The tutor reviews the progress of thought about atoms through the ages. Democritus, a Greek philosopher living around 400 BC, is credited as the first promoter of the concept of the atom. He proposed that all matter consists of tiny, …
The tutor gives an example with friction force. I’ve never been curling. Even so, I can imagine the following question resonates with many curlers and spectators: A curling stone is released at 1.2m/s. If the coefficient of friction between the …
Physics: friction force: how far will the curling stone glide? Read more »
The tutor shows a basic example of calculating friction. The force of friction, Ff, on a flat surface is given by Ff = μFN where μ = coefficient of friction (often looked up from a table, or given) FN = …
As the ice melts away in the sun, the tutor entertains the heat involved. The heat of fusion is the amount of energy, per gram, that is required to melt solid to liquid without increasing its temperature. For ice, it’s …
The tutor tells another useful feature of the Sharp EL-520W: its built-in gravity constants. Maybe you’re in high school physics, so you’re doing calculations related to gravity. You might be using the Earthbound formula F=mg, or the universal one, F=Gm1m2/r2. …
Calculator usage: the gravity constants on the Sharp EL-520W Read more »
The tutor explains his recent understanding of a function he’s wondered about. I’ve noticed the ENG function on more than one calculator, but have never used it. I’ve always assumed it means “engineering”; since I’m not one, it makes sense …
Calculator usage: The ENG function on the Casio fx-260solar Read more »
The tutor shares a feature of LibreOffice Calc that’s very convenient. I don’t evaluate determinants very often, but in the past I’ve done it a few times. I find it’s a process that requires care. LibreOffice Calc will evaluate the …
Spreadsheets: LibreOffice Calc: the determinant of a matrix Read more »
Continuing about projectiles, the tutor finds the maximum height of the golf ball. My post from Oct 16 sets the premise: a golf ball is struck at 55m/s at 27° elevation. The velocity is resolved thus: vx=49m/s vy=25m/s To find …
Continuing with the golfing premise, the tutor finds the range of the projectile. While this post continues from yesterday’s, its premise begins with my Oct 16 one. We have a projectile whose horizontal velocity is 49m/s (see Oct 16), whose …
Physics: projectile motion: range of a projectile Read more »
The tutor continues about projectile motion. Back in my Oct 16 post, I began exploration of a projectile’s motion. The context is a golf ball shot at 55m/s, 27° elevation, over level ground. The post from October 16 resolves the …
Physics: projectile motion: time in air over level ground Read more »