Friday, April 12, 2013

After boat race reflection

I. • because it was to thin (as in the cardboard was thin)
• because there wasn't enough layers to keep it sturdy.
• because the boat was too small and it dissolved in the water quicker.
• because the rows were not communicating and allowed the boat to flip, crash, or sink.

II. The physics basic principles to keep you boat afloat is to have a structure design/ built, rows must communicate with each to you all won't row in the same side and flip over, and lastly the group must have a fulling thought out plan for the safety of their boat before it is time for the boat races.

III. The lowest center of mass is most stable, this will be important go the cardboard boat captain to know because when picking who will row the boat in the race they will know to assign the group member who are the lightest the position of rowing.

IV. Although our boat did not when the race, we were really proud of our boat. The structure of our boat was sturdy and it never sank until towards the en when we were having troubles. But technically our boat didn't sink we made is down and back (a full lap) in one piece, until I flipped out of it. The only is sure we had in rowing our boat was that we protected to boat so good that it was heavy and extremely hard to row which cause is the tide the water in a slow pace. It was Taylor and I rowing the boat and it was still heavy. I don't think that even stronger guys would've been able to row it and if the could've it probably would've sank quicker being that they would've been heavier.

V. The best rowing technics probably would have been both rows picking one side to row on and trying their best to stay in the center of their lane because it becomes harder to row when swerving. They should also try their best not to peddle to fast in the beginning because they will tire themselves out really fast and lose their peddle/ water connections.

VI. I would not layer the bottom of our boat with three rectangle cardboard layers plus cardboard barrels because it was too much weight and made it heavy. I would also come up with a better rowing strategies because maybe that had something to do with why it was so hard to row.

But overall I really enjoyed the races and making the boats and can't wait to watch them next year.

Week 20

This week in physics we performed the task of another project called the marshmallow catapult. I was honestly pretty nervous about this project because I was working alone and was getting the project confused with a sling shot but with my research in YouTube I discovered ways to make a catapult. With making the catapult I thought it was gonna be hard but it wasn't. I didn't even need much got this project all of the tool needed were in the comfort of my own home. I used a shoe box, pencils, two rubber bands, and tape. This project was fairly simple and didn't take me long to do. The obstacle that we had to fulfill was to get our catapult to launch our marshmallow at at least 3 meters I believe, but we a practice it at home I believe it was close enough. This week we did a few launchings but I was unable to do mine to show Mr. Abud. But it's fine I think I did good making my catapult. We talked a little about gravitational forces concerning how things are launched. Overall this week wasn't too bad.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Week 24

This week in physics was basically all about the cardboard box boat races. The day had finally come this week were we had to race against other boats at the school swimming pool. My group consisted of Taylor, Hannah, Raven, Breanna, Makai, and I. My group and I worked long and hard in our broad in decided how we were gonna make the boat. It took is on decided which design we would use because we were really worried in sinking our boats and even losing against other boats. We wanted to make something sturdy enough to hold Taylor and I and prevent the boat from sinking. We created the bold and to use it was a normal size but when coming to school we noticed that our bold was pretty and well created. We layered the bottom boat with three layers and adding barrels hoping that it will float an sail easily. We wee continent about our bold but felt bad about others boats as we watched people flip over and quickly sink. But now the time came when we had to put all worries aside and win the race and keep our heads above water. Compared to the other boats we were going against the boats bigger and more sturdy. We started off in the lead when troubles struck and got stuck and continue the path if the race. Looking over to see that lane two ( use being in lane 3) they have sank and their cardboard boat race career was over. The we finally got at the end and then had trouble with turning the boat to go back to wee we started and win this race. When we see lane one back at the starting point and has won the race. Taylor and I are discouraged, frustrated and very disappointed but all those eyes watching us and being that we had no other way of getting out of that now stupid boat we finished strong slowly but surely when a scary surprise struck. The bottom of the boat was beginning to sink and we were beginning to feel pool water at our ankles and calfs. We got scared but were so close when I flip out of the boat and had to swim back to shore. As Taylor was half in and half out if the boat doggy peddling back to shore. People began to sheer as they suffered watching us suffer in that long race to survive. Our problem was with our boat we believe that is was to heavy which made it more difficult to paddle and tide the water. Overall I am proud oft team and our boat because our design was amazing and we never gave up on our boat or ourselves throughout this project.

Week 26

It is SPRING BREAK, therefore we covered nothing this week in physics!!!

Week 25

This week in physics we learned more about energy and it's modes of it such as gravitational, elastic, and kinetic and how it is graphed and positioned depending in its situation. We learned more about LOL and how it relates in spring and cart situations. In LOL there is always graphing the position from its beginning, middle and end.

We also went over our assessments as a class this week. I didn't really think I did well in the assessments but I got a better understanding of energy and how it works and in the end I ended doing better than I thought.

This week we also did an activity to discover and figure out exactly what work is. Like when pick up a chair and putting it back down on the floor, the "work" in this situation is picking up the chair because no work is needed when placing the vide back on the ground. We further our notes in power and energy this week on how both is transferred in the simple everyday. We were given more equations of how power is dictated by gravitational force and work. But that was this week and thankful it's over and technically spring break!