Unit 7

Magnetism
Magnetism is caused by charges that are moving in all random directions when they are not magentized. They are sometimes in clusters we know as Domains. In a Domain, the electrons are all spinning the same way. They do not have an overall net direction until they are magnetized and then they align to match the magnetic field so that the charges in that field can continue to flow through.

Electromagnetic induction


transformers


power


generator


motor

generator effect


motor effect

10 ways we see physics!!!

We learned in physics about how magnets turn wind turbines. That coils are placed around magnets and when the wind blows the shaft turns the magnets over the coils to create a magnetic field to keep the wings on the turbine to keep moving.






Magnets, we learned in physics, have a magnetic field caused by polarity and charges moving all around. We know that the source of all magnetism is moving charges. Domains of other metal objects align with that of the magnet and stick to it.




As we learned, physics can even be applied to tides and the way the earth moves. We know that the distance from the sun  and that difference between the two opposing sides of the earth is the true reason that tides occur. Its not necessarily the moon that causes the tides.



Water has polarity to. This is physics applied in water. See how it sticks together? Its cool to see how the lack of gravity affects water. Space physics is pretty interesting!


Astrophysics! Another way of looking at space through gravity and physics. Remember how learned that gravity acting on you = weight, which  is less on top of a mountain, and that your weight is really just your distance from the center of the earth? Well gravity has an even more important role in space.



Momentum is an element of physics and even exists in swimming and water. Momentum is actually inertia in motion.


We can even find Newtons 1st 2nd and 3rd laws in music!!!!



This video shows how movies defy Newtons laws and the basic rules of physics.



This is an example of free fall in physics.


This video shows how video games and movies create realistic ways of abiding by Newton's laws and laws of motion in physics.

Current

Currents- The flow of charges through an object. It is measured in amperes. There are two types. Direct current and Alternating Current. We use both in society.
DC- Direct Current. (Charges only flow in one direction) hint: used in batteries.
AC- Alternating Current (charges flow and change in opposite directions). We manipulate Alternating Current by alternating the polarity of the voltage. AC is used in common household appliances.

Unit 6

Electricity and how we use it

Current

Conductor

Insulator


There are three ways to charge an object:

Induction- A charged object moves toward a neutral object. The like charges in both objects repel and so these charges in the neutral object separate and are polarized. The opposite charges in both objects move closer together and need to find the path of least resistance to eachother. The object is thus polarized and charged.
Friction- objects rub together to make charge. "electrons are borrowed"

Direct contact- things give eachother charge by touching directly

There are positive and negative charges. Electrons are negative and Protons are positive. Say an object has more of on or the other, then the one that it has most is the overall charge of the object. Negative charges repel eachother and positive charges repel eachother. But negative and positive charges attract.

Scientists are not so sure what causes lighting. But they do know how it works. Lighting is just a giant version of Induction. The clouds have charges and the ground has charges. Positive charges attract the negative charges in the ground. The cloud and ground are polarized and the like charges need to find the path of least resistance to the ground. The charges then "jump" accross the space- creating a flash of electric current called lighting. Lightning rods on houses help the lighting find the path of least resistance (because the rods are straight and are directly connected to the ground) so that the lighting will not pass through the house or building but will pass through the rod instead.

Coulombs law- distance is inversely proportional to the force between objects F= K q1 q2/ d squared



electric feilds
E= F/q
We usually talk about how the positive charges effect this field
Arrows show us how the field will affect a positive charge. Inward arrows say that the feild is negatively charged and outward arrows say that the feild is positively charged. Arrows that are far from the center of the field or that are farther apart from eachother show a weak field.

Voltage- The electric potential energy difference.  (difference between two points). (measured in volts).We also use it to measure how much energy is available out of one Coulumb of charge.
If there is a large difference in charge, then there is a large difference in potential energy. Which means that there is a large difference in Kinetic Energy since PE=KE.
V= change in PE/ q

Ohms law-shows the relationship between voltage and current through the use of resistance.

Resistance is a force that slows down the current and makes it weaker. If the voltage is stronger then the current is stronger, which would mean that the resistance is lower. Resistance is inversely proportional to current and voltage. Voltage and Current are directly proportional to eachother. The equation is I= V/R.
Ways of manipulating resistance: To make it more resitance -->
 Lengthen the filament in the light bulb or make it a thinner filament. Resistance is also measured in ohms.

Currents- The flow of charges through an object. It is measured in amperes. There are two types. Direct current and Alternating Current. We use both in society.
DC- Direct Current. (Charges only flow in one direction) hint: used in batteries.
AC- Alternating Current (charges flow and change in opposite directions). We manipulate Alternating Current by alternating the polarity of the voltage. AC is used in common household appliances.

Capacitors- smooth out the current that is used. They have electrically charged plates that build up electric charge by passing electrons between them.
Electric Power- the rate in which electric energy can be converted
Power= energy/time
Power-= current times voltage
series and parallel circuits are used in electric power. Series is just one loop while Parallel has two loops of cuircuits connected to eachother. We learned that if we added more appliances to a series circuit, the resistance would increase and so we dont use series if we are  in need of the use of multiple appliances. Now Parallel works just the opposite: as we increase appliances, current increases and therefore voltage increases. And because they are inversely proportional to resistance: resistance decreases.

Fuses- When the current becomes too hot, a fuse melts and stops the current from blowing a circuit and prevents the circuit from turning into an electrical fire. The fuse can be inserted anywhere within a series circuit but must be inserted into the series part of the parallel circuit in order to be able to block dangerous heat from causing a fire in the parallel circuit.


This unit, at first, proved pretty difficult.  I had trouble on the test and some difficulty understanding what was being asked of me in the quizes. Homework seemed a bit confusing as well. But when I took the time to understand it and write a blog post- I found it pretty straight forward. Thanks Mr. Rue!

Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines are pretty cool. The wind turns their wings which turns into mechanical energy that in turn turns into electrical energy. When the flaps turn, the simple generator inside turns the mechanical energy into eletrical energy. The simple generator is made up of alternating magnets that create a magnetic field. When they are moved because of the wind, it shifts the magnetic field over copper coils. Change in the magnetic field induces voltage that is sent through the copper wires to create electric energy.

Materials:

2 pvc pipes
2 wooden poles
cardboard
2 wooden circular objects
copper wire
small magnets
tape
glue


First we cut the cardboard into ceiling fan shaped flaps. Then we cut one of the poles into 3 equally lengthed rods. We cut one end of each rod in half and Then glued the cardboard flaps at an angle onto each rod. Thn we drilled each rode into the same wooden circle with screws. We then drilled a hole into the wooden circle that would perfectly fit the other rod that is the shaft.  Then we attached the pvc pipe to a connector of sorts after we had cut the pvc pipe to size. We used the cardboard to carve out two circlular pieces that would fit on both sides of the connector that forms the head of the wind turbine. Then we took 4 magnets and glued them opposite eachother on the sides of the other wooden circle. We drilled a hole in the middle of this circle to also match the shaft. We inserted this circle on the other side of the shaft opposite the side where the wings were glued.  Now we had to make the coil. We used pvc pipe to form the ideal size of the coil. We wrapped the copper wire around the pvc pipe over and over until we formed a thick coil. We placed the coil in the throat of the pvc pipe where it connects to the head. We ran the coil  wire down the pipe and wrapped the wire around the pvc pipe so that it would stay. Then we took the shaft and ran it through the connector head and fit the two circular cardboard peices on the end and used tape to seal it. The magnets were situated right over the coil. We put the wind turbine up to the fan and it produced as much as 1.9 voltage!


Good tips:
Alternate the polarity of your magnets so that they may induce a current
Wrap your coil as much as possible so that more current may be induced
The more you wrap it the thicker the coil and the more voltage you will have.
Try to keep the magnets from sticking together when you glue them to one of the circles (we had a little trouble with that)
Make sure to keep in mind that your coil must have two wires that stick out on both ends so that they can be attached to clamps that will measure the voltage produced.

 Yayyy! Go Physics and Wind Turbining Making!!!

Making the best motor in the world!!!!

Voltage

This video shows what a voltage regulator is! I thought it was so cool! Its important to know other ways in which we apply voltage to our world and how it is used.