September 11, 2012

Creative Work Day 1

          Today's lab session was for our creative work to be started.  In my group, we were able to start off with our design for our experiment and we were able to do it in a breadboard.  We were able to test if we would meet the objective of our experiment and it turns out great.  Next meeting, we would conduct the rest of the procedures for our experiment and we would end it already. A technical paper would follow of course.

          I hope our experiment would be a success!

September 08, 2012

Creative Work Proposal

   This lab session was used for all the groups to think about their creative work. The creative work is the last experiment that we would do for Physics 102.1 and it was said that we would present it to a panel of judges.  By the end of the session, we were able to decide the topic of our creative work and Sir Pacho approved it.

   Next Monday, we would start doing our creative work.  Few more lab sessions to go! I'm hoping for more physics fun!

August 16, 2012

Electromagnetic Induction


                 It’s the 6th experiment for our 102.1 lab already, it’s called Electromagnetic Induction.  For this day, we were able to meet the objectives of our experiment. We demonstrated Faraday’s and Lenz’ Law and the right-hand rule using an electromagnetic induction set-up.  We were able to determine the relative strength and direction of the induced current and EMF using a galvanometer. We also determined the effects of different factors such as varying magnetic field strength and current on the induced current and EMF. Lastly, we related Faraday’s law to practical applications and this would be seen on our technical paper.
                
               The problem with this session is that the materials are not sufficient for every group, so what we did was to share materials with the other groups. Thus, we have the same experimental results but of course, we would have different approach to our analysis.
              
              We have 1 more experiment to go and we would have our creative work already! Looking forward to more physics FUN ^_^

July 25, 2012

Sources of Magnetic Field


                Today we had our 7th lab session and we’ve done experiment 5. Experiment 5 mainly tackled about magnetic field. Due to the topic, we were able to understand more concepts about magnets and the field that it creates and the sources of it. The session is interesting and fun due to our group’s curiosity on magnets. It was really fun playing with iron dust. It looks cool when we place a magnet beneath the paper with iron dust and pull the iron dust around the spaces in the paper.

                We were able to complete our objectives for today. We were able to measure the magnetic fields of materials and we understood how magnetic field affects certain materials. Now the only thing left to do is to create our technical paper. I’m hoping for more physics fun!

July 21, 2012

Capacitors and RC Circuits Part 2

                So we continued our experiment from our last lab session. Last time we just computed for the actual values using theoretical values and reformulating some concepts that we know. This time we were able to acquire real experimental data through the use of Lab Quest. We performed series and parallel set-ups to measure the effective capacitance of capacitors being used. We used our lab quest to record and save the graph of charging and discharging of the capacitors.

                It was really enjoying to see the graph of charging and discharging. We were able to do many trials to make sure that the graph is consistent. Good thing I always have my usb in my bag. Now we’ll do our technical paper for Capcitors and RC circuits.

                Looking forward for more Physics Fun! ^_^ 

July 13, 2012

Capacitors and RC Circuits


            It’s our 5th lab session and we had our 4th experiment. The lab session was really awesome due to the dissecting of a cylindrical plate capacitor. We really had a hard time dissecting it. It was really hard and we really don’t know how to open it but in the end, we were able to dissect it and see its parts. Another time-consuming part of the session was the designing of our own experiment to meet the objectives of the capacitors and RC circuit experiment.  It was really difficult to experimentally acquire data for establishing relationships of voltage, charge, and capacitance.  In the end, we resort to our theoretical calculations and used our own method to calculate what experimental values we should expect.

             This session was somewhat different from the previous sessions. We really did some critical thinking this time and used all our knowledge to complete our objectives.  The experiment is not done yet. We would continue the unfinished part this coming Monday.
              
              I’m hoping for more Physics Fun! ^_^

July 04, 2012

DC Circuit Analysis: Kirchoff’s Rules


          Another lab session has ended and again it was a new experience.  For our lab session, we were able to analyze the connection system of a breadboard and how to solve for current, potential difference, and resistance when a series or parallel connection is on a breadboard.  After the “exercises” given by Mr. Pacho, we continued with our experiment.  We were able to construct a 2-loop circuit in a breadboard.  It was really fascinating. I was the only one new to this breadboard in our group so I really had an amazing time learning about how series or parallel circuits should be constructed.  In the end, we were able to measure and record all the data needed and we also completed the objectives of our experiment.
               
           During the experiment, we really had a tough time with our resistors.  We replaced our resistors many times due to the defects it had after several minutes exposed to a current. Maybe some of it was not really of good quality so it burns easily or sometimes the metal rods break.  We also had a problem with our DC voltmeter, so we changed it after an hour of experimenting with it. 
                
          I’m sure that the next session would be dealing with hard concepts, but nevertheless we will enjoy it.  I’m hoping for more amazing and fascinating lab sessions! GO FOR PHYSICS! ^_^

June 26, 2012

Resistors and Ohm's Law


                For our second lab session, we experimented on resistors.  This session was fun because we were able to use new instruments again! I was amazed with how the resistance box works as well as the rheostat.  Our group proceeded with the objectives in hand for the whole three hours of our lab.
          
          Our group was able to finish the objectives in time. We learned about the different types and structures of resistors.  We were able to measure resistances of resistors, resistance box, rheostat, variable resistor. Lastly, we were able to understand and determine the relationships between voltage, current and resistance in ohmic and non-ohmic conductors.
                
                I had a great time and it was really fun doing the experiments. Now we have to finish our technical paper and submit it on time. I’m hoping for more fun experiments!

June 24, 2012

Electric Potential and Electric Field


           This is my first lab session as a second year student.  For our lab session, we briefly tackled about electric potential and electric fields.  Then we had an experiment concerning the two topics.  The experiment was actually exciting due to the fact that we are using new instruments or devices, and they are cooler than instruments used during our 101.1 last semester.

          Our group (2) was able to finish the objectives of the experiment.  We were able to track equipotential points and at the end, we were able to sketch the equipotential lines.  We did not have any trouble during the experiment but it was really time consuming.  It takes patience to look for points with equal potential especially when you have to have at least 7 equipotential lines. Those are consist of so many points!
          
           Nevertheless, we were able to finish everything.  Now the only thing left to do is to submit our technical report about it.  I'm hoping for more fun physics experiments! ^_^


February 27, 2012

Center of Mass of Objects

          For this Lab session, we had an experiment about the center of mass of objects.  We were given a meter stick which we used as a beam in a set-up.  The objective of the experiment is to use the balance beam to know the theoretical and experimental weight of a certain object, then we use the center of mass formula to find the mass of the beam used, which was the meter stick.  After we found the theoretical mass of the meter stick, we computed for the percent deviation of error for the mass we acquired experimentally.


          Then we also determined the mass of a certain object, which we used an external drive from Martin's bag.  We were able to experimentally and theoretically acquire the mass of the object.  Then we also had to test the validity of using Center of Mass to determine the mass of regular and irregular objects.


           Overall, our experiment was a success. We were able to acquire the data we need to gather for our technical report and we were able to prove the validity of the center if mass formula for finding the mass of regular or irregular objects.

          "Balance" is really an interesting phenomenon where everything is at equilibrium.  It is important for our daily lives to actually know why something "balanced" does exist.  On this experiment, we were able to answer why systems achieves equilibrium or static equilibrium.

           Now, we should just do our technical paper and we are good to go for another fun experiment!
          Looking forward for more physics fun!

The Different forms of Oscillation




After we have submitted our technical report for the Projectile Motion experiment, we were given another experiment which were consist of 3 different experimental parts. The experiments are to test the harmonic oscillation of an object or a particle. This experiment was kind of difficult for our group because we were the ones to design a set-up to achieve the experimental objectives. Another thing is that, the ways or techniques to be used for finding the periods of oscillations tends to acquire too much human error which makes it difficult to achieve experimental results with low percent error deviation. 



First, let me give you a background of what oscillation is. Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum and AC power. The term vibration is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but sometimes is used to be synonymous with "oscillation". Oscillations occur not only in physical systems but also in biological systems and in human society. 



The three variations of oscillation experimented were from three different set-ups as well. The set-ups were; a spring mass system, a simple pendulum, and a physical pendulum. The overall experiment was successful. We got the needed values and data for the period of each set-up. The only thing is, during the process of the experiment, there were times when we were too noisy with stuff due to the materials used like the weights which keeps on falling. Nevertheless, we were able to finish the 3 experiments. 



Looking forward to more fun experiments and Laboratory activities! :)

February 08, 2012

Projectile Motion

          This lab session was really fun.  We were given objectives for the whole session on Projectile motion.  We used many lab instruments for this lab activity, one of which is the awesome projectile gun!  Our group objective was to compute for the initial velocity of the bullet launched from the projectile gun.  Our group had so many mistakes during the activity.  It was really fun actually.  We always laugh at our mistakes, like for example, when we were measuring the ymax of the bullet, we got a result which we did not expect at all, making us think what we did wrong.  The funny part was we always repeat the process of acquiring the ymax and we keep on getting the same unexpected result until we found out that we were using the wrong angle and we used erasers just to lift the projectile gun with a proper angle. 

         
          We were successful in computing the right initial velocity.  Another exciting part was when we tried our data for precision target shooting and we were right! We got the correct angle and we hit the highest point which was 5. Unfortunately for the second try, we only got 3 points due to our error, which was kinda funny.  We forgot to check if the projectile gun was aligned at the target.  Nevertheless, we had fun and we were satisfied with the results of our lab activity. :)


Looking forward to more fun and exciting physics activities!

January 21, 2012

Scatter Plot ( Graphical Analysis)

Here's the continuation of my previous post.  We used two instruments to actually have a graphical analysis of our activity, the free-fall motion.

First is the result of our ball in free-fall motion using an instrument called Lab Quest with attached sensor.
I have made 3 sets of graph:




For the three graphs, I included it's polynomial trend line to know some useful information like the equation of the motion and the trend of the motion as well.

From the graph, Velocity vs. Time, we could conclude that the ball reaches it's maximum height between 2 to 3 seconds of actual motion. It is when Velocity is 0. The Position vs. Time graph would support this conclusion through seeing that the trendline is at it's highest during the 2-3 second interval.

Another activity is monitoring the free-fall motion using a Lab quest attached with a photogate.
I have made 3 sets of graph:






For the three graphs, I included it's polynomial trend line to know some useful information like the equation of the motion and the trend of the motion as well.

We could conlude from the graph that the distance is exponentially increasing due to the trend of the polynomial trendline and that the acceleration of the object during free fall is on a parabolic manner.

The extra lines that we see on the graph are what we call Error Bars with Standard Deviation.  The standard deviation is set to 0.1 for every graph.

The equations for the motion are also shown in every graph.

This is the last set for our activity on graphical analysis.  I'll post more of our activities.

PHYSICS ROCKS! - shadow3

January 15, 2012

Graphical Analysis

In discussing graphical analysis, our lab instructor explained the difference between the pie, bar and scatter graph.  We also had an activity where we could use the data in making a scatter graph.

For my example of a BAR GRAPH, I have acquired data on the World Population Growth from year 1 up to year 2011. Here it is:


For my example of a PIE CHART, I have showed my time allotment for a normal week end. Here it is,


Those are just the 2 types of graphs that we have discussed.  For my next post, I will show you the scatter graph analysis of our activity.  The posting of the scatter graph would be delayed due to certain problem with sending data with my groupmates :))

Hoping for more fun activities!