Nova

During our physics class, we watched part of a movie "Nova". It talks about the complicated theories of the universe and how everything works, from the molecular level to black holes and parallel universes. It introduces general relativity and quantum mechanics, which can get pretty confusing at times, but I still want to know more about the topic. When they get into parallel universes, it really makes me wonder if there was another same earth somewhere out there with the same people doing the same things, just with different outcomes. And how quantum mechanics say that everything is possible - like if you tried enough times you would somehow be able to walk through a concrete wall. 

The movie explained how these great scientists (Newton, Einstein, Bohr, Maxwell) worked all their life on trying to create equations to understand how things really worked. They really got into the deeper information that was used in understanding these sciences. Especially for Einstein, how he dedicated his life to trying to unify general relativity and electromagnetism. He ignored all the newly made discoveries which left him behind and continued working on what he'd started off before. It makes me marvel at how involved he was with all his work. 

Also, the string theory saying that everything, literally everything (all the forces, atoms, etc) is made of tiny vibrating strings. Because these strings are so tiny, it is impossible to prove that this theory is real. Although all of this is very hard to comprehend, I think I would appreciate learning more about this more in the future than I would be before.

Reflection - Science project

Over the past few weeks Connie, Gene, and I were assigned a project. We were given a 2 metre ramp and a cardboard box with weights in it. We were to study and calculate all the forces acting on the box as it slid down the ramp. I didn't like the idea of it at first; with the long list of instructions and words I wasn't quite familiar with, but as we researched about it off the internet and asked Mr Loken the right questions, the group slowly began to understand the problem more clearly. Although there was a lot of heavy and new math concepts to be learnt as well during this project, I think the group was open to learning all the new information. 

What I liked about the project is that we were able to work at our own pace, and that we had a final due date, not many little ones. But at that, I didn't like the fact that we were just given a set of instructions, some equipment, some resources, and a due date. Yes, thank you, Mr Loken for helping us understand and calculate the forces behind this simple, yet complicated movement of the box down the ramp, but it gave all the members in the group a headache when we first heard what we were supposed to do. 

What bugged me at the end of all this is that we didn't manage to find the coefficients of friction between the wooden ramp and the cardboard box which cost us a few points on the overall. I should really read through all the instructions on the paper next time...

Frankly, though, I think we learned a lot through this project, even if we didn't manage to communicate our newly gained knowledge to the rest of the class effectively. Sadly to say, I have no real suggestions on improving the way this was organized, I think it'll do fine for next year.