Welcome To My Blog!

This Blog contains all of my Journals for Iolani Physics 2008-2009.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Sound Waves


While pondering about what to write for this journal, I was listening to I Miss You by Blink 182, and realized that my sound system could actually be my journal this time for physics! After reading about it in chapter 17.1, I realized sound waves have a lot to do with physics. Apparently, my sound system produces sound waves, which according to my text book are "longitudinal mechanical waves in a medium like air generated by vibrations such as the plucking of a guitar string or the oscillations of a loudspeaker." What sound waves do is create compression in the air, which then soars and makes it possible to hear. Compression literally compresses the air in front of the speaker's diaphragm, and sends out this compression into the air. These particles from the waves consistently move "forward and backward" according to the book, as the diaphragm constantly decreases pressure by moving inwards, causing a process called rarefaction. Therefore, your sound system creates a cycle like path where it is constantly moving in and out, compressing and rarefaction, and back to compressing! :) Note: The sound system connected to my laptop consists of the three white domes!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Potential Energy??? HECK YEA!



As I was pondering about what to do for my next physics journal, I thought of the easiest one ever. POTENTIAL ENERGY! Potential Energy is simply once something is above ground, it has a stored energy called potential energy. The equation for this is PE = mass x gravity x height. So here in my picture, I am standing right outside my balcony into the distance, knowing that I have Potential Energy! Even when walking around the house and jumping up and down, I have potential energy AND Kinetic energy in respect to the ground floor. But in respect to the carpet at home, I have NO potential energy whatsoever, unless i somehow climb on top of a chair or table. Kinetic Energy is basically when an object is in motion. The equation for this is KE = .5 x mass x velocity^2. Cool, isn't it? Note: In a frictionless condition, the following equation applies, when transitioning between potential and kinetic energy: PEa + KEa = PEb + KEb!!!!