Monday, December 17, 2012

Hewitt-Drew-it! Newton's Third Law

In this screencast, Hewitt and wife Lil illustrate that one cannot touch without being touched — with supporting examples.

Hewitt-Drew-it! Newton's Third Law

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Physics in the Fountain of Fizz

Here's some video of this year's trials of The Fountain of Fizz: the Mentos-Diet Coke geyser.



The lesson we do at Rio Phyz does not involve nucleation sites or carbon dioxide. That's all good stuff, but it strikes me as the Chemistry in the Fountain of Fizz.

The Physics of the Fountain of Fizz involves measuring the mass ejected, the height attained by the geyser, and the time of the eruption.

With these quantities in hand, it's possible to make reasonable calculations of mass flow rate, muzzle speed, energy released, and power developed.

Physics in the Fountain of Fizz (PDF)

This lab is also included in my lab manuals for the following Pearson titles:
Conceptual Physics 11/e (College) [Hewitt/Baird lab manual]
Conceptual Physical Science 5/e
Conceptual Physical Science—Explorations 2/e
Conceptual Integrated Science 2/e [available early 2013]
Conceptual Integrated Science—Explorations

But if you're into carbon dioxide and nucleation, have at it!

Gangnam Style In Space!

NA, NA, NA, NA... NASA Johnson Style...



Special thanks to astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Mike Massimino and Clay Anderson
Special thanks to Mr. Mike Coats, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, and all supporting senior staff members

"NASA Johnson Style" Lyrics
NASA Johnson Style
Johnson Style

Welcome to NASA's Johnson Space Center
We are coming in hot so don't burn up as we enter
We do science everyday that affects your daily life
Throw them up for manned space flight

Science everywhere
As we engineer the marvels
That fly though the air
And take us way beyond earth's levels

Science everywhere
Because we engineer the marvels
That fly though the air
Flies us through the air

Control the mission out of Johnson
This is ground, hey!
And this is space, hey!
Tell me Houston what's the problem
It's okay!
It's okay!
Because there's flight controllers on the job today

NASA Johnson STYLE!
Johnson STYLE! ...

Orbiting earth, international space station
Where we work and live in space with a crew from several nations
Got Japanese, and Russians, that European charm
Throw them up, like the Canada Arm

Kicking out research
29k cubic feet, revolves around the earth
Science microgravity, revolves around the earth
Columbus, JEM, and Destiny
Kicking out research
Kicking out research

Train the astronauts at Johnson
To go to space, hey!
To go to space, hey!
Cause the missions of tomorrow
Start today, hey!
Start today, hey!
As we engineer the future day by day

NASA Johnson STYLE!
Johnson STYLE! ...

Orion or SLS, MPCV
We cannot feel the floor, cause the lack gravity
The destinations are an asteroid, Mars, or moon
We are blasting off start the countdown soon
[Sound clip: launch countdown]

... NASA Johnson Style

In case you're either of the people who haven't seen the original PSY video (viewed over 1,000,000,000 times), you're welcome.

Hat tip to Menlo School's Marc Allard.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Puzzler: ynapmoC & seldooN

Upon returning to my truck after enjoying a tasty repast at Noodles & Company, I noticed the restaurant's illuminated signage reflected in my side view mirror.


Wait a minute! The reflected message was not "reversed" in typical mirror fashion. I turned to see the signage as it appears on the building.


Once suitably ensconced in the driver's seat, all was again right with the world. The letters were reversed as they should be.



What is your explanation?

[A few years ago, I sent this optical oddity in to Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers (NPR's Car Talk personalities, Tom and Ray Magliozzi). But it was apparently too lousy for them to use, despite being quasi-automotive! Oh well.]

Hewitt-Drew-It! Skydiver Problem

In this screencast, Hewitt poses and solves a problem involving Suzie Skydiver, who dives and attains terminal velocity.

Hewitt-Drew-It! Skydiver Problem

Monday, December 03, 2012

Hewitt Drew-It! Newton's Second Law

In this screencast, a video of Hewitt in the classroom is followed up with a discussion of force, mass, and the acceleration of freely-falling rocks.

Hewitt Drew-It! Newton's Second Law