The Physics Force provided the demo show for AAPT's Summer Meeting 2014 at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. I caught a few moments at 120 fps in HD and posted the compilation to YouTube.
Physics Force AAPT SM14
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
My AAPT SM14 photo album begins
Most images are from Sunday's High School Share-a-thon at The American Association of Physics Teachers Summer Meeting 2014 (AAPT SM14) so far.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Yellowstone lightning strike caught on video
The lightning grounded through a tree and the voltage remained high through the conductive root structure. The heating of the surrounding (less conductive) earth was rapid and intense, resulting in what look like explosive pop of soil.
Click to link to the video
(Oh Yahoo News, why must you annoy me so?)
Lightning strike caught on camera at Yellowstone National Park - Lonewolf Sager
Enjoy the curious stat about lightning strike "gender bias". Oh, the original item mentioned that more men than women are struck by lightning. I'm guessing that male golfers are overrepresented among lightning strike victims.
(Oh Yahoo News, why must you annoy me so?)
Lightning strike caught on camera at Yellowstone National Park - Lonewolf Sager
Enjoy the curious stat about lightning strike "gender bias". Oh, the original item mentioned that more men than women are struck by lightning. I'm guessing that male golfers are overrepresented among lightning strike victims.
Friday, July 04, 2014
I was bound to do this
So there I was at Victoria Falls, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Victoria Falls Bridge spans a gorge through which the Zambezi river runs, post falls. We are told the deck of the bridge is 135 meters above the water.
At the midpoint of the bridge there is a low-slung hut through which bungee jumpers are fitted with harnesses and pushed over a precipice. We are told the bungee jumpers plummet 111 meters, though it seems the mileage would vary from one jumper to the next, depending on weight.
I'm much too bashful to reveal my weight, but the bungee operators wrote 111 on my arm after having me stand on a scale. Oh yeah, I signed up for this jump. I teach physics! I was bound to do this.
They harness you quite thoroughly, and cinch your lower calves to each other and attach them to the bungee cord with five carabiners. I was bound to do this.
They help you waddle out over the lip of the diving platform. Then it's "5-4-3-2-1-BUNGEE!" and off you go, into the gorge. But enough jibber-jabber. Let's roll the film.
Victoria Phyz Falls
Was I ever really in danger? As it turns out, yes I was. This very jump dropped an Australian woman into the Zambezi a few years back.
Aussie Tourist's Bungee Cord Snaps
I really only put myself at risk like this so that Dan Burns could generate some nice, personalized physics problems, if he is so inclined. If you think of some, leave them in the comments or email them to me.
Did I mention that I jumped off a bridge?
At the midpoint of the bridge there is a low-slung hut through which bungee jumpers are fitted with harnesses and pushed over a precipice. We are told the bungee jumpers plummet 111 meters, though it seems the mileage would vary from one jumper to the next, depending on weight.
I'm much too bashful to reveal my weight, but the bungee operators wrote 111 on my arm after having me stand on a scale. Oh yeah, I signed up for this jump. I teach physics! I was bound to do this.
They harness you quite thoroughly, and cinch your lower calves to each other and attach them to the bungee cord with five carabiners. I was bound to do this.
They help you waddle out over the lip of the diving platform. Then it's "5-4-3-2-1-BUNGEE!" and off you go, into the gorge. But enough jibber-jabber. Let's roll the film.
Victoria Phyz Falls
Was I ever really in danger? As it turns out, yes I was. This very jump dropped an Australian woman into the Zambezi a few years back.
Aussie Tourist's Bungee Cord Snaps
I really only put myself at risk like this so that Dan Burns could generate some nice, personalized physics problems, if he is so inclined. If you think of some, leave them in the comments or email them to me.
Did I mention that I jumped off a bridge?
My African media shoeboxes
The month-long African safari is in progress!
Lightly-processed safari photos are accumulating on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phyz/sets/72157645336319582/
Accommodations and other random shots are accumulating here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phyz/sets/72157644963423317/
Videos are accumulating here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/deanbaird
The blog at Outdoor Safari Photographers. I was/am with them June 16-20 (Machaba), June 28-July 2 (Chobe/Pangolin), and July 5-9 (Elephant Plains).
http://www.odpsafaris.com/blog/#.U7Zt1hY_aGk
Further details when I return.
Lightly-processed safari photos are accumulating on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phyz/sets/72157645336319582/
Accommodations and other random shots are accumulating here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phyz/sets/72157644963423317/
Videos are accumulating here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/deanbaird
The blog at Outdoor Safari Photographers. I was/am with them June 16-20 (Machaba), June 28-July 2 (Chobe/Pangolin), and July 5-9 (Elephant Plains).
http://www.odpsafaris.com/blog/#.U7Zt1hY_aGk
Further details when I return.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
F.AAPT
Jolly? Sometimes. Good? Depends on who you ask.
Fellow. Most indubitably.
At least I will be, as of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting 2015.
More details will no doubt emerge at the meeting. But it appears that AAPT is assembling a cadre of honored individuals and bestowing the title of "Fellow" upon them. The AAPT honored me in 2008 with their Distinguished Service Citation. And as I continue to be a member in good standing, I have been included in the first cohort of this cadre.
There will be some manner of shindig exclusive to AAPT Fellows at the Summer Meeting, and we are invited to add the honorific of "F.AAPT" or Fellow, AAPT" after our names on correspondence.
In any case, it's a delightful honor and I am humbled to be in such austere company.
Sincerely,
Dean Baird
F.AAPT
Fellow. Most indubitably.
At least I will be, as of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Summer Meeting 2015.
More details will no doubt emerge at the meeting. But it appears that AAPT is assembling a cadre of honored individuals and bestowing the title of "Fellow" upon them. The AAPT honored me in 2008 with their Distinguished Service Citation. And as I continue to be a member in good standing, I have been included in the first cohort of this cadre.
There will be some manner of shindig exclusive to AAPT Fellows at the Summer Meeting, and we are invited to add the honorific of "F.AAPT" or Fellow, AAPT" after our names on correspondence.
In any case, it's a delightful honor and I am humbled to be in such austere company.
Sincerely,
Dean Baird
F.AAPT
Monday, June 09, 2014
Tower of paper
Our end-of-year schedule included an amusing burp this year. It came on the last Thursday of the year. Students in periods 1-4 had already had their final exams on Tuesday and Wednesday, and students in periods 5 and 6 would have their final exam on Friday. All students in all classes met on Thursday.
What to do?
Give each lab group a single sheet of colored 8.5"x11" paper, a pair of scissors, and a table-width length of masking tape (about 2 feet), along with the directive to use those materials to construct a free-standing tower of maximum height.
Only the paper and the tape could comprise the tower (not the scissors). The tower has to stand for 5 seconds while its height (from the table top) was measured. The tower had to stand freely on the table (not taped down; not suspended from the ceiling or dropped outlets). Each group is given a distinct color of paper, no two are the same. (This helps with the integrity.)
One point of extra credit was to be awarded for every full inch of the tower's vertical height.
Our tallest tower this year was 57 inches tall. (I conjoin two meterstick/yardsticks and sometimes need to stand on a chair to get the measurement. I also turn off the HVAC) In the past, I believe the tallest tower we've ever had was 63 inches. Not bad for a single sheet of letter paper.
The students tend to be motivated, and it was a great activity for an otherwise throwaway day. And it's photogenic.
2014 05 Tower
What to do?
Give each lab group a single sheet of colored 8.5"x11" paper, a pair of scissors, and a table-width length of masking tape (about 2 feet), along with the directive to use those materials to construct a free-standing tower of maximum height.
Only the paper and the tape could comprise the tower (not the scissors). The tower has to stand for 5 seconds while its height (from the table top) was measured. The tower had to stand freely on the table (not taped down; not suspended from the ceiling or dropped outlets). Each group is given a distinct color of paper, no two are the same. (This helps with the integrity.)
One point of extra credit was to be awarded for every full inch of the tower's vertical height.
Our tallest tower this year was 57 inches tall. (I conjoin two meterstick/yardsticks and sometimes need to stand on a chair to get the measurement. I also turn off the HVAC) In the past, I believe the tallest tower we've ever had was 63 inches. Not bad for a single sheet of letter paper.
The students tend to be motivated, and it was a great activity for an otherwise throwaway day. And it's photogenic.
2014 05 Tower
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Rio Phyz 2014: Class Portraits
Some with flash; some without. Some with teacher; some without. Some straight; some goofball. The whole set can be accessed via this Flickr Set:
2014 05 Rio Phyz Class Portraits
UPDATE: As per usual, Flickr sent the original album into the æther somehow. I re-uploaded the whole thing. I can't imagine relying on Flickr as a backup of any sort. Photo links often degrade faster than a fine pastry, and albums once loaded can easily disappear for no apparent reason.
2014 05 Rio Phyz Class Portraits
UPDATE: As per usual, Flickr sent the original album into the æther somehow. I re-uploaded the whole thing. I can't imagine relying on Flickr as a backup of any sort. Photo links often degrade faster than a fine pastry, and albums once loaded can easily disappear for no apparent reason.
Friday, May 30, 2014
ExploratoRio 2014 - The Video
Directed and produced by student videographer, Grant Webster. Laugh, cry, relive the memories!
ExploratoRio 2014
ExploratoRio 2014
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