Blog 10: ROLLERCOASTERS~

Today, we were given our ISUs (Independent Study Units). One of the assignments was to build a rollercoaster, that would be entered into the annual competition at Paramount Canada's Wonderland. This assignment will be a long, difficult one and it will be due on January.

Here is my favourite coaster:

This rollercoaster won for the Artistic Category in 2009

Blog 9: Adding or Subtracting Vectors

There are two main ways to go about adding or subtracting vectors:

1. Use a scale diagram

a) Measure and draw vectors in scale (1cm=1km)
b) Connect the head to tail
c) Resultant is always origin to destination (AYJackson to PMall :P)
d) When you "subtract" vectors, you are actually adding in the opposite direction (12km[N] can be rewritten as -12km[S])

e) Use a protractor to measure the angle in accordance to North and South.

2. Add or subtract by components

a) Set you positive axes

b) Break all vectors into two components (x and y)

c) Solve for ∑x and ∑y (summation of x and y)

d) Use Pythagorean Theorem to add the two sums of components (∑x and ∑y)

e) Use trigonometry to solve for angle

        SOH → sinθ = opp/hyp

        CAH → cosθ = adj/hyp

        TOA → tanθ = sinθ/cosθ = opp/adj

Blog 8: Position-Time & Velocity-Time Graphs

Position vs Time Graphs

Stayed for 1 second at a distance of 1m

Walked away for 2.5 m in 2 seconds 

Stayed at 2.5 m for 3 seconds

Walked approximately 1 m towards in 1.5 seconds 

Stayed for 2.5 seconds at 1.5 m

Walked towards 1.5 m from 3 m for 3 seconds

Stayed for 1 second

Walked towards 1 m for 1 second

Stayed for 2 seconds 

Walked away 2.5 m for 3 seconds

Walked away 1 m for 3.5 seconds

Stayed for 3 seconds

Walked away 1.4 m for 3.5 seconds

---------------------------------

Velocity vs Time Graphs

Stayed for 2 seconds 

Walked towards at 0.5m/s for 3 seconds

Stayed for 2 seconds 

Walked backwards at 0.5m/s for 3 seconds

Speed up from 0 m/s to 0.5m/s for 4 seconds 

Walked at 0.5m/s for 2 seconds

Walked backwards at 0.4m/s for 3 seconds

Stayed for 1 second

Walked at 0.36 m/s for 3 seconds 

Walked backwards at 0.4m/s for approximately 3.75 seconds 

Stayed for approximately 3 seconds

Blog 7: Building an Electric Motor

               On Wednesday, Mr. Chung gave an interesting assignment to the class: We were to create our own electric motors. He asked us to bring our own materials if we could.

Materials:

·         paper clips

·         cork

·         pop can

·         sandpaper

·         thumbtacks

·         stick (axel)

·         nails

·         pins (commutator)

·         scissors

Mr. Chung provided us with most of the materials, including a hammer. He gave us short instructions and hints throughout the lab, such as how the coils should be in parallel to the nails, not perpendicular. If you were to coil them perpendicular

This lab was very effective, for me anyway, because it was a hands-on activity. I got much more out of it then I would have from listening to how it works.

Eddie and I completed our electric motor and presented it to Mr. Chung. He hooked the two pop can sheets (brushes) with 2 wires, which were connected to a large battery. He switched the power source on and our cork started turning very quickly, only slowing down once every few seconds.

On Friday, we took our motor for another spin so we could film it, but it didn’t work as well as the day before. It still worked though…

Here is our video of the motor: