Physics, Monday, Class #3, Period 4

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam was probably looking a little tired as the students entered, but that didn't stop her from smiling at them, even as she held to her coffee mug like a lifeline. "I know I promised that we'd address Einsteinian definitions of gravity, but I've decided that makes more sense to discuss when we get into relativity. Today we'll be looking at the laws of thermodynamics. Traditionally, there have been three laws, but fairly recently a fourth--or zeroeth--has been added." She wrote four equations on the board and passed out some handouts explaining the laws in more significant detail.

"So, why do we care?" She paced back and forth in front of the class, gesturing with her coffee and perhaps jostling a person or two who might be dozing. "Because it explains how heat and energy work both within a single system and between systems. They explain how one event will always have a ripple effect, even if its ultimate result is completely unpredictable."

"For the rest of class, I'd like you to work on the experiment that's detailed in your handout packets. You may work either alone or in teams of two. Please be careful using the bunsen burners and make sure to wear the safety goggles at all times. I'll expect to see your graphs and charts at the end of class. Just leave them on the desk before you go."

[ooc: OCD in a second! is up!]

Comments

Re: Experiment!

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Of course John interrupted, but not until the end. He had to distill all of Rodney's words into one simple phrase. "So we're determining a cooling curve. Why didn't you just say so?"

Re: Experiment!

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"Well, I was hoping that I wouldn't have to dumb it down for you too much," he huffed. "Would you like to begin?" Rodney asked mockingly.

Re: Experiment!

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Sure. Let's get this burner started," John replied, snapping his glasses into place and hopping off the counter so Rodney couldn't set his rear on fire.

Re: Experiment!

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"Be careful with that, I'm rather fond of my eyebrows," Rodney cautioned. "You must play the game, but you can't win," he said to himself as he got ready to record their results.

Re: Experiment!

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Can't break even, can't quit the game," John added, finishing the chant. What? He knew stuff.

Re: Experiment!

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," Rodney automatically agreed. "Wait," he paused with a hint of confusion in his voice. "You know that." Now, his voice was mostly filled with wonder.