Hovercraft Lab

Today, our Physics class experimented with riding hovercrafts. The unique thing about the hovercrafts that sets them apart from other vehicles is that they do not touch the ground, rather float slightly above it.

It really put Newton’s First Law into perspective for me. There is something odd about feeling like you are going to slow down, with the knowledge that you never will. Once the hovercraft was set in motion, it kept going until it was stopped by a classmate. If there was no one, or nothing to stop it, it would have kept moving.

Aside from providing a hands on example of the science behind inertia, I also learned a great deal about net force and equilibrium. Net force is all of the combined forces being exerted on an object at any given time. Equilibrium was achieved when the net force was equal to zero. This is so while the craft is still, or in constant velocity. Constant velocity is when the hovercraft is gliding at consistent pace.

Before today, I thought that acceleration meant that an object was moving forward with speed. However, it is a property dependent on motion. Furthermore, the hovercraft was accelerating while in starting, and stopping positions.

Outside factors also affected how the craft functioned. For example, heavier class members were harder to stop, because they had more mass, hence, more inertia. That being said, the lighter riders had an easier time being stopped.

I can now check "riding a hovercraft" off my bucket list. 

Napoleon Dynamite and Inertia

At this point you are probably wondering what a Napoleon Dynamite movie clip is doing on a Physics Blog. Here is the answer you are looking for… Inertia. When Uncle Rico threw the steak into the air, you may have noticed that the steak kept moving until it hit Napoleon in the head. This is explained by the phenomena called inertia. The best way to explain this occurrence is through Newton's First Law, which states that objects in motion will remain in motion, and objects at rest will remain at rest, until an unbalanced force is exerted upon it. So when the steak was thrown, it continued to stay in motion, due to the fact that objects tend to continue doing whatever it is that they are doing. However, the steak stopped moving because it hit Napoleon's face, which was the unbalanced force acting upon it. In the wise words of Kip, "That's what I'm talking about"!

Seeing Physics

We can see physics. Unlike studying chemistry, where everything is on the molecular level, physics can be flawlessly applied to everyday situations. For example, jumping, opening a door, unscrewing a lid, and pouring your morning coffee into your favorite mug. 

This is exactly why knowledge of physics is so important, because it is all around us, and it is important to know how the world works. Another reason learning physics is important is because then you will not embarrass yourself and confuse it with other natural events. For example, some people may think that looking into a mirror is physics, however, it is not. You do not want to make yourself look unintelligent by making mistakes like these. Some can speak from experience. Also, Physics is a great conversation starter. For example, when your friend drops their cell phone on the ground, you can share with them the rate at which the cell phone dropped. 9.8 meters per second squared to be exact. Knowing fun tid bits like these are a great way to steal someone's heart. 

A key component of physics is learning good problem solving skills. Problem solving is thinking critically and applying what you know, in order to solve a problem that you are unfamiliar with. 

I am facsinated by physics and how it explains the way the world works. Being a swimmer, I want to know how objects move under water, and why. Also, I am interested in the use of simple machines, and how the distance that an object moves, is inverse to the amount of force needed to move it. And lastly, I want to go metacognative and learn how Physics was discovered, and how we know what we know. 

In Physics this year, I hope to gain a better understanding of the science behind everyday occurrences. Also, given that Physics will be a challenging course, I plan to practice better time management skills. And lastly, I want to continue to push myself to master material and learn the importance of working hard towards something.