Let There be Light

Well, Saturday, a rainy, stormy, horrible day. No sun out, bad day for surfing or any outdoor activities. I was stuck at home with nothing to do other than just watching college football and playing PS2. I did however find time to do this journal and i couldn't figure out what to do it on. I walked into my room and opened up the curtain so that light can come into my room. I suddenly realized that physics was involved in this action. The curtain is an opaque material meaning that it absorbs light without re-emitting it. Vibrations given by light to their atoms and molecules are turned into random kinetic energy--into internal energy. The curtain actually becomes warmer; it would become hott if the sun was actually out and shining brightly. The light can pass through the glass window because the window is transparent. When light is transmitted through matter, some fo teh electrons in the matter are forced into virbation. The glass allows light to pass through in straight lines elluminating my room. However, ultraviolet and infrared waves can't pass through the glass. Electrons in the atoms of glass have a naturla vibration frequency in the ultraviolet range. Therefore when ultraviolet waves shine on glass, resonance occurs and thr vibration of electrons builds up to large amplitudes. Now I have to go to the UH football game vs. Idaho! BYE

Transformer in Disguise

Last night was killer! There was a jammin party at a house in kailua. Driving home with my best friend buen, I decided to take some nice pictures of transformers since I have learned about them in physics class. I have to say that these things are everywhere! Theres no hiding from them. So anyways, I took some not bad pictures of these transformers in order to do this journal realizing that, yes, physics is all around us.

Basically, a transformer tranfers current from the primary to the secondary which is inside that metal, cylinder looking box. They transer electric energy across empty space which is crazy. When Mr. Kohara did a demonstration of what they do in class, I was shocked. Thats the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen. This transformer is transfering a current throughout the electrical wires. It is probably stepping down the voltage to most likely 120 volts so that 7-11 can use the power. Power in a transformer always remains the same. An alternating voltage is required for a transformer to work so there will be a change in magnetic field within the primary and secondary. The second coil needs to sense a change in magnetic field in order for a current to be induced and therefore sent out. It's Cool!

How does a Magnet do That?

So I'm sitting at my computer bored not knowing what to do! I then start playing with these magnetic earings which consists of a magnet and a metal ball as shown in the video. I love watching magnets and how they react to things because of their magical, invisible powers not realizing that what is happening is what I have learned in physics. I really think magnets are the most awesome invention in the world even though they really weren't invented. Lodestones founded by greeks are permanent magnets and they have unusual property of attracting pieces of iron. Anyways, the video shows magnets and their magnetic forces and things that are magnetic. The three dark, silver pieces of metal are magnets having the property of either iron cobalt or nickel. They consist of a magnetic force which attracts other magnetic things. The source of magnetic force is the motion of charged particles. If you watch closely, you can also sense the presence of a magnetic field that the magnets have. As I was moving the magnets closer to the round metal balls they would move because they sense the field. A magnetic field is due to the "distortions" in the electic fileld caused by motion and was explained by Albert Einstein in 1905 in his speical theory of relativity. So basically, magnets are cool!!!