Acceleration....Getting You Up to Speed

Thanks to our outstanding demonstrators (Astin, Ben, "Scant!" & Dr. Hogan ) -- and to some clever engineering by Casio -- we were able to get three cool shots of a ball dropping.

So, what does it mean to ACCELERATE?! There are several different points of the ball's location in each image. In your own words, respond to the two following questions:
1. What's different about the ball's velocity in at each point where it appears in the image?
2. Why is there more distance between each point where the ball appears in the image?
(Show me that you understand the concepts of velocity and acceleration by being detailed in your response!)

 

Let's start by...

....taking a deep breath. In all likelihood, you've heard things about taking physics. Maybe scary things. Let me tell you this loudly, clearly, and from the get go.... physics isn't hard.

Ok, that statement might be a little misleading, but the point is that physics doesn't have to be hard. That's my approach. We're going to be learning what I like to call "practical physics." You know, learning about why things work and act the way they do. We'll throw in some of the essential math (you can't have physics without math; that's like having music without notes), but this won't be a course in number crunching. We'll be doing things "hands-on," creating full-scale demonstrations/experiments, gathering our own data, and do all that in order to identify the laws and forces at work in our world.

So, welcome to a year of learning and investigation together. And let me emphasize the word "together." Learning is a two-way street. I'll do my job, but it's up to you to carry your end of the bargain. Engage in the learning, ask questions, be a team player, and follow through on the handful of responsibilities thrown your way. That's what makes good teamwork and that's what makes good learning.

Let's do it.