Interdisciplinary Studies, Class 2, Friday, Period 1

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

"All right, kids," Squall said, as he tossed the sign-in clipboard in their direction. "Today we're going to actually learn something useful. But first--"

He produced a bag from behind his desk, reached into it, and pulled out a single-serving-size packed of Fig Newtons. "Turns out, the guy in THIS universe who invented all the stuff I'm about to tell you was named after these cookies. Or whatever." He shrugged. "Hey, I was in the store, okay? And they're good." He chucked a few packets hard at each student, and then lobbed a few in high arcs over the class. "You see the shape they make when they travel? That's a parabola. Because of a constant downward force. Write that down."

"So, today we're going to learn some of the basic principles on which the universe works. Except not really."

Squall fixed the class with a level gaze.


"What I'm about to tell you is a lie. A useful lie. In fact, it's so close to the truth that you'll never be able to measure how wrong it is." He shrugged. "Unless you're travelling really, really fast. Or you're dealing with things that are really, really small. Still, this isn't actually the way the universe works, just a close approximation. I'm not going to tell you the REAL equations, because they're complicated and don't make any sense."


"So. First. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If I push on the wall, the wall pushes on me."

"Second. 'An object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends'... whatever. Things don't move unless you push 'em. Got that?"

"And third." He wrote "F = ma" on the board. "That's the big one. Force equals mass times acceleration. When you apply a force to something it accelerates. And when you understand that equation, you unlock all kinds of secrets of the universe. Or whatever." He pulled out a stack of papers that looked remarkably like they had been photocopied out of a physics textbook. "And my notes say I got those in the wrong order. So... Ah, who cares."

The next 15 minutes that followed were just Squall copying things off the papers onto the board. Lots of math was involved, and little explanation.


"Okay, so. Now we're going outside. I've got water balloon launchers and water balloons. Get into groups of three and try to shoot the balloons as far as you can. Experiment with different angles and see what angle gives you the best distance -- if you were following the lecture, you should already know." No, you shouldn't. "Don't aim at each other, or at any buildings, while I'm looking at you."

Comments

Sign in

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

You know. The thing you do.

Re: Sign in

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

The thing I do? I slay.

Re: Sign in

[orewahikari.livejournal.com]

Roxas doesn't do much. But at least he's signed in.

During the lecture

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

It's a long one. You should have gotten some snacks.

Re: During the lecture

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

Somewhere after "Parabola" Mel had already finished her Fig Newtons (Which were no where good as twinkies) and was snoring softly with her head on the desk.

Re: Launch water balloons

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

Squall walked over and brought a yardstick down on the desk an inch from her ear.

Re: During the lecture

[orewahikari.livejournal.com]

Luckily, the Fig Newtons double as snacks! They're strange tasting, though - but Roxas is eating them anyway. He'd probably eat dirt if someone dared him.

Re: During the lecture

[the_merriest]

Rikku doesn't have a hand free for snacks. Not when she's scribbling madly and trying to keep up.

Science is cooooooooool.

Re: During the lecture

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra learned long ago to eat whenever the chance presented itself. So while she sort of paid attention to the first part of the lecture, she quickly decided that she knew all of that. Motion is sort of what she did, after all.

Which meant that the second half of the lecture was spent gathering whatever Newtons were not claimed and/or eaten by other students.

Mmm... figgy.

Re: During the lecture

[key-of-heart.livejournal.com]

Sora stared blankly at Squall during most of the lecture.

Re: During the lecture

[flamingbonehead.livejournal.com]

Johnny took detailed notes on the lecture, understanding the way the arcs worked, but not the math behind it.

And because he had promise, he was still wearing all the goop Blackheart had put on his face earlier (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhighdorms/1216816.html).

Re: During the lecture

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny had Fig Newtons AND cigarettes, which already made this class more nutritious than many a dinner she'd had.

Re: During the lecture

[intraspective]

Ino tried the Fig Newtons and made a face. Nasty. She nibbled on them though as she wrote her notes up.

Hey, at least she understood some of it.

Group up

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

Unless you think you can work a water balloon launcher on your own. Which I don't recommend.

Re: Group up

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

Mel looked around to see who might be willing to nail Squall with a water balloon when he wasn't looking.

Re: Group up

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra looked around, frowning. These launcher things were silly. Bulky, cumbersome, and hard to use. She was thinking about just wandering around throwing water balloons by hand. At least that way she was pretty sure she could hit what she aimed at.

On the other hand, the assignment was to group up. Maybe that would be a better idea.

Re: Group up

[flamingbonehead.livejournal.com]

Johnny headed over ot the water balloon launchers and started poking at how they worked.

Launch water balloons

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

These things are MASSIVELY unsafe. Have fun!!!

Re: Launch water balloons

[not_in_the_book]

"Ready," Ronan said, stepping back a tad.

Answer the question

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

What's the best angle?
(Answer: aiming towards Pixie Dust. Or else 45 degrees.)

Talk to the TA

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

After she pings in

Re: Talk to the TA

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny was here, munching on Fig Newtons. The breakfast of champions. All she needed now was tea.

Be annoying

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

Talk to Squall after class.

OOC

[whatever-sucks.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I'm a massive math & science geek. So sue me.

It's not TOO much like real school, is it?

Re: OOC

[orewahikari.livejournal.com]

Man, I'd forgotten how much I liked random physics stuff. I miss school.

... I just proclaimed myself the most pathetic person in the history of the world, didn't I.