Professor, you must keep up with the smartphones!

Today, I spent about 10 minutes (that's a lot of time in the lab!) explaining how to correctly use a protractor.  

Students listened carefully and, when I finished, did that:




The person who learned today was me. Here is the lesson: Drop the protractor, and keep up with the modern world!

Partial Solar Eclipse in NJ

This Saturday, October 14, 2023, we will experience a partial solar eclipse.  Even if we see only about 25% of the Sun covered by the Moon, it is worth it!  

Here is what to do:

  1. Step outside at about 12:10 PM.  The eclipse will have already started.
  2. Locate the Sun and watch it with your solar viewing glasses.
  3. The Moon will cover the lower right corner of the Sun.
  4. You can use your glasses to cover the phone lenses and take pictures.
  5. The maximum is expected at about 1:20 PM
  6. The phenomenon will last until about 2:30 PM
If you want to share all cool pictures, please send them and we will post them here!

Please visit timeanddate.com for more details.

All the Hard Work!


 All these crossed lines, repeated measurements, and corrected notes! This is a true learning here.  No "ready-made" answers, all of what students learn, they discover themselves.  I prefer the workbook in which I see the process of discovery rather than a nice note copied from somewhere.  Nowadays, you can easily find an answer to any question, just by opening your favorite browser... That, however, is not learning.  That is copying answers from the Internet.  Sometimes I am under the impression that copying without understanding.  
I propose something different: a hard-copy workbook in which you must write yourself, correct, re-do... Yes, I like the workbook which shows the process, not the final product.  

The Next Total Solar Eclipse in NY on April 8, 2024

The next total solar eclipse will be visible in the New York area in exactly 5 years, on April 8, 2024 (see the Eclipse Map). 


The Next Total Solar Eclipse in the US on October 14, 2023

 The next total solar eclipse will be visible in the United States on October 14, 2023 (see the Eclipse Map). 

Source: Time and Date

Sustainable Energy at Great Falls, Paterson, NJ


 There is no better place to discuss sustainable energy than the Great Falls Historical Park in Paterson, NJ.

The Effect of White Noise on the Growth of Plants


 Kimberly presents her research on the effect of white noise on the growth of plants, specifically she compared the growth of peas and microgreens when exposed to white noise.

The Effect of Ultrasound Stimulation on the Growth of Alfalfa


Daniela presents her research on the effect of ultrasound stimulation on the growth of alfalfa.



 

Wood-Wood Static and Kinetic Friction Coefficient


 Data was collected by Jessie, Zani, Gian, and Kendrick.

The graph was made in Desmos by Kendrick.

Distance vs. Time in Accelerated Motion

 

Graph by De'sirae based on data collected in class

According to the equation of accelerated motion, d0 = at2/2 + v0t + d0,
the parameters of motion are:
  • Acceleration a = 0.11 m/s2
  • Original velocity v0 = 0.24 m/s
  • Original distance d0 = 0.40 m