Kinematics

The subject for Unit 2 of Physics is kinematics, which is the study of motion. Today, I took this picture of a screen on an exercise bike. The distinct blurriness of the image is due to changing numbers. The top number is the time measured in seconds. In this instant, I was on the bike for 26 seconds. The number on the bottom left-hand corner is the distance in miles. The distance at that moment was 0.04 or two-fifths of a mile. This bike is an example of how distance and displacement are different from each other. Since this is a stationary bike, my displacement is zero because I never travel away from my position. However, my speed on the bike combined with how long I rode it calculates to a certain distance, which does not include direction. Located next to the distance is the speed. In this case, my rate was 4.8 miles per hour. However, like cars, this bike can only measure one's instantaneous speed. Once I move faster or slower, the number changes to represent that particular speed. As a matter of fact, my speed reduced to 4.6 miles per hour after only 2 seconds. The factors of distance, time, and rate are all connected to kinematics. Changing one factor can affect others.

Measurements

Whether its physics, biology, or chemistry, all science requires some form of numerical analysis. Knowing how to measure is one of the most fundamental concepts that a scientist is supposed to have. Standardized measurements help to define relationships between factors. This picture is of a commonplace ruler. Like most American rulers, one side is divided into twelve inches and the other consists of thirty centimeters. The metric system, which measures length in terms of meters, is known to be the universal one and used extensively by those in the scientific field. Rulers are used to find distances betwen points and dimensions of objects. Sometimes, time and length are connected to each other. For instance, as time passes by, the length of a plant can increase. Although science is meant to find changes in order to get a better grasp of the world, the utensils used to find them are consistent.

Introduction



Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

My full name is Amber-Lyn Kiani Sam Fong, although Amber is just fine by me. I was born on Maui but I consider Oʻahu to be my true home. During the course of my life, I have lived in ten different places. Although I have done well academically for my previous science classes, science has never been one of my favorite subjects. My current math course is Honors PreCalculus. When I complete this course, I hope to find that science can be relevant to me and not just an obligation for school. I chose this picture of a book with flowers to represent me because I thought that it suited my personality when I first saw it. The book is the serious student that I associate myself as. As far as first impressions go, I usually come across as more grim that I actually am. The flowers symbolize how I appreciate having a life outside of annotations and equations. I don't require constant human contact in my life but I don't mind it either. Otherwise, I would be tragically insane.