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mathgeek15

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Blog Entries posted by mathgeek15

  1. mathgeek15
    Let's cut to the chase: Life is full of decisions, especially as a senior in high school. Over the years I have noticed that many people have a difficult time making decisions, so I have decided that I am going to release my decision-making secret, the reason why I can so easily make decisions: I use math.
    Making decisions is like momentum (p= mv) , two opposing forces collide, changing the directions of the objects. To make things simple, let's refer to only two balls (aka choices). Each ball has a different mass, which is the equivilancy of importance for you. For example, a math test would probably have a higher mass than going to the movies to see Side Effects (which comes out February 1st ^-^ ). In most cases, the objects/ choices are travelling at different velocities, also known as the personal preference velocity. Using the scenario above, going to see the movie would have a high velocity than studying for that upcoming test. With hat information, there is only one thing left to do: LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!
    To find which decision is best, assign one choice as a negative and the other as a postive (it doesn't matter who gets one sign). then, using conservation of momentum, figure out which direxction the objects will go after the collision (you need to use a sticky collision). To show how it would work, I am going to plug in numbers for myself:
    mTest= 5 (for economics)
    vTest= 7 (since I already have a 88 in the class which is low for me)
    mMovie= 2
    vMovie= -10
    mTestvTest + mMoviesvMovies =(mTest + mMovies )v'
    5(7) + 2(-10)= (5 +2) v'
    35- 20= 7v'
    15= 7v'
    v'= 2.14
    Thus, the best choice in this situation would be to stay home and study for the test; so I will have to wait to see Side Effects after I get an A on the test.
    Well, now you know my secret to successful decisions!

    (Warning: with three or more decisions this equation does work but instead of putting it into a collsion, simply compare the momentum of each choice (signs will not matter, so they can all be positive). Which ever momentum is highest is the best choice. And yes, I actually do something like this in my head everytime I have a difficult decision to make. What you think I leave it up to feelings? Physics is the answer to everything!)
  2. mathgeek15
    Ok, does anyone know how all of Batman's stuff fits into that belt?

    So to start off with, Batman's belt has quick-release covers that can be locked and unlocked with a swipe of a thumb for easy access. Just a fun fact. And, there is a collapsable grappling hook in the belt buckle. Which brings up an interesting fact. Batman uses a de-cel monofilament jumpline cord for his hand-held grapnel gun. The reason for his choice in rope is because it can hold up to 400 lbs, making it possible for Batman to not only swing from one building to another, but to carry people with him, to prevent large objects from falling and hurting someone, and hanging up multiple villians like pinatas. Now for the next question, how does Batman manage to actually get from one place to another? Batman's gun will automatically retract after attaching to something, pulling up Batman in a supposed mere seconds. But can it really do so? Batman probably weighs about 220 lbs, which is about 100 kg, with the muscle and stuff he's packing. The jumpline can withstand about 181.47 kg.
    T-mg= ma
    1814.7- (1000)= 100a
    814.7= 100a
    a= 8.15 m/s2
    Now that's pretty impressive. So if Batman wanted to get to the top of a ten story building (because let's face it, when do we ever see Batman go only 2 stories up with the grapnel gun?):
    X= .5at2
    Ten Stories is about 100 ft, or 30 meters so...
    30= .5(8.15) t2
    t2= 7.36
    t= 2.72 seconds
    Wow. No wonder why it looks like Batman is flying.

    Besides the awesome grapnel gun, Batman has tons of other cool things, including:
    Bat- Grenades
    First-Aid Kit (for when Damain gets a booboo)
    Explosive pellets
    Bat-cuffs, which are surrounded by sapphire-impregnated nylon, so strong that no human can break it, minus people with superpowers
    and mini cameras. Gonna need those.

    Batman of course has many other tools and weapons, he just doesn't carry them around in his belt. However, Batman never uses guns. He has a "no kill" rule. But that doesnt exclude fear... fear is Batman's greatest (and probably favorite, minus the car) weapon.
  3. mathgeek15
    Originally this was going to be about Batman's utlilty belt, but then I had so much fun things to talk about with the batarang I changed my mind.

    Well, to begin with, the batarangs are NOT a sold piece of hardened steel alloy. It actually folds in half. Another thing to keep in mind, the batarangs are not designed to return to Batman, hence why the design is not very similar to a boomerang. Also, Batman has multiple kinds of batarangs. So when Batman throws one at a rope, he has one for cutting. To knock an enemy down, he has a hard-impact one. So many of you people are probably thinking by now, how does such a little piece of metal knock a grown man down?

    So lets say a thug is trying to run away from batman after robbing a jewelry store, leaving the jewels behind because he's soo scared of Batman. The average mass of a 30 year-old male is about 180 lbs, or 82 kg, and the average speed of a male of this weight running is about 8 mph, or 12.87 kmph. Since I do not know the actual weight of a batarang, I am going to say it's about .5 lbs (hard impact batarangs are about twice the size of the stereotypical batarang), which would be about .227 kg. Finally, the velocity of the batarang would be about 90 mph, considering that is the typical speed of a baseball pitcher and Batman has a pretty good arm himself, making it about 144.8 kmph. Time for some Momentum!!!! This scenario is would be an inelastic collision since the man falls on his face. Thus, the resulting velocity needs to be high enough to make the man lose his balance.
    MTVT+ MBVB= (MT+MB) V
    (82)(12.87)+(.227)(144.8)= (82+ .227) V
    + 32.87= 82.227V
    V=13.23 kmph

    Ok, even when I looked at that I thought something was wrong. But even this change in velocity will throw a person off balance because of the immediate change. Then Batman gets to walk over and handcuff him or tie him up and hang him like a pinata. Anyone got a stick?
  4. mathgeek15
    1,200 horsepower jet turbine. Darn. I wish I spoke car. Is that a lot?

    So let's start with the basics on the Batmobile. The Batmobile can go up to 266 mph, which even I know is fast. To put it into perspective, its faster than the typical jet airplane. To top it off, it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. Not bad for a car that probably weighs the equivilancy of a tank. The batmobile can also withstand up to 593.3 C and as low as -145.5 C. Where would it be that hot, the center of a volcano?

    Now for the cool stuff. Want to know why the car is so fast? It has a jet turbine. that explains ALOT. The engine uses an impact resistant hydraulics and has a valve exhaust system. The fact that the engine is impact resistant is pretty aweome . since it will protect the engine from damage when under attack. However, the danger of having an impact resistant engine is that is will keep the decceleration time up, with is why cars usually have a "crumple zone" in the front and back, to increase the decceleration time to reduce the impact on the people- ie whiplash, being thrown around, and flying out the window.

    Let's take about the body. The Batmobile has transformed over the years, starting with a little buggy-bat in the 1940s to now with the slick design. The batmobile's design has changed over the years to give it a sleeker look to reduce air resistence on the car, though the car has practically doubled in size, so I can't help but wonder what the friction is like for that car. Wow. Brain Blast. If the car can go 266 mph on the road, how fast could is go on a frictionless plane? Dang. I'm gonna have to come back to that.
  5. mathgeek15
    Welcome back Bat-lovers!
    So for this blog the theme is the batcave. Home of Batman. Do I really need to say more?
    What makes the Batcave one of the coolest hideouts in comic book history is because of the equipment and the details. The centerpiece (though it is not actually in the center) is the Batcomputer, a data storehouse and advanced analyzer incorporating multiple hardwired supercomputers. And, time to break the myth, but the Batcomputer is connected to the CIA's networks, allowing Batman to access their information.
    There is so much in the Batcave,I cant help but wonder, WHO DESIGNED IT? Seriously, as a prospective civil engineer, it would have taken a very skilled civil engineer to insecure the stability, security, and safety of the batcave. For the people would havent ever seen the batcae (you should), it's basically a carved out section of a cave with walkways wrapped around the sides of the walls of the cave with pillars to hold the infrastructure up. That would have been a lot of work. Good thing Batman is Bruce Wayne, aka Mr. Billionaire. But still, the detail and complexity of the Batcave is incredible. It's not just one giant room, that's just wear the Batmobile is and the supercomputer. Batman also has room linking off, including a Trophy room, a room specified for suits, and of course a road out of the cave. Which brings up another interesting thought, how did batman wire the cave? Cave is rock, solid rock, so how did Batman put in all the electrics for the Bat fortess?
    It's probably getting boring reading about, well, rock, so hears just some fun stuff Batman keeps in the cave involving Physics:
    fume/pariculate analyzer
    gunpowder and explosive residue analyzer
    latent print development chamber
    global GPS tracking system
    electronic surveillance and line tap detectors
    Facial composite software
    and SO much more!!!!
  6. mathgeek15
    "I'm Batman." ~Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory

    I, like Sheldon, am a comic book geek. One of my favorite characters in comics is the Batman and the Bat family. So I decided to explain the physics behind Batman in a blog series!!!! Exciting, I know.
    So for my very first Batpost (hehehe), I am going to explain why Batman is so awesome. After years of discipline and training, Batman can take in information (and secrets) simultaneously, allowing him to see the bigger picture, which is also why he doesnt get along with the other superheroes well. With this abiity, Batman could have made an excellent engineer. Engineers need this exact ability to make sure that their creation will be not only useful to the world, but safe.
    But Batman has sooo many more abilities, including a vast knowledge on languages, escapology, piloting, and a master of disguise and tactician.

    Enough about Batman's brain, Batman also uses forensics in his batcave, a lab so detailled the FBI's crime lab looks like a toy set for kids. With the combinations of his knowledge on chemisty and other sciency stuff, it makes it easy for Batman to get the informaiton he needs to catch the villians.

    Well, I think that's good for now, just to give a little taste of why batman is the best!!!! Dont worry, the other posts will be more exciting.
  7. mathgeek15
    So as most of you know the election is just a few days away! YAAYYYYYY!!!!! Just kidding. I for the most part don't pay too much attention to politics, but sometimes I find the topics interesting. I, however, do not find this years election very interesting. Too much bad mouthing and he said he said to ruin each other's reputation and poll numbers. Because for the most part I do not care for either candidate, I have decided to use physics to create an equation to help people like me choose a president. Now, friction is a big problem in politics, something that Obama seems to have experienced more than any other president that I know of. I know Jackson did, but he covered his opposers in lubricant and that solved his friction problem. Then there is the amount of energy in the president. Some presidents have all potentials, others have all kinetic, and some have a little bit of both. Therefore, using these variables we can create an equation to determine the "worthiness" of the candidate:
    E(final)= K + U +W(Friction). This equation will tell you how much the candidate can possibly do. However, a very important factor for the decision making process of the nation's president is that we want K > U. The greater the K, the better, however, we probably do not want all kinetic energy simply because if the president is all kinetic, he's not thinking as much about what else he could be doing that could be even better. I'll let you guys calculate Obama and Romney's energy, and feel free to let me know whose is better, but make sure to also state the comparison of kinetic and potential energy. Happy Election Calculating!
  8. mathgeek15
    Once a month MIT sends me an Admissions newsletter about new things going on at MIT. One of my favorite articles is about how the students turned the outside of a building into a giant tetris videogame. While the students used more engineering than physics, their was still the components of electric circuits needed to create such an awesome hack (which is a prank MIT style). So here's a video of their creation, and all I have to say is that I WANT TO PLAY!!!!:eagerness:


  9. mathgeek15
    First off, before I even begin, I just got to say that it was really stupid of me to wait to do all my blog posts in the last few days. While I have come up with some really good ones, it's just so much at once. Back onto the topic, I am sitting in my living room watching television and my feet are FREEZING. My mom and my sister both have fuzzy socks, slippers, robes, and blankets to keep them warm, and I've got popsicle feet. However, other than my feet, I feel quite comfortable. So now I am going to explain the physics behind cold feet, and not the commitment issues kind.
    Thermodynamics is the heart of this situation, where the answer to our cold feet stands (haha feet joke). First of all, the rate of heat transfer and therefore the amount of heat transferred is described in the equation H= (kAT)/L where L is the thickness of the material barrier, in this case clothing, muscle, and skin; k is the thermal conductivity of the material, A is the area of the barrier, so basically the body; and finally T is the temperature difference between the different environments, so the temperature of the human body minus the temperature of of the outer air. Since my mother likes to keep the heating bill down, the temperature is quite cold, casing the heat transfer rate to be high going from my body to the air.
    In comes biology. Because the heat of your body is being transferred to the cold air, your body circulates more blood around the core of your body to keep the vital organs warm. Unfortunately, that means cold piggies.
    So now you know why the first thing you run for is a nice fuzzy pair of socks on a cold night. Stay warm!
  10. mathgeek15
    Halloween has just passed, and as a horror film fanatic, I watched the classic Halloween (the original, of course, with Jamie Lee Curtis). At the end of the movie (WARNING: spoiler alert!), Mike Myers falls out the window after being shot multiple times in the chest. Every time I watch that part, I ask how in the world he could have survived? Well, I am going to use to use ol' faithful energy conservation to prove whether or not Mike Myers could have actually survived.
    Mike Myers fell out of a second story window, which the height would be about 12 ft, which is about 3.6576 m. Using conservation of energy, i can find the final velocity of Mike Myers.
    P= K
    mgh= .5mv2
    2gh=v2
    v2= 2(9.8)(3.6576)
    v2= 71.689
    v= 8.47 m/s
    The average human body can survive a fall with a velocity of 143 m/s. Obviously, Mike Myers had no problem surviving that fall, especially sicne he was just falling on nice soft grass. And, according to my horror film buddy, Mike Myers has no concept of pain, so the pain from the bullets never registered to him. Assuming that the doctor has had no prior experience with guns, he could have missed any vital organs, allowing Mike Myers to escape.
    Thanks to physics, the mystery is solved on how Mike Myers survived. Turns out he's not superhuman, just lucky that the doctor can't aim. For those who haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. It's enjoyable and not scary. Go Energy!
  11. mathgeek15
    Hope everyone had fun on Halloween! I sure did. But after handing out about 12 bags of candy and eating some in the process, I began to wonder what is the physics behind eating too much candy. Obviously there is the dreaded "tummy ache", but thats biology, I want to know the physics!
    So this is how it works: When you consume sugar your body creates energy, lots of it. After eating so much candy after a while, you've got a lot of potential energy just dying to become kinetic energy. When the potential energy has reached its max, BAM!!! instant sugar high, every parents nightmare when the kid is all hyped up doing sprints around the coffee table screaming for more candy ( why, I don't even know) after eating all the halloween candy at once.
    Obviously once all that kinetic energy is used up there comes the sugar crash with a wiped out kid that is probably beginning to understand why his/ her parents told them not to. So biology steps in with the kid running to the bathroom, promising to never eat candy again, at least until Christmas.
    Word of the wise, dont OD on candy, It all fun and games until physics (and some biology) steps in.
    Happy Halloween!:ghost:
  12. mathgeek15
    Hello Fellow Nerds! If anyone reads these blogs (why one would, I don't know), then they would know that I am doing an independent study on STATICS!!! Ooooh, excitement! Actually, I do find it quite interesting, and since I just finished the first part of the independent study, I am moving on to the research part, which I am SUPER excited for. I will be researching different designs commonly used for trusses/ bridges, learning why engineers use that specific shape in different scenarios. Those with a little bridge knowledge probably know about the three basic bridge types: suspension, beam, and arch. But there is so much more than that!!! One of my favorites is the bell truss, which is really cool looking. Since I am still in the beginning phase of my research, I don't know much more than that. I can't wait to learn how the different truss shapes influence the dispersion of the force!
    Here's a picture of the Bell truss[ATTACH=CONFIG]511[/ATTACH]
  13. mathgeek15
    So as some of you know I am working on a independent study in statics. Well recently I was creating a problem packet for the Principles of Engineering class and one of the problems was NOT FRIENDLY. At first it's all like, oh yeah, this is simple, but as you go deeper into the mathematics of it, it gets messier and eviler (that is now a word). I did eventually get the answer thanks to my knowledge of physics, vectors and sign notation, which really was where the problem was. So now I change all the physics people out on APlusPhysics to solve the problem, and if you get it right, you get a:victorious: and maybe I'll make cupcakes..... Ready, Set, GO!!!
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]505[/ATTACH]
    Solve for all the forces on this truss
  14. mathgeek15
    So if people are actually reading these you probably already know that I am currently sick and wide awake thanks to the wearing off of "nighttime" robitussium... which frankly I am not sure how to spell. So I thought I would do ANOTHER BLOG POST!!! :worked_till_5am: Hey, Ive got so much physics in my life (voluntarily) I'm up to my ears in it, so Ive got a lot to say. Which is why I like these posts. Instead of confusing my mom with what she calls the science of the ABC's (no joke, I told her I had to watch some videos for homework and she asked oh you mean the ABC guy?), I get to pretend people are actually reading these!!!!!:glee:
    Anyway, I am off topic. So I dont know about other people but I love getting review books at the beginning of the year to help me with the course material. My personal favorite review book is Barrons. Every review book that I can choose is barrons. Well, when I went to B&N two weeks ago, the guy told me barrons doesnt make ap physics c (which I found out today/yesterday is a total LIE!!!!) so I got the princeton review. Well as I was reading the text book (I was just becoming sick), I was having trouble understanding the stuff on UCM. So I pull out my review book, and what do you know, ITS NOT IN THERE!!!!
    So I go to Fullertons for some help. As I am sitting there I see a Barrons Physics C book and im like OMG barrons does make them!!! Long story short, Fullerton let me borrow the book to see which review book is better and if the barrons would be helpful. I will personally tell him the results, but I thought you guys should know too. So here we are:

    Barrons:
    Includes the calculus and explains it usually mathematically
    Has some good "cheat sheets" as I call them, which are basically just good pages to take note of quickly
    At the end of each chapter includes a equation summary with some notes
    The organization for magnetics is a bit funny, sorting out the chapters by types of problems to solve and different laws. could be missing some material on it but I think they fixed that problem in the 3rd edition, which is avaliable.

    Princeton:
    Has the Physics C material explained in Physics B terms/ equations, so if you are really struggling witht he calc and dont think you can do it, this book should be able to help you solve it without calc, though it probably wont be the fastest way
    word explanations mostly
    MISSING MATERIAL!!!!
    Kinda wordy in my opinion
    chapter summary at end
    Equation list at end of each chapter (I'm not sure, but it looked more detailled than the barrons)

    Needless to say, I returned my princeton and plan on getting a barrons soon, but I still need to read the first few chapters of barrons to see if it is a benefit for everyone. And Fullerton needs to check out the 3rd edition to make sure its up to his expectation.
    OMG i just found a einstein face!!!!!!:einstein)
    well, i think I've blogged everyone's ears off and should try to sleep/ scavenge for more tissues. Night/ Morning!
  15. mathgeek15
    Hey fellow physics peoples, obviously if you looked at the time I posted this I cant sleep. After sleeping for 12 hours saturday and with the robitussium "nighttime" nasal relief worn off, I am wide awake while the rest of the world (at least in this hemisphere) is asleep. Trying to find a way to amuse myself at 5:00 in the morning, I thought this would be the perfect time to do a physics blog post. YAY!!!!!
    So thanks to my cold my brain hasnt been fuctioning all that well, making it really hard for me to 1) get motivated to actually do homework and 2) to understand it. So I needed some help on the calculus homework. So I went over to a friends house for some help at 7:00 last night and I had taken some more robitussium, making me very sleepy. Thankfully, I have a very nice friend that was willing to make me coffee. So we're doing calculus and I just finished the mug of coffee she gave me, and being doped up on drugs and drowsiness I'm staring into the cup trying to figure out if its a shallow flat bottom or a deep cone shaped bottom. Well my friend is like, "what are you doing?" as I poke the bottom. Realizing that the bottom was just a reflection of the rim of the cup and that my face was in the small circle at the bottom of the cup, I go, "OMG the bottom of the cup is a convex mirror!!! Well, after that we had to see if i was right or not, but i cant seem to remember now if it was a convex or concave mirror, so if someone could tell me that would be cool. Definitely a mirror, smaller image, and right side up. Have fun!!
  16. mathgeek15
    Hey fellow physics people, this is my first blog!!!!

    So I am taking this independent study on statics (nonmoving objects such as buildings and bridges) and my first project is a poster on the truss unit for the Principles of Engineering class. I gotta say, physics B is definitely playing a part in this project like the ups= downs idea for equilibrium. But when I was planning the poster I couldnt remember the most simple things, like finding the moment first in order to find the torque on the different ends of the beams. Thankfully I have all my old notes from Principles of Engineering to guide me in finding the torque of the sides of the triangle/ truss example I created.

    The planning for the poster is all done now and I am currently making the triangle truss on photoshop. You would think that is easy, but with engineering drawings, you have to include the pin and roller, which is a bunch of triangles and circles and photoshop is sooo not being friendly with me.

    I sure hope this is physicsy enough for the extra credit points!!! (:
  17. mathgeek15
    Oh my gosh I am crying on the inside. I was creating a really awesome blog post that everyone would love and I went to backspace a letter and it returned to the home blog page. I lost everything. So I am going to explain why when you are tired you do stupid things such as not save.

    According to scientists, during sleep your brain sorts through and stores information, replaces chemicals, and solves problem from the day. When you are tired, it's your body's way of saying, "AAAHHHH me tired." Just like when exercising any other muscle, after a certain amount of time that muscle becomes sore and cramped (headache), in desperate need of a break. However, instead of tightening up and not being able to move that muscle, the brain begins to make poor decisions, make mistakes, and neglect certain details. In addition, many people become more emotional due to lack of sleep, they also become hyper-alert in a negative way: aware of the problems youre facing, but not able to focus on any one topic. An interesting "fact" (i googled it so i could be wrong), but when tired your brain acts in a similar way to when you're tired, slower reaction rate, temperamental, and poor judgement. Another really cool "fact" is that your body/brain sends signals to go to sleep, which requires more energy to fight the urge, which makes you more tired.

    Long story short, give up and go to bed. Which is what I will do now... maybe. I apologize if i repeated myself or if the facts are false.
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