Calculate the stress in the pole that crosses the picture nearest to you in the upper right corner. And calculate the frequencies of the lowest twenty modes of vibration of the structure. (It’s the temporary stand at Lake Karapiro put up for the World Rowing Championships. Had a very enjoyable day there on Thursday.)
Continue readingTag: Newton’s laws
Unconventional projectiles
I thought that sometimes I over-analyzed things for their physics content but obviously I have a long way to go… http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/physics-of-angry-birds/ Rhett Alain, a fellow physics-blogger 🙂 discusses his favourite computer game… This reminds me that several years ago I looked at a PhD thesis about the mathematical modelling of deformation – i.e. describing how an object […]
Continue readingPendulum mayhem
One of the main intentions of our 2nd year Experimental Physics paper at the University of Waikato is to have students learn how to put together a physics experiment that measures something, and to measure that thing in a systematic and robust manner. What that means in practice is dealing with uncertainties. Whereas the average […]
Continue readingDimensional analysis
In my experimental physics class, I’ve been doing a bit of work with the students on dimensions and dimensional analysis. Most people who’ve done some physics have some intuition about it, but dimensional analysis puts it on a formal, and often useful footing. Here’s a brief potted summary for those who don’t want to try […]
Continue readingWindy Hamilton
With our low-pressure-area-the-size-of-Australia still very much in residence, I’m beginning to forget what a still, sunny day is like. I have to say that in my experience (six years) Hamilton is a pretty wind-free place. It’s certainly a lot quieter than where I lived near Portsmouth in the UK, which would be frequently blasted by […]
Continue readingIrrelevant physics
Here’s a question taken from a well-used first-year undergraduate physics text: Suppose you are standing on the center of a merry-go-round that is at rest. You are holding a spinning bicycle wheel over your head so that its rotation axis is pointing upward. The wheel is rotating counterclockwise when observed from above. Suppose you now […]
Continue readingNewton’s third law
In yesterday’s tutorial I had an enlightening discussion with the students about Newton’s third law. Enlightening for me just as much as I hope it was for them. You’ll find the law in textbooks phrased something like "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". Sounds simple, and to someone who is well […]
Continue readingMindless Monday
Here’s something that is only tenuously related to physics, but will help you cope with your Monday. Yahoo’s top ten worst cars ever. Those of you who want some physics can evaluate whether the final statement on the description of the Mini Moke (that you were in danger of falling out on roundabouts) is over-exaggeration. http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/23072010/36/top-ten-worst-cars-0.html
Continue readingYuk physics
What’s small, brown, damp, disguisting, goes round in circles, and is still alive? Answer: A cockroach in a washing machine. Finding one in amongst the sheets as you haul them into the laundry basket isn’t very pleasant, I can tell you. Unfortunately, in the northern North Island, the Gisborne cockroach (an Aussie import) is rather […]
Continue readingThe context doesn’t change the laws of physics
No, I didn’t stay up to watch the New Zealand v Slovakia game last night. Based on the grand sample size of one match each, NZ is as good as England. Not sure who that compliments / insults, though for you UK readers (I know there are some), the public reaction here to a 1-1 […]
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