Physics Blog 6 "The Fan & The Keys"

Today, I tried to throw the house keys over one of the blades of the ceiling fan.  As the keys came down, they managed to hit the fan blade (...the fan was off...). 


When I threw the keys up into the air, they had an acceleration of -9.8 m/s^2.  As the keys slowed down, and peaked, the keys still had an acceleration of -9.8 m/s^2, but the velocity at the peak was 0.  On they way down, they keys again had an acceleratin of -9/8 m/s^2 until the keys came into contact with the fan blade.  The keys had momentum, while the fan blade and 0 momentum.  Because the keys "bounced" off the fan blade, the type of collision would be.... (drum roll please)...bouncy. :D The impulse (change in momentum) seemed to be big from where I was standing because the keys only bounced a little off the fan and the velocity after the collision also seemed very small compared to before. 


On the bright side, I managed to catch the keys before they hit the floor...so it wasn't a total fail.  And...a physics blog came out of the situation. :P

Physics Blog 5 "Energy Backstage"

Saturday was the last day The Crucible was performed by IDP.  I was running around backstage trying to get the boys make-up done and trying to get myself ready before I had to be onstage.  Off stage right, there is a tall staircase leading up to the senior girls dressing rooms.  The first time i went up those stairs, I didn't realize the physics going on.  As i stood at the bottom of the staircase, I had zero potential energy with respect to the ground and zero kinetic energy because I wasn't moving.  Once I started my ascent up to the dressing room, i started to gain not only kinetic, but also potential energy.  After reaching the top, I noticed that I had a lot of potential energy because it was very high off the ground.  It's a good thing I'm not afraid of heights. 


On a side note, a lot of people kept falling down stairs.  Maybe subconciously they all wanted their PE to be zero, or maybe we were all just tired.  :D


For those of y'all who saw the show, I hope you enjoyed it.