Physics Reflection For Section 2

             What I learned…
               This chapter, I learned more than I thought was possible! From parabolas to acceleration, I feel that as a class we are getting more in depth with physics. Starting with Newton’s second law, i felt things were getting more complicated, but more interesting. I learned that acceleration is equal to the net force over the mass, and also that acceleration in equation equals gravity! (a=g). I also learned how to find the distance of something falling (d=1/2gt²) and its velocity (v=gt). After this, we look a bid leap and starting to learn about how things fall. I learned how to calculate an object velocity and distance in the air at any given moment. I also learned that in freefall, objects acceleration is always 10m/s², and that all objects fall at the same rate during freefall because there is no air resistance. Things got a little more complicated when we put air resistance into the mix, but it soon got easier. Air resistance relies on the surface area of an object (among other things), so if it has a larger surface area, then the terminal velocity (the speed it reaches so that its at equilibrium meaning the net force is the same as the air resistance) is greater. While learning about parabolas I found out that horizontal force is always constant while vertical force changing and increases.

                     What I found difficult....
              With so many new concepts this section, I felt like I was struggling a little at the beginning with parabolas and vertical motion, along with knowing how to calculate an objects height off the ground at any second while its in the air. I also struggled with learning how to calculate an objects velocity without air resistance. Learning everything about air resistance after learning about free fall was hard. One concept was so easy, while air resistance was more challenging to grasp.
            

           Problem solving skills....
               I feel that my problem solving skills have greatly improved this section. I am now able to calculate an objects height in air or how long it will take a box to drop to the ground out of a plane. I find it easier to determine which formulas to use for each problem and I am learning how to actually answer the question I am asked. While we added ne equations such as a=Fnet/m and Fnet=Fweight- Fair, I am now used to plugging them in to find the answer to questions I am asked. Every section I feel as if my problem solving skills improve more and more!

              Connections to Physics in the everyday world!
                    This entire section, everything we have learned has been relevant to the outside world. Many of our labs, such as calculating the height of Anderson demonstrated the use of physics in the real world. Like I said in the questions above, I am learning how to relate everything in the world to Physics, and I am finding that physics has to do with almost everything! Finding out how high an object will go in the air if I throw it in the air at 40 m/s is now a much simpler task than before I took your class. Even now, looking back to the test we took on the first day to assess our skills, I already feel much more confidant that I could answer those questions much more sufficiently. Most of the examples we used for net force and air resistance had to do with parachutes, skydivers, and cats anyways! Our world revolves around physics.