Comparing Constant Velocity to Constant Acceleration

Recently my class and I have been taking part in a lab which purpose is to help us understanding the differences between constant velocity and constant acceleration. The lab did this by closely showing how they measure different things and have different equations. This lab actually helped me understand the difference between the two. Constant velocity I now know is something that doesn't change in speed or direction, and constant acceleration is the change is of velocity. In this lab my partners pushed a ball on a flat surface and recorded its distance every half second, which we then graphed using the data we found using excel, which then gave us the equations of the line. Then we raised two legs on the same side of the table to make it a ramp and proceeded with the same steps as before. This helped us see that constant velocity and acceleration are similar but at the same time different because acceleration is gaining speed while velocity keeps a constant speed unless a change in direction occurs. The equation we used in the lab for velocity v= d/t, and for finding acceleration we used: how far- d= 1/2 at^2, how fast- v=at. When graphing the data found from measuring acceleration and velocity we realized that  constant velocity always had a straight trend line because velocity doesn't measure speed and that the acceleration lines curved because that shows the change in speed. This lab taught me or rather helped me better realize the difference between acceleration and that a lot of math which I have used before can be used in the equations of line such as y=mx+b. I also learned that it is better to know all the equations because then you can tell which is better to use for a certain project.

Acceleration and Velocity

Acceleration is a vector quantity that is defined as the rate at which an object changes its velocity. An object is accelerating if it is changing its velocity. Acceleration has to do with changing how fast an object is moving. If an object is not changing its velocity, then the object is not accelerating. Velocity is a vector quantity that refers to "the rate at which an object changes its position." An example is a person moving rapidly - one step forward and one step back - always returning to the original starting position, it would result in a zero velocity, because the person always returns to the original position, the motion would never result in a change in position. Since velocity is defined as the rate at which the position changes, this motion results in zero velocity. If a person in motion wishes to maximize their velocity, then that person must make every effort to maximize the amount that they are displaced from their original position. Every step must go into moving that person further from where he or she started. For certain, the person should never change directions and begin to return to the starting position. This video uses examples to show how this information relates to the equations used to find them.

Hovercraft Riding

Who knew Physics could be so fun? so far.....

              Thursday September 12,2013 my classmates and I experienced the joy of hovercraft riding. Riding a hovercraft is a bit scary because the rider has no control over the way the hovercraft moves and whether or not it starts and stops. The ride was also exhilarating and new, it was great experience over all. Riding a hovercraft is different from any other "vehicle" because it "hovers" over the ground, by not touching the ground there is no friction, the frictionless environment means that starting and stopping the hovercraft are impossible unless acted on by an outside force. 
              This hovercraft lab was created to help us understand basic physics concepts. These concepts include inertia, net force, and equilibrium. Through the lab process we got to experience first hand both parts of Newton's first law, which is inertia. Newton's first law states an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an outside force, and an object at rest stays at rest unless acted on by an outside force. Net force which is the force on an object was shown and experienced in this lab by the starting point which by one pushing the hovercraft forward exerted force and when it got to the other end someone pushing it in the opposite direction first slowed it down its momentum then propelled it back towards the starter. Equilibrium was exemplified in this lab through resting place and where there were no forces acting on it and in phase 2 which was when it was gliding. 
              Based on this lab:
     - acceleration seems to depend on the force from  one direction.
     - one can expect to have constant velocity after the acceleration phase when there is no longer force. 
                This lab also proved that inertia ( Newton's first law) works with the mass of something. I know this because some members were harder to start and stop than others because of their mass and weight distribution on the hovercraft. The hovercraft lab was fun to be both a starter and a rider, if anyone ever has the opportunity of this experience take it and have fun.
               
 

Inertia Resource

What is Inertia? As a viewer in need of a last minute comprehension lesson these videos recap what my class and I have recently learned about Inertia and Newtons First Law.  
Newton's first law of motion states that "An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force." Objects tend to "keep on doing what they're doing." In fact, it is the natural tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion. This tendency to resist changes in their state of motion is described as inertia. Inertia: the resistance an object has to a change in its state of motion.

A Whole New World

         This school year will be the first year I attempt to explore the world of physics. This blog is my aid to others having the same experience, to know that there are other people struggling with physics concepts. I believe that studying physics is important because it helps us to understand the world around us, it helps one to increase their knowledge and find interest in things they've never even thought to question about, and physics can help me to understand and maybe even improve my athletic abilities.
          In physics this year I expect to learn many things, especially about gravity, centrifugal force, and tangential force, which my brother and his classmates from last year spoke abut often. I would also like to learn how physics applies to the sports I enjoy playing.  
          I have many questions which I continue to flip around in my head about physics class this year. The questions I have are how does physics play  its part in sports?, how does physics work in the use of credit card machines? , and what types of experiments will my class and I take part in?
          My goals for this school year are to understand the information so as to make it comprehensible to others , improve my science grade and show improvement throughout the entire school year , and to become a deep learner, (suggestion by my teacher) which means to not just scratch the surface of learning but to dig deep in understand and work ethic.