Course Reflections

So far, I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoy this course. Normally, I don't like science. But this year I am actually finding Physics to be a very fun class. Of course, I am worried that the material will get harder later in the year. But I have no doubts that class will still be fun.

My goals for this class, especially after having such a hard time in Chemistry last year, are to enjoy the experience, understand the concepts, and earn at least a final A- grade. Although, right now, I'm feeling that as long as I'm enjoying myself, I shouldn't be stressing too much over my grade.

I feel that, so far, I have been fairly consistent in my effort and performance on labs, quizzes, and homeworks. I think I should work at being more consistent on tests but, overall, I am ok with what I have done so far.

As for my "state of mind" about this course, I have, as you can see, chosen a balloon as my image. This is because I feel that while I am hovering around the same place grade-wise, sometimes I am confused at the beginning and my head is "full" of air rather than information. However, by the middle of the section I usually have begun to understand. At the same time, I chose a balloon to represent how much fun I am having in this class.

Overall, I am having a great time in this class and I hope the rest of the year will be just as enjoyable.

Newton's Laws in Action

On Saturday, we were at my sister's gymnastics class and I noticed a beginner's class jumping over small, padded blocks. As the kids jumped one by one, I realized that this was Newton's laws in action.
In order for the kid to jump over the block, he had to be able to exert enough upward force to counter the downward pull of gravity. By doing this he would be changing his net force. Initially, before he jumped, the boy would have a net force of zero and he was at equilibrium. At this point, the free body diagram would have two equal forces, the downward force of weight and the upward normal force.
However, in the instant that he jumped, by pushing off from the ground, the boy had increased the upward force and therefore caused his body to rise off the ground. In this instant his net force is no longer zero because the greater upward force means the two forces no longer cancel out.