Physics

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

*The classroom probably smells strongly of lemons. And the teacher is exhausted, but giddy in the way only geeks can be.*

Hello, everyone. Coffee and snacks are in the back next to the roster. And sorry about the lemon overdosage, but believe me when I say the momento mori would have been even worse.

Today we will be doing an experiment on the acceleration of gravity. Pair up, do the lab, and you can leave.



*This experiment uses the free fall apparatus set up in the back room (the tall pipe with the heavy tripod base and spark timer). Run the wax coated paper up from the bottom and through the top of the apparatus with the wax coated side out (it should be on the front of the support pipe, just in front of the wire next to the pipe), use the chained on clip to hold it taut and position the paper slightly off center so you can make more than one run on each piece of paper. Turn on the electricity (both the large panel and the spark timer) and hang the plum-bob (the string with the bolt on one end), with the pointed end up, on the bottom of the blue magnet, point to point.*

*Using the leveling screws at the base, center the bolt exactly between the wires. Replace the plum-bob with the falling body (pointed end up). Make sure that the timer is turned on for at least a minute and leave the master switch on until you are done with all of your trials. Slightly before one of your group members turns off a circuit breaker on the electrical panel, another member should press AND HOLD the spark switch on the spark timer.*

*The same person should not do both as this could lead to a very shocking experience! This should produce a series of spark dots on the waxed paper and if the spark switch is held down too long, it will also produce flames which will quickly consume your data. Using the method of differences, determine the acceleration of gravity. NOTE: You will need to use this method twice, the first time to get velocity and the second to get the acceleration. Average this second set to get the acceleration of gravity. The spark timer produces 60 (0.1) sparks per second. You should make at least three trials and at least one must be worked out by hand.*

Comments

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

*signs in and waits for Roy, wondering if he wants to flip the breaker or hit the spark swittch*

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John signs in and waits for a possible partner.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam signs in. God, she hates group work.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Wanna partner up, Sam? Make it painless and get outta here quick?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Oh, thank god you're here, John. Yes, please." Let's hear it for having a partner who won't accidentally electrocute her.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John smiles. "Glad to see you too. I wasn't too keen on getting myself buzzed either. Sounds easy enough. Ready to give the experiment a try?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah." She walks over to the experiment by way of the coffee table and grabs herself a cup. She needs it after falling asleep in Classics. "Do you want a cup?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John waves off the cup of coffee. "Nah, had one. Too much caffeine gives me a headache." John heads over to the experiment, gathering their wax coated paper and the other supplies.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Okay." Sam grabs her cup and takes it over to the experiment and begins setting things up. "How's Aeryn?"

The clip is giving her some trouble. "Stupid wax paper. It's so hard to work with."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Things are better. I love her too much to be an idiot for too long. Let me know if you need some help. If not, let me know when it's ready and I'll turn on the juice and then we can hang the plumb bob."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Good. She seemed much better after she knocked Coach Ash unconscious." She finally clipped on the wax paper. "Got it."

She eyed the wax paper to make sure it was secure and backed slightly away from the structure. "Okay, fire it up."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John nods and hits the juice on the large panel and spark timer.

"Time for the plumb bob?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I guess. You want to do it, or would you rather I did?" She's already run this experiment in her past life, so she's more than ready to hand the fun stuff off to John if he wants it.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Sure," John says and goes to work hanging the plumb bob carefully. When it's hanging correctly, he smiles. "What's next?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"You want the spark switch or the circuit breaker?" Sam asks as she sets the timer.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I'll take...spark switch," John says and gets into his position. "Let me know when you're about to hit the breaker so I can turn on the switch first."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam moves to stand next to the breaker and puts her hand on the toggle. "Okay, ready when you are."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John nods and presses and holds the spark switch. "Go Sam," he says.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam flips the breaker. "Did it work?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Well, nothing's on fire so I didn't hold the switch too long." John goes to examine the piece of paper. He gives a thumbs up. "Looks good."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Okay," she said, releasing the breaker. "Set it up again, I guess. Your hands are stronger than mine--maybe you'll have better luck with the clip."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Right." John goes about setting the wax paper taught with the clip. He fiddles with it for a minute before setting it straight. "There we go."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam stares at her hands for a second. "Stupid girl hands. You used to be so much stronger."

She hangs the plumb bob, sets the timer, then returns to her place at the breaker.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John gets set with the spark switch again. "Just tell me when, Sam."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Go ahead, John."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John presses down on the spark switch. "Your turn," he says with a grin.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam walks over to investigate. "Nope, it looks okay--no flames. Now what? I know we have to do another trial, but I'm not sure what kind of by-hand calculations she wants."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John shrugs. "Not sure either." He retrieves a piece of paper and a pen. Let's see...

John starts scribbling out some nifty math formulas. "Feel free to jump in if you see me doing something wrong."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam peers over John's shoulder and in no way notices that he smells good, because that thought alone would make Aeryn kill her. "No, I think that looks...no, wait, I think that needs to be an 'x' there."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John glances back over his shoulder and smiles and he thanks you for that compliment very much. Soap and cologne agree with me. John looks at the paer and shakes his head at his mistake. "Yep, you're right." He starts erasing a string of numbers.

[swerval_zero]

*signs in and looks around for a partner*

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

Hey Zero. Wanna try this together?

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots hovers at the edge of class, hoping that someone will parnter up with him. Or that his partner will for once show up.

[swerval_zero]

Yeah, sure.

[swerval_zero]

*waves at Broots* Feelin' better?

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Boots groaned. "I'm no longer nuerotic. But I do remember all of yesterday. Did you get the flowers and cookies?"

[swerval_zero]

Yeah, I did. *grin* Keep sendin' me flowers an' you're likely t'turn a girl's head.

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots blushes and stammers out something that sounds like "No big."

[pyramid-is-life.livejournal.com]

Kara signs in. She actually studied for this class. It better pay off.

[alchemy-4-arson.livejournal.com]

"I'll take the spark switch."

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

"I'll try not to electrocute you."


*turns in completed, perfect lab*