PHYSICS: Great job with some of the more advanced momentum and energy problems! Here’s a look at the student in the middle of a frozen pond, bird on the wire, car crash with coefficient of friction, and the billiard balls.
Ready for the test? Take another look at some of the concepts!
Photo by Jenny Salita on Unsplash
Using lidar, scientists figured out that 415 ceremonial complexes are aligned with the 260-day calendar. The most common alignment was the position pointing to the sunrise on two days, with 260 days separating them. Others track Venus, rain season, and maize farming.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/laser-americas-olmec-maya-star-calendar
Scientists recently conducted a study on teen brains that involved scans which proved the theory that the COVID quarantine prematurely aged teenage brains, by three whole years. This new data helps explain the recent growth of mental health issues in teens, as the pandemic actually altered the chemistry of the adolescent brain.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-pandemic-prematurely-aged-teens-brains
There was a mystery to how organ pipes made their frequency. A physicist, Herman von Helmholtz, had made a equation that showed how pipe length related to its frequency. Somehow his equation was always off by a constant factor. Recently a discovery was made that a vortex air cap is formed above the tube and lengthens the tube by that constant factor thus solving the mystery of why Helmholtz equation was always wrong.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pipe-organs-violate-rule-sound-physics-vortex-vibration-air
Mechanical engineers at MIT have developed a patch that can use ultrasound to show you your heart rate. It can work during rest or even during exercise. It has many uses including preventing blood clots and heart attacks.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ultrasound-patch-skin-watch-heart-beat-personalized-medicine
In a report to the November 15 Physical Review D., researchers say a new computer model has shown it is possible to send messages through wormholes before they collapse. Of course wormholes have not been discovered, and they are still theoretical, but the modern laws of physics would allow such a thing. However, once opened, it is a one way trip before it collapses, except in the case of light, according to the computer model. Since light is fast enough to travel back through, it is theoretically possible to send messages back before the wormhole collapses.
Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/get-messages-sent-through-wormhole-relativity
Scientists have found a way to use internal brain implants to read people’s minds. They are hoping this technology could be used to transfer speech externally to allow people with paralysis to communicate.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brain-implant-reads-peoples-thoughts
Recently, scientists have discovered that glass tree frogs remove about 90% of their red blood cells out of circulation when they go to sleep. These cells go into pockets embedded in their liver, which doubles or even triples their previous transparency. This feature aids glass frogs in effectively hiding from their predators.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sleeping-glass-frogs-blood-liver
Mark Harnett and his colleagues at MIT were researching an adult mouse’s brain when they discovered long, rod-shaped structures in the brain called filopodia. Deeming this noteworthy, Mark wanted to find out if these filopodia were silent synapses (immature connections in the brain that help form memories), and they tested this by applying glutamate, a chemical messenger, to these filopodia. After doing this, they determined that since the glutamate didn’t activate them, then they were silent. With this research, Mark and his team are wondering if the adult human brain also contains these synapses because, if they do, the team could learn how to better treat drug addiction as silent synapses are related to withdrawal symptoms.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/adult-mouse-brains-silent-synapses-memories
Scientists studied the “bumps” on the bottom of polar bears’ paws. They discovered that the bumps of polar bear paws are shorter and tend to be surrounded by more fur than that of other bears. They theorize this is the case so that polar bears have less surface area to radiate heat as they walk on ice.
Source: https://www.snexplores.org/article/tiny-bumps-polar-bear-paws-help-friction-traction-snow-ice
In a lab in California, they were able to replicate a process like that of which our Sun undergoes. In this, they were able to input 2 million joules with a laser, and in turn had an output of 3 million joules. This is a huge step forward in technology as this now allows for further research into cleaner, more efficient energy. This is being compared to breakthroughs like the Wright Brothers first flight.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-energy
Fingerprints are unique in all people and are vital to criminal studies. Recently, scientists and investigators have been wanting to take their use a step further. Studies have been occurring that have proven that there is a way to discover the approximate age of a fingerprint. Methods such as the Kendrick Mass Defect Plot (KMD) are being developed to trace the chemical changes and makeup of a fingerprint in order to decipher how old a fingerprint is. Technology is being worked on that can trace the changes in levels of chemicals such as gas and oils, as well as effects to hydrocarbons and fatty acids in those chemicals. As this study is not complete and continues to be finalized scientists and investigators look forward to the day that science and criminal studies changes for good.
source:
https://www.snexplores.org/article/fingerprint-age-crime-forensics-chemistry
Scientists have begun finding ways to filter carbon dioxide out from the air with wind turbines. By using the strong turbulence that turbines create, carbon dioxide can be concentrated and separated. This helps in cities with heavy factory usage where carbon emissions are very large.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/wind-turbines-capture-carbon-dioxide-power
Scientists have discovered that “dark lightning,” intense bursts of gamma radiation, are most likely caused when electric fields in a thunderstorm spur electrons to velocities that are almost the speed of light. This dark lightning strikes about a thousand times per day, and it strikes an airplane every 1-4 years, exposing passengers to very unsafe levels of gamma radiation. Anyone within 200 meters of a dark lightning strike is exposed to roughly 0.3 sieverts of radiation. For reference, the International Commission on Radiological Protection states that any exposure exceeding just 0.02 sieverts of gamma radiation per year is dangerous. Even with this information, scientists are still unsure how to fight this dark lightning and protect airline passengers from the unlikely possibility of being struck.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dark-lightning-gamma-rays-touch-passengers-flying
Scientists have studied why fish are able to withstand intense pressures deep under the sea, and they have found that their resistance is due to a chemical called TMAO. This is the same chemical that gives sea creatures their fishy odor. They found that the deeper the ocean space that the fish lives in, the more TMAO it will have. The chemical works by bonding with water and helping it maintain its structure so that it applies less pressure to the object within it. The chemical has also been tested as a treatment to a condition in which pressure builds inside the eyes. While it did help, it is unlikely to take off as a common remedy due to the fact that it causes the patients to smell of rotten fish.
https://www.snexplores.org/article/fishy-scent-protects-sea-creatures-from-deep-sea-high-pressures
This week I rate myself 5/5. I felt like I stayed on top of my studying well and I got a lot of brainstorming done for explore zone. I will continue to study and plan for explore zone.
This week has been a triumph week for me, because not having much to do. It’s given me time to not only relax and slow down my busy schedule, but to also get ahead on some other work and scholarship applications. I felt pretty decent about the test but I also am nervous to have the grades back, I will continue to make it a goal to not stress over grades and to stay ahead on my work.
This week I would rate myself a 4/5. I definitely could have studied a bit more for the test, but in other aspects of the class I think I have handled myself well. I had a good day with the design lab working with Hannah and Reagan while using different ideas. Then, to end the week, I think I had a few good days of brainstorming for ExploreZone.
This week I would rate myself a 4/5 stars because I could’ve prioritized a little more time to study for the physics test, but I do think I did good on the test (although more practice never hurt anyone). However, despite this minor error, this week was full of accomplishments as I worked efficiently with partners to help make a pretty good egg landing pad. Additionally, I was able to come up with a never-before-done idea for ExploreZone that, despite needing some more research, should be doable!
My triumph this week was feeling prepared for my physics test ahead of time. In addition, I also triumphed by deciding on and planning my exhibit for ExploreZone early so that I can continue to improve my ideas. I will continue to stay ahead on my assignments so that the next few weeks remain calm and I can eliminate stress.
This week I would rate myself a 3/5. I felt more prepared and confident in this test than in all the others. However, I am having trouble finding something exciting for ExploreZone that does not run the risk of electrocuting a child. I will look at more demonstrations of electromagnetic or find a way to improve the one already done.
This week I rate myself a 4/5. I did not get to study as much for the test as I wanted to, but I still felt very prepared. I feel like I did pretty well on the test. I also feel like I am preparing well for explorer zone.
This week I rate myself a 3/5 because I didn’t study as much as I wanted to for the test. I give myself the 3 because I was on top of everything that needed to get done for the rest of the week and did well in the design challenge. Note to self do not put raw eggs in your backpack, BAD IDEA!
This week I rate myself a 5/5. I made the most of every day this week and I regret nothing. I hope to carry this confidence into next week and the rest of the year.
My triumph for the week was the egg design challenge. I was impressed by how well our landing pad worked, and I had a lot of fun building it with my group. I hope future design challenges will go as smoothly as this one did.
My success this week was the egg-drop landing pad design challenge. My group was able to work together to design the best landing pad and be able to drop the egg from the ceiling without it cracking.
My struggle this week was with the test. While I don’t think I did bad, I do think that I could have been more prepared. For the future, I will make sure to study even if I do have confidence for the test.
My triumph this week was being able to take a break from lectures to perform an egg drop challenge and plan ExploreZone. During the design challenge, my partners and I efficiently collaborated to produce landing pad that we could. After taking a tough test on Tuesday, this break was really needed for rejuvenation, and hopefully I will be motivated to begin a new chapter next week.
My triumph this week was being able to take a break from lectures to perform an egg drop challenge and plan ExploreZone. During the design challenge, my partners and I efficiently collaborated to produce the best landing pad that we could. After taking a tough test on Tuesday, this break was really needed for rejuvenation, and hopefully I will be motivated to begin a new chapter next week.
This week I struggled with just about everything in physics. The test was the opposite of good, and I quickly became overloaded with brainstorming for Explore Zone which resulted in a brain circuit failure and half-week long reboot. The egg drop challenge went well, though. We underperformed, but the design process was smooth and extremely fun.