Blogpost

This is a picture of my iPhone Charger. This charger is able to convert AC power into DC power. The difference between AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) power is that AC is power that can move in either direction, and DC is power that can only move in one direction. This charger, like many other household appliances, has a voltage of 120 volts. Voltage, otherwise known as electric potential difference, is the potential difference between two points. Amperes is the SI unit of electric current that is equal to the amount joules per one coulomb. Voltage and Amperes are found on many utilities around the world. Many countries have different amount of voltage per household.

#20

As we continue to learn about charge and voltage, I am able understand the principles and concepts in this unit. A neat experiment that caught my attention was the Millikan’s Apparatus Experiment. Robert Millikan and Harvey Fletcher found the single charge of an electron. This charge is 1.5924(17)×10⁻¹⁹ C. They proved this theory by being able to suspend oil droplets in mid air due to the pull of electrons and a positive plate. They sprayed oil droplets between two plates of very high voltage. As they looked through their microscope, they saw droplets fall to the bottom plate, and many droplets were pulled to the top plate, but few were completely suspended in mid air.

Voltage

This past week we learned about voltage and charge. Voltage is the amount of joules per coulombs. Voltage and charge are related because the more “charged” something is, the voltage becomes stronger. For example, when a balloon is rubbed on someone’s head it becomes negatively charged. The amount of electrical potential energy is high, however the charge is relatively low. That's why you do not get shocked when you touch someone else with a charged balloon. Compared to the balloon, an outlet has a high amount of electrical potential energy, but also has a high amount of charge. This means that you will get shocked if you touch the inside of the outlet.

Blogpost: Charge

The world is made up of different and complex matter. This “matter” is made up of trillions of atoms, and each atom has protons, neutrons, and electrons orbiting around the atom. By knowing how many electrons an atom has, scientist can find out what the specific charge is of the atom. This charge is known as an electrical charge or force. These electrical forces vary in charges; positive, negative, and neutral. These charges have similar principles to the charges of a magnet. Like charges repel each other, unlike charges attract each other, and neutral charges attract both positive and negative charges.

Charge

This past week we learned about charge. There are different forms of charge such as electrical and static. A common charge that many people are familiar with is static charge, or static electricity. Most people are familiar with this charge when they play with balloons. When a balloon is rubbed up against hair or carpet, the balloon picks up electrons from the hair or carpet. This makes the balloon negatively charged. That is why when you put a charged balloon beside hair; your hair will be attracted to the balloon. Another form of this charge is when you rub your feet against the ground. Your body becomes negatively charged, and when you touch someone else who is neutrally charged, you both feel a zap. 

Blogpost, 200 words

I have learned many new things as the first semester of physics has flown by. I have learned momentum, energy, Newtons, speed, velocity, acceleration, and inertia. These are only a few and basic principles that I have been able to learn about and apply them to real life situations. Many labs helped my thinking process of these principles, and helped me fully understand what's really happening. My favorite lab that we did was the egg drop lab. This lab forced us to think outside of the box, and to use the principles of momentum, contact time, cushion, and velocity. Fortunately, with a tacky yet effect design, our egg survived. Another lab that helped me understand the laws of physics was the Momentum cart lab. This lab showed us how the law of conservation of momentum was applied to the carts. The carts rolled along the track and bumped into each other. The momentum of the moving cart, transferred it's energy into the other cart. Also, we had very accurate quantitative data being recorded which helped us see the physics involved while the carts bumped into each other. I am happy but sad that the first semester is ending. We are half way through the year, and as a senior I want to fulfill every opportunity I can while in school. I am looking forward to learning much more material in Physics.

Blogpost #13

This week we are understanding the law of energy. There are many types of energy such as heat, light, and joules. We are focusing more on joules, and the affect it has on objects. Joules is measured by the height of an object times it's mass times by gravitational pull. Also, while understanding Joules, we are understanding kinetic and potential energy. These two energies are found when objects are in motion or at rest. Potential energy is energy that is found at rest and kinetic energy is found in motion.