater! I always bring to class a good attitude and leave class with big smile and a "see ya mr. kohara!" I think taking concept physics was a very good choice because I can now relate everything we do in class to the outside world. I also enjoy the teacher and his style of teaching. He makes sure we learn the concepts and understand the basics of what we're doing. Mr. K is also hilarious : )!

Towing on a Raft

Yesterday was a very fun day. My friends and I went out on my cousins boat and went towing on this super cool raft. It was an incredible day and everyone loved it.

However, as the boat was moving, I noticed that the boat was producing waves and I recall that in physics class we learned about waves. As the boat slowly travled in the marina and out to the ocean, it was easily traveling faster than the waves it was producing. I realized that the boat traveling faster than the speed of water waves finds itself always entering into water with a smooth, unrippled surface. The waves the boat created are known as bow waves. Therefore, the boat outruns the waves it produces.

Out in the open when the boat was traveling at a very fast speed and pulling me on the raft, as shown in the picture, the waves overlap at the edges, and the pattern made by these overlapping waves is V-shaped. At the very fast rate at which we were traveling, it is a disturbance produced by the overlapping of many circular waves. Also, the raft created its own bow waves too and we used the boats waves to jump and move around wildly.

SHOCKING News

First off, I have to say, WE UPSET ST. LOUIS! I was in shock and amazed when the clock was at 00:00 and the score 35-30. This was truly a battle of pure heart. Then when I went on the bus heading for school, I was thinking about what I'm going to write my physics journal about. I woke up the next morning and turned on my side and looked right at all of the electrical cords under my desk. Then I thought about what we are learning in physics and what we have learned.

In the picture, you are able to see many cords differing in thickness. You also see the power strip which is like the voltage source for all the cords. Throughout the power strip, there is an electical current which the flow of charge is beging transferred back and forth also known as an alternating current (ac) and is then transferred into the cords. Alternating currents reverses directions periodically. The energy that flows through the cords comes from the 120 volt electrical outlet. Current is measured in amperes. Also, the flow of charge persits for as long as there is a potential difference. Without a potential difference, no charge flows.

Then I observed the thickness of all the cords which relates to electrical resistance. The resistance of a wire depends on the thickness and length of the wire, and on its particular conductivity. Thick wires have less resistance than thin wires. The power strip has a thick wire which is able to transfer a charge more easily throughout the whole connection of wires.

Current=Delta V/Resistance.