5-13

Today, Wednesday May 13th, we started our physics class off by getting papers handed back to us by Mr. Manning. We received our grades for the Roller Coaster Project. The ride that was awarded “Top Honors” was the Candy Catastrophe. This award was based on the grades given by the individuals of the class. Candy Catastrophe probably won because they gave out candy, I mean because their ride was pure genius.

Then we had an interactive demonstration. In the front of the class there was a mirror facing us, with a ring stand in front of it and a ring stand behind it.

Throughout this demonstration the ring stands were positioned differently 3 times.

1st time- The reflected image of the ring stand in front of the mirror appeared closer than the ring stand behind the mirror

2nd time- The reflected image of the ring stand in front of the mirror appeared further away than the ring stand behind the mirror

3rd time- The reflected image of the ring stand in front of the mirror lined up exactly with the ring stand behind the mirror. *This was not just how it looked from one position in the room- This was the image that everyone in the room saw. This is __parallax__

Then we decided to try to find the distances needed between the objects and the reflective material that could make them look align this way. So we divided into partners and got a reflector, 2 masses, and a ruler. We stood the reflector up on the table and placed one mass on each side of the reflector. The reflector reflects about 50% of light, so we could see if the reflected image of a mass on one side aligned with the mass on the other side. Once the masses were aligned we measured the distance between the reflector and the mass, for each side. From this activity we found that, when the reflection of one was aligned with the other, or __parallax__, the masses were of equal distance from the reflector.

We then returned to our seats to watch a video clip from YOU TUBE!!!!!

The video first pictured a water glass with (what appeared to be) a lit candle in, being filled with water. When the water level reached the flame, the flame did not burn out. The video then revealed that the candle in the glass was actually not lit but there was an identical candle that __was__ lit, next to the glass, with a sheet of glass in between the candle and the glass, acting as the reflector. The glass reflected the brightest part of the candle, which was the flame, to the glass with the candle in it- making the unlit candle appear to actually be lit.

Then Mr. Manning told us about how there are “Scillions of scillions” of rays of light coming in and bouncing off—which is why we can see other people through the mirror…or ourselves, if that’s what you’re into.

Wow this was a physics philled class.

We then did another demonstration. Using a hook thing that was placed in front of the mirror at the front of the class, we strung and string through it. Donna and Corey, both located on opposite sides of the room, and both able to see one another through the mirror, each held one end of the string that was strung through the hook. They held the string to their nose for more accuracy. The angle of the part of the string that Donna was holding was equal to the angle of the part of the string that Corey was holding. This demonstration was an example of the Law of Reflection. Click here for a visual representation of it: [|LAW OF REFLECTION] The green line, or the ray(s) going __into__ the mirror, is called the **incident ray** The red line, or the ray(s) being reflected off the mirror, is called (you'll never guess...) the **reflected ray**.

Well that's it for today class.

Reminder: All Hershey Park stuff due Friday.

6 School days till Hershey Park! Woooooo