i

Amanda Smith

Recitation: Thursday 4PM

Due: December 4, 2008

Art and Physics XCRED

A Newtonian Poem

Newton's Laws of Motion

Sure do cause students a lot of commotion.

What is an inertial reference frame?

And does the object's speed stay the same?

How does acceleration relate to mass?

Can a free-body diagram be bypassed?

Since force is a vector and F=ma,

Newton's rules one must obey!

It's a proven fact that every action

Has an equal and opposite reaction;

And that a net force always has a purpose,

To change the object's velocity of course.

So remember these laws,

What each unit of measure was,

And that all forces occur in pairs,

Because they should not be the cause of nightmares!

For my ART XCRED, I decided to make a playground sculpture out of candy. This project emphasized the fact that 
we may have just started to learn about physics concepts, but they have been affecting us for our entire life. I 
showed how the concepts we learned made it possible for us to have fun as recess when we were children. 
While many concepts are involved in each part, I will highlight only a few (or else this write up could go on 
forever). 

This is just an overall picture of 
the playground. Included is a 
sandbox with two gummy bears 
fighting, a swing, a see‐saw and a 
slide, where gummy bears collide 
at the bottom! 

 
 

This is the swing. I chose this to 
represent two concepts: tension and 
centripetal acceleration. Additionally, the 
swing can act as an object undergoing 
rotational motion. The forces involved 
became very evident when I tried to 
make the swing stay up without falling 
off. I had to create a tension in the candy 
ropes that offset the weight of the 
gummy bear + the weight of the 
chocolate seat. If I had done this while 
the swing was swinging, the tension 
would have not just been the weight 
(mass*gravity), but would have also 
included the mass times the centripetal 
acceleration, defined at Fc=mv2/r 
 
 For this part of the slide, I wanted to 
demonstrate conservation of total mechanical 
energy. The mechanical energy of the gummy 
bear is conserved as he slides down the slide, 
such that: mgh0 + ½mv02 = mghf + ½mvf2. If he 
starts from rest, and we give his final height a 
value of 0, then his velocity at the bottom of 
the slide is (2 gh0). We can also use his final 
velocity to determine the height of the slide.  

For this part of the slide, I wanted to 
demonstrate an inelastic collision. At the 
bottom of the slide, the green gummy bear 
hits the red gummy bear and they continue to 
move together. The red gummy bear is at rest 
and the green gummy bear has a velocity as 
defined above. Total momentum is conserved 
during this collision, so the mredvred0 + m 
greenvgreen0 = (mred + mgreen)vf. If they did not 
move together after the collision, it would be 
elastic and both momentum and kinetic 
energy would be conserved. 

I wanted to demonstrate friction in the sand 
box. The green gummy bear, clearly the bully, 
is pushing the yellow gummy bear. However, 
there is a coefficient of static friction between 
the gummy bear and the sand. The force 
applied to the yellow gummy bear must be 
greater than the fsmax (FN+us) in order for the 
yellow gummy bear to slide across the sand. 
Alternatively, the green gummy bear could try 
to knock the yellow one over. In the case, the 
force applied creates a torque, where the feet 
are the axis. Since torque=Force*lever arm, 
the farther away from the feet he pushes, the 
less force it will take to knock the bear over. 
 
 The see‐saw exemplifies torque and lever 
arms. Both gummy bears have the same 
mass, and so the force applied (weight=mg) 
is the same for both. The axis is the fulcrum 
(black Dot). The gummy bear on the right 
causes a negative torque and on the left 
causes a positive (counterclockwise) 
torque). The bar would be straight and both 
gummy bears would be balanced at the 
same height. If the gummy bears were at 
the same distance (“l”) from the axis, the 
net torque would be Fl + ‐Fl, which would be 
zero. However, as seen the gummy bear on 
the right has a greater lever arm. This means 
it has a greater torque, thus making it lower 
and the gummy bear (left) with the smaller 
level arm exert a lesser torque and e higher 
  in the air.
 

Well, that’s my project. It really helped me to visualize the forces that we learned about, and constructing 
everything showed be first hand out the forces play out – trying to keep everything together proved rather 
difficult, because for a lot of this I was working against the force of gravity, which was trying to make all the 
gummy bears fall. 

 
Click on video to view dance
Biannely Diaz

The Physics of Love

Newton’s Third Law claims opposites attract,

Just having proved it, I’m trying to react.
I flew +200 miles east to see you,
Total displacement equaled zero when I returned without you.
But forces always come in pairs,
And boy I need you, this I swear.
When you push me I push you back with the same force,
If you can’t follow this take a physics course.
And then I tie a rope around you heart, pulling it towards me,
The forces on it will remain balanced, I hope you see.
Rotating in this vehicle with a large circular velocity,
For you I’ve even created artificial gravity.
All of this stored potential energy I want to convert,
To kinetic energy, giving love until it is inert.
Explained in the concepts of physics, accept this poem of love,
I hope this is something you can be proud of.
Physics, you were my first love 
I will never forget the day that I met you 
You showed me displacement 
And proved my life was not always moving at a constant velocity 
And that acceleration due to gravity was pulling me downward 
But you gave me the hope that forces of the accelerating world 
Would remain in equilibrium 
Even if tension was involved 
All because of Newton’s second law. 
 
Physics, I owed you 
If not for thee, I would never have believed in centripetal acceleration 
Or the motion of rotation 
You gave me the kinetic energy to do work 
Then added provided some potential to conserve it. 
I then gained power from that work over time. 
 
Physics, you altered my life, 
Helping me find my center of mass. 
But during my last collision,  
Liner momentum wasn’t conserved 
And you ditched my……. 
 
We had so much more to look forward to 
Torque, simple harmonic motion, buoyant forces, 
And our wedding with isothermal processes 
But we will never get to experience that 
Because the conduction of heat was too great 
Thermal equilibrium was lost 
You didn’t warn me that a heat engine 
Followed thermodynamics’ second law. 
 
 r

pfZ. UV^O- c
K
1 ■ \/e?^\ocx

_ distance

AX
 Physics Video Competition 2008
Physics Video Competition 2008
• Real Life: I
Real Life: I'm
m in Physics Rehab
in Physics Rehab
• Physics Prince of Pittsburgh
• Mighty Ducks Physics
i h k h i
• Real Life: Problems with Physics
• Physwatch
• Physics Hits of the 80s
Physics Hits of the 80s

• Winner: Physics Prince of Pittsburgh
Wi Ph i P i f Pi b h
JORDAN ROHAUS

RS# 3416637

Physics XCRED

Patrick Irvin, Tuesdays 12pni

It was 11:00pm. Josh had his second physics midterm in less than twelve hours. "How

am I going to (earn all of this material by 8am tomorrow?" worried Josh. Due to distractions in

his Tower A dormitory, Josh packed up his physics book and Wiley Plus homework

assignments, grabbed an energy drink from his roommate's fridge, and headed toward Hillman

Library. Becoming more and more worried about his upcoming exam as each second passed,

Josh quickly sal himself down in a cubicle and opening his Physics textbook up to Chapter 5

entitled, 'Dynamics of Circular Motion'. The hours crept by as Josh willed his eyes to stay open,

"Just a few more hours until my exam is over," he told himself. The diagrams, illustrations, and

examples in the text became blurry, causing Josh to decide lo rest his eyes for only 5 minutes. He

set his phone alarm for 1:20am and laid his head down on the desk.

"Josh, wake up! Josh we need you right now, get up!" Josh opened his eyes to a familiar

face shouting at him. "Professor Levy, what are you doing in the library?" asked Josh.

"Professor Levy? Who is Professor Levy? I am Captain Jeremy and you arc Commander

Josh. Now wake up before our satellite crashes into the Earth's surface, it is up to you to save the

lives of those on this ship!"

Josh looked at his surroundings. "This can't be right!" thought Josh, "Where am I?!" He

rubbed his eyes, blinked, slapped his face, and again looked at the steel spaceship he was

enclosed in. "I need to stop waiting until the last minute to study for my physics exams," though!
Josh, "'Maybe then my physics professor will no longer wear an astronaut suit while screaming

my name!"

Captain Jeremy grabbed Josh's arm and pulled him off his bed while explaining their

deadly situation, ''Our satellite is has fallen off of its path of orbit and as we speak we are

hurtling towards the Earth's surface! We must set the engines to a precise speed in order for our

satellite to go back into orbit! It is up Co you, Josh, to calculate this speed and to help save the

fate of those onboard this satellite."

"Are you out of your mind?" asked Josh. "Why am I the one who must calculate this

speed'.' Isn't there some physics nerd on board who can easily determine the correct speed?"

'■Unfortunately, all of our physics nerds are in a state of shock and panic due to the fact

that we will most likely crash into the Earth's surface within the next 60 minutes," explained

Caplain Jeremy, "So, you Josh, are the only one able to save all of us, our fate rests in your

hands!"

"Oh no," thought Josh. "Why didn't I pay attention to Professor Levy's lectures on

satellites in circular orbits!?" Josh thought back to the Chapter 5 material in his textbook, "There

is only one speed that a satellite can have if ihe satellite is to remain in an orbit with a fixed

radius. Why don't I know the physics equation needed to calculate the correct speed?!"

"Captain Jeremy, I am going to need a calculator and the orbital radius of this satellite,"

yelled Josh.

"Our orbital radius is 6.38xl0A6!" yelled the Professor as he handed Josh the notebook.
 "Okay I think I remember this equation now," said Josh. "What is the Mass of the Earth

and the Gravitational Constant?!"

Just as Captain Jeremy told Josh the numbers needed for the calculation, an alarm

sounded over the loud speaker of the satellite. "Hurry Josh!" yelled the captain.

The power of the satellite went out as the satellite shook, tossing the captain and Josh all

around the ship. Josh opened his eyes, finding his face pressed up against his physics textbook

and his graphing calculator in hand. He quickly computed the correct speed for the satellite and

yelled for Captain Jeremy. "Captain Jeremy, Captain Jeremy, the satellite needs to travel at a

speed of 7.56x103 m/s!"

However, Captain Jeremy was nowhere to be found and he was now surrounded by the

three walls of his cubicle. "On no!" thought Josh, I just yelled in the middle of the library.

Extremely embarrassed from his outburst in the library, Josh decided to finish studying in his

dormitory and quickly gathered his books and headed back to Tower A for the night.

The next day, Josh walked in to his physics exam at 8am, completely worried lhal he was

about to fail a very important exam. However, as he flipped through the page and realized that

the essay problem worth thirty points was based on the equation V= , Josh was no longer

worried. If he could correctly find the velocity of the satellite for Captain Jeremy, he could

definitely solve the problem for Professor Levy.

 Tues,

15
WHAT
Tyler Wilhite I'd had enough; it was all I could take.

But somehow I managed to just stay awake.

Physics Thus Far

I looked down at Jeremy, "What is he doing?"

Physics thus far seems vague and bizarre, "What concept of physics is he now
construing?"
But Jeremy Levy, I've learned, is a star.

An extinguisher he grabbed, "Is there a fire?"

Starting the class, expectations were low,
Then he shot out the room on a Radio Flyer!
Who knew my professor could put on a show?

There are some things in physics 1 don't

One afternoon, drowsy from liquor, understand,

Head down on the desk, clutching my clicker. The same can be said of that strange, funny
man.

Time went by, and I dozed in the back,

AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS

Then Jeremy smiled, a joke he did crack.
PRESENTED WITHIN THIS PIECE ARE PURELY
FICTIONAL AND WERE CONSTRUCTED FOR THE
SOLE PURPOSE OF HUMOROUS EFFECT. THE
The classroom erupted with laughter and glee, AUTHOR CONDONES NEITHER ACADEMIC
APATHY NOR THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
Everyone chuckled, except, of course, me. FURTHERMORE, DR JEREMY LEVY IS NEITHER
STRANGE, NOR FUNNY. HE'S A VERY SERIOUS
PURVEYOR OF PHYSICAL KNOWLEDGE. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, CLICKERS SHOULD NEVER BE
With all of the clamor, 1 rustled and woke.
OPERATED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A

Only to realize that I'd missed the joke. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. FRIENDS DON'T LET
FRIENDS DRINK AND CLICK.

Determined, I was, to catch the next one,

But just as I drifted, he fired a gun!

A monkey, he shot, as it fell to the ground.

"This man is insane!" I firmly propound.

 \NV\owV \<; Vmi \ ls "? Phv|S» cs Vo em

No-v pMcal \ao+iphv|<at

\MV\oC-V- Jio^s i-^ mthn ^

WV\(i-(- (AW, it

\AMJ(iAJff].

\ o-f

.,
 Ode to Physics
Its 2:15 am, and I rri just getting in.
Physics Thursday nights, rny head can't help but spin.
Twenty-five points is the ultimate goal.
For that quantity, I would sell my soul'
From kinematics to forces, to energies, and speed,
Each problem seems so different. V'/hich equation do I need?
It seems when all is lost, kinematics are key.
Gut the next thing I know. I'm finding the torque of a '.veight on a knee.
Too many equations! Is momentum conserved?
For just keeping all these concepts straight, an AI deserve.
So when I rest my blood-shot eyes and climb into bed,
f
•i \
*' ■ \

I can let all this physics theory marinate in my head. r r ■"

n

Like a fluid of info, these concepts streamline flow,

Or like thermal heat, v/hos volume expands as time does go.
■■V 1
As I look back on the semester, I feel my work did pay.
ng To this I am so certain , or F doesn t equal ma:

Soj-f eft 3
Aiyson Michalak
Physics 0110
Art XCRED

I've always thought of physics

As nothing more than math
But the concepts you must understand
Create a long and winding path

Equations of kinematics
In dimensions of one or two
Can help you when you calculate
The time it takes to throw a shoe

If I'd jump off of a building

I'd know exactly where I'd fall
But that's a dangerous collision
I'd rather throw a ball

There are many types of forces

Between the world and you
Tension, normal, and frictional
Just to name a few

The normal force is equal

To mass times gravity
And friction can come into play
If someone's pulling me

The risks involved in car crashes

Are due to energy
One half the mass times velocity squared
Is equal to KE

Master liner motion

And there's a new deal
Rotational physics
Explain the movement of a wheel

Fluids, temperatures
Gas laws and heat
Physics is a subject
That just can't be beat!
Maggie Ryan
Art S Physics
TTH230
4 December 2008
Concepts of Force

Many concepts I've learned in this course.

But my favorites are the ones about force.

Applicable to almost all physical situations,

Quantified using one of several formulations.

Examples include force of gravity and of friction,

it may be science, but it is not science fiction.

These forces are a real part of everyday life,

So they should not be a cause of strife.

It is a shame this class is coming to an end,

But forces at least, I comprehend.
Melissa Rice

Physics X-CRED

TA: Patrick Irvin

Recitation: Tuesday 4pm

(! rounded

No matter the season, he is with me

Even when 1 fall he makes me feel free.

I can always feel him upon my back,

The security of his presence is something I will never lack.

When something is lost in the sky above my head,

He brings it back without a tear shed.

In the spring he brings the rain that! feel on my skin,

And in the winter he brings the snowflakes that melt on my chin.

During softball season he gives my riser the perfect fall,

That not even the limp knows how to call.

His name is Gravity and he is my dear friend.

He will always keep me grounded until the end.

_

n
fvttttj fWjSKS
J

Til
4^"
fL

p njhv wt* kb \k
And i- kd flu k&« m
Ute'lt fccbJ -rust w# Shcii0 <f€>
A I A

he

m it

So f^ki »f all in
Io dun i« ^>u; Wmh/n -h -/W tffc/* TO&

hi tea* t&d -end

Thn dud:

777/5
±1 wakmqq mj
if 5 ■h
Let'*
 -h, V(P>
kj2jL/>)H fn-t

A
wm

it Ihl COi Z?d /cvt h

L
& WI/S5 artr flttnc

e
Sf 0"
Ho a

ota rx> yf-cv.

6
if r a,»e u-pj

y,/i hint
To

fco Sc,\yU

Ut s do Sotnjt w ith

Ltfsdb
IS

Lef mi hu

(T
 TV X
a

To ft

l ktnJ

<k
I-fl L&*
4 fftC&kC at cCuhQ of

And il -L q\vil u^ me cbsknu.

And (pJ cf!Al ml fill h
O (I
airiQ'

0 •
Richard Barnhart Peoplesofttf 3364774

Physics Creative XtraCred

Physics of a Code a la style ofjack Kerouac in On the Road

The pulsation of the alarms sprang up as the monitor system streamed to life. My
heart accelerated faster than a rocket as the sonorous alarms pounded my head
with a battery of foreboding salience. The monitor was even and sinusoidal void
from any normal pattern that reigned supreme among the other monitors in the
nurses station. I rushed down the hall towards the crash cart with my nametag
swinging ferociously back and forth like a pendulum in perfect harmony with the
strut of my feverous pace. As I reached the cart, the rubber on my Crocs gripped
with friction on the shiny smooth opalescent floor as I ensured to unplug the red
cart from the wall. My muscles contracted creating a steady force on the cart as it
rumbled down the long hallway. Faster and faster it went as its momentum picked
up. The intercom dismally called out the condition A as I reached the room. The cart
wanted to keep going down the hall but I tugged it until it made the sharp curve into
the room. The nurse began CPR as 1 was instructed to grab the resuscitation bag and
mask. I unraveled the tubing and connected it to the wall mounted oxygen nipple. I
cranked up the flow rate to 15L and the pressure inflated the external bag and
created a taut seal. We worked in tandem as I squeezed the bag forcing the breath of
life into his lungs as the nurse exerted rhythmic impulses of force on his sternum.
More people rushed into the room slapping on monitors and placing the viscous
defib pads on the apex and sternum. The defibrillator concurred our assertions as
syringes were being unwrapped. The doctor charged the machine to 300 Joules.
Everybody clear he calmly stated as 1 lifted the mask of the man's face. The surge of
energy penetrated the man's body instantaneously. Respiratory arrived and 1 was
shuttled away from my position. I was now left to simply watch and be told to grab
supplies. There was no change as the sinusoidal waves persisted like a greedy
prisoner of death. I watched and time slowed down as commands were being
shouted and as scurrying people went about. Entropy increased. Syringes were filled
and emptied smoothly into the IV line like the flow of a summer's breeze. The
sphygmomanometer was registering 40 palp the nurse informed the room, and the
cascade of events continued—shock, drug, compression, breath. The monitor then
subtly changed to asystole. No sinusoidal waves but simply a flat melancholy line.
They grey hue permeated the man's body as the paddles were put down but the
drug antics were increased. Epi, dopamine, atropine swirled around in the veins
voraciously as I watched the second hand of the clock went around with constant
negative angular velocity. After -IOtt radians of the second hand, the time of death
was pronounced: 18:37. The furry was over as people dismally left the room
gathering up the harem of equipment they brought in. I left with the veil of somber
thoughts. After another -30tt radians of the second hand I returned. I had the gloves
on and the white body bag in hand. The nurse was with me as we began the death
care procedures. It took much torque to put the man in the bag as his mimsy head
flailed around. His body was cool as the thermodynamic rules reigned supreme-
energy doesn't pardon the dead.
 device
bell rolls

pnyt'W ie
'CUrlte
m ice

fw
<b <b g

v - —
I*
Allison Sherman
Professor Levy
Physics Art Extra Credit
December 2, 2008

Physics, physics, what can I say,

I've had problems with you since the very first daw
Sometimes I get a headache just thinking about you,
All your equations and variables I just don't know what to do!

I go to class, recitation, and even read the text.

But no matter how hard I try I'm always a mess.

Wileyplus only further adds to my fear,
I cringe every Thursday knowing the homework due date is near.

Kinematics is one topic that hasn 't quite stuck,

All the equations needed to solve for a. x, t, v,,. Vf...forme it's a matter of luck.
Thank goodness for the note cards we're allowed to bring to the tests,
If it weren 'tfor those I think my grade would surely be less.

Momentum and energy are the chapters I can do.

The conservation theories and collisions aren 't bad too.
But the further along we get in class.
The more physics can be a pain for my mass.

I will say that physics has made me aware of my surroundings,

Now when I look around I think of all the physics principles happening.
A rolling tire never meant anything to me before.
But because of angular momentum, acceleration, and velocity, it means much more.

Moving a heavy object never meant much to me either.

Besides the fact I'd always need to stop for a breather.
But now I think about distance and force.
And how this all relates back to this course.

As the final is approaching I'm anxiously preparing,

Hoping to master the material I once was slacking.
Another UTA session, or maybe two...
At least I know multiple choice is all we must do.

It seems I can 7 get Physics out of my head,

Even when I'm trying to relax in bed.
At least I know this information is practical in life.
I mean Physics can be seen all over—even when flying a kite!

I 'm glad Professor Levy taught me Physics One.

AH the demonstrations and examples really made it fun.
And while I'm still not a fan of Physics or math,
I know it will help me along my professional path.
c
+■
 Chris Cole, #3352187

Art and Physics XCRED

Dr. Levy

Physics I

I don't know what to do,

I don't know what to say;

all! know is that F=ma.

I stare at my exam

and punch my calculator keys,

hopefully I can pass this test, please.

I'm told to draw a body diagram that's free,

but what is tension? What is friction?

I can't say with any conviction.

Is not the direction important?

Do I account for x and y or fail?

I do know that vectors are added head to tail.

But wait there's hope, I know it.

There is a light that I can see.

All I must do is finish the latest PEC.

Yes it is true and I know it,

physics includes things like harmonic motion.

But in my head it's just all one commotion.

Perhaps if I can get down moments of inertia,

and understand collisions that are elastic,

I'll conquer physics, which would be just fantastic.

% ■
Victoria Bock

Recitation Tuesday 4pm

Opening your Eyes to Physics

There once was a girl who had it set in her head that physics was worthless, stupid,

and impossible to understand. It all started in high school. She had a teacher who was one

of the most intelligent people she ever met. Mr. Collier was his name; he taught physics

for many years. Many students loved this teacher, but there was one in particular he just

didn't seem to get along with. Her name was Tori. She always did well, and math and

science just came easy to her. Physics seemed like it would come as easy as the rest of her

science classes. Her first couple classes they learned about the introductory topics.

Kinetics seemed easy to comprehend. Mr. Collier would often ask questions, and Tori

would raise her hand. Mr. Collier would call on everyone, except Tori. Even when she

was the only one with her hand raised, he would look through her and then finally just

answer the question himself. This girl never had any teacher act this way towards her.

This teacher made the class pretty simple let die students work together on everything,

even exams. Since this teacher seemed to have something against her, Tori blocked out

everything she learned. Her goal was to get through the class with an A, and never have to

deal with it again. This is what she did, but little did she know, this information would be

useful in her college career.

After two years at the University of Pittsburgh, she had to take physics class for
requirements for a Biology major. She got into class and she dreaded every minute. Her

new teacher seemed more dedicated to his students, and really seemed to be concerned.

Kinetics came first; the six equations all seemed to make sense. The teacher did many

class demonstrations. They were entertaining, but yet still made a point about kinetics.

Tori thought to herself, "this is easy, but I know it will get bad." She continued through

this class thinking, "even though I understand it, the next thing will he hard." Then it

finally happened- Torque. It just didn't make sense to her. It's the same as force, but it

didn't make the same sense. Torque is the product of Inertia and angular acceleration?

How is that even related to Force is the product of mass times linear acceleration? It just

didn't make sense in her head. Here it was, what she had been waiting for- the roadblock.

She was ready to give up; she talked to her classmate about possibly just dropping the

class. I mean changing her major is a huge deal right? Then her classmate offered to take

her to die Physics Exploration Lab to try to explain it. Tori was very reluctant, but finally

gave in. Once there, her classmate started to explain it step by step. She first started by

showing how linear Force is similar to circular Torques. Then it was time to use the door

demonstration. Torque is equal to the product of the Force time the radius time sin of the

angle. This is why when you push on a door from a lBO-degree angle it won't open.

"Okay, I kind of understand it, but it has to be harder than that," Tori thought. The

classmate started going over the homework and slowly Tori realized it is not that difficult

when you understand the basics, you just simply have to learn to apply it in different ways.
 Suddenly Tori's eyes opened up to physics. It wasn't as hard as it seemed. It

wasn't so terrible. When you have an instructor, and classmates who care enough to

explain it in a number a ways, you can understand anything.

 It

fcAAT)t
Pt^ |',1 -t^, \\tA*VUX*\ "feed*

><nk>

At p

^i is it id j^

I J

■i D 4 i -l
 y

fS

VijfL,
'th

Ua.
Physics Phun Theme Park is a place
where physics and fun are combined into
one.
We have many
roller coasters,
wooden and metal,
twists and turns,
and big drops that
will make your
stomach fall to your
feet!
HOW DOES PHYSICS COME INTO THIS YOU
MAY ASK?
A roller coaster is all physics. They use
inertia, gravitational and centripetal forces
to drive themselves. Throughout the
roller coaster's track, potential energy is
converted to kinetic energy when going
down the hills, it is converted back to
potential energy when it is at the top of
the smaller hills. The only mechanical
aspect powering a roller coaster is the
beginning lift.
Why do the hi]Is get smaller? The answer
is friction! Some energy is lost to friction
between the train and the track.
What causes that sinking feeling?
Many people call it "air time." This is
right after inertia has pulled the train up
and gravity begins to pull it down, the
result: You lift right out of your seat! You
feel the ride with your whole body
because each part of your body is moving
with the same acceleration. When the
seat pushes your muscles, your muscles
push organs and those organs push other
organs, thus creating the sinking feeling
inyour stomach.
Why Don't You Fall Out When On
the loop-the-loop?
The answer—inertia! Acceleration
pushes you toward the center of the loop,
but inertia pushes you back into the cart.
This creates a false gravitational force at
the bottom of the cavt floor. In most loop-
the -loops you
wouldn't need
a harness net,
it is just there
for safety!
You can learn
alJ of this physics and more hands on, at
Physics Phun Theme Park. It's so fun you
won't know you are learning physics'
 A Poem of Physics
Physics is the science of matter, energy, force and motion
We learn lots of things including the tides of the ocean
Using a lever, riding a train
How hard the drops feel when
You’re hit by the rain

Physics class is headed by Dr J. Levy

The lights are dim and the mood is heavy
Club Alum is the place where we meet
Tuesdays and Thursdays you hear shuffling feet

Questions are answered with the push of a clicker

Who could have thought of anything slicker?
Homework is done on a program with the ‘puter
The Wiley Plus program-couldn’t they have named it cuter?

Weekly homework and some extra credit

Help keep our grades up if we just let it.
An exercise with pizza
A knife or a blade
Centripetal force
What conclusions were made?

PECs happen weekly

Much studying and thinking
My brain has gone numb
As if I were drinking

The semester’s almost over

And Christmas is coming
My grade will be posted
While I’m at the beach sunning

I’ve worked for a good grade

I’ve studied so much
Physics
The science of matter, energy, force, motion and such.
 
 s^\

UUIDE

m viing,

Ree
ORMAL
*-—

EIGHT
KJFC1S
L
 es

are ediratted by ■forces.

here we see
Suir-I

ThtxodJt
nohon

«e dimebhon is
Cynthia Bou-Abboud
Physics 1
Jeremy Levy
Art Physics XCRED
December 02. 2008

Farewell Physics

Farewell Physics who knew we'd have such fun

You taught me how to convert to one metric ton
Although loaded with equations, your hook was really great
Even though it had a large force of weight

You piled extra tension on lop of my other courses

And I learned that I can never avoid normal forces
When you told me to neglect friction, it made my life easy
But the thought of figure skating still makes me queasy

When you accidentally let objects slide

I can now tell you what happens when they collide
Angular momentum is something we can't forget
Our notecards made sure that we wouldn't fret

Callous hours were spent lo get lo twenty-five

Some-limes I didn't think that I could survive
Along with that work, there were the PKCs
Hopefully they will be able lo bring up my B's

I'm glad that this was a course I was able to choose

But, let me start by giving you this news
Physics was fun we had a blast
Now it's lime to put you in the past
 <XL J4UL&iC&
By Juliette Yedimenko

Every time I look around

Every time I hear a sound

The art of physics comes to mind

With many formulas of every kind

The world is a math equation

We can predict the future with a calculation

sSsSs-.\
Where will that baseball be in two minutes?
What velocity of a bullet will strike those poor linnets?

What about the art of dance -

There is physics at every chance!

Dance technique is physics- purely

This fact is observable, surely...

There is velocity and momentum,

Force is involved in every factum -

Gravity and normal force,

Friction force-they all enforce!

Then there is angular motion,

centripetal force is a vital notion!

Torque acts on dancers as well,

Allowing their turns to excel.

Much more physics is applied

Balance, jumps-they're all implied!

Now, enough with rationalization-

Let's proceed to the demonstration!!!

y ©
1 2

r/iT/}

\ l/I

W//>' """'"'
 An Ode to Physics
T'was the week before finals
And all through the college,
Students were praying for
Last minute knowledge.
Time to get serious
No more jokes, no more gags.
Kids rush off to Hillman
With books in their bags.
There's too many people!
There's not a place to sit!
So I find a cozy corner
And curl up in it.
Armed with my calculator,
Pencils and notes,
To study PHYSICS and not plants,
Nor Chemistry or zygotes.
The temperature and pressure
And transfer of heat
Kinetics, rotation,
They're all pretty sweet!
From fluids to gases
And electromagnetic waves,
I could read my physics book
For days and days.
Work and acceleration,
Momentum and velocity,
Simple harmonic motion,
And, oh, that elasticity.
Newton's laws of motion
I heart them all, especially 2.
Without them,
I don't know what I would do!
Vectors and scalars,
And circular motion.
Power and torque,
And force and tension!
Michelle McMeans
3175198
Tuesday 5:00pm
Archimedes, that hottie,
I love him, it's true!
Pascal, what a hunk
I would marry him too!
Next semester I can't wait
For Physics one-eleven.
Three more months of this stuff!
Have I died and gone to heaven?!
So physics, oh physics
Without you I would be totally lost.
I wouldn't know how to
Calculate my energy cost.
The acceleration due to gravity
Is 9.8 meters per second squared.
Nothing in this world
Could ever be compared
To my love I have for physics.
It allows my life to be complete.
Cuz I feel the centripetal force
Sitting in my car seat.
Or when I drop a package from a plane
I know the initial velocity.
Or I can calculate my acceleration
When falling from a tree.
I can find my static force
When sliding across the floor.
I know my lever arm and torque
When I open up my door.
I can find the contact speed
Of my baseball with my bat.
I know what collision hurts more
When two cars are on a track.
I adore the subject of physics
This love is especially rare
But I'll never be able to see a yo-yo
again
They haunt my nightmares!
 

Grounded 

No matter the season, he is with me 

Even when I fall he makes me feel free. 

I can always feel him upon my back, 

The security of his presence is something I will never lack. 

When something is lost in the sky above my head, 

He brings it back without a tear shed. 

In the spring he brings the rain that I feel on my skin, 

And in the winter he brings the snowflakes that melt on my chin.  

During softball season he gives my riser the perfect fall, 

That not even the ump knows how to call. 

His name is Gravity and he is my dear friend, 

He will always keep me grounded until the end. 

  

  

 
 Titilope Akinlose 
December 4, 2008 
PHYS 0110 
Art& Physics XCRED 
 
 
MY PHYSICS LOVE POEM 
(An ode to Physics) 
 
 
My dear Physics, 
How great is the electromagnetism of our love 
It is like a burst of energy and bliss 
Somehow my love for you remains constant 
Our souls intermingle like cations and anions 
You are the proton to my neutron 
What natural science defines our love? 
Is it Chemistry or Biology? 
No, it is simply you 
You charm me at a subatomic level 
These wavelengths that are beyond our vision 
Remain visible with the color of our love 
You are more extraordinary than relativity  
I hope our love never split into X and Y components 
Oh dear Physics, 
The universe is ever expanding  
Like my love for you 
 
Signed, 
Your favorite Neutron  
Titilope 
 
 
 
Alyssa Rittenhouse 
PS# 3404642 
Recitation: Th. 1:00 with Patrick 
Art and Physics XCRED 
 

Bumper Car Rumbles 

  It was the day of the big race: the most important, exciting day of the summer season 

for the bumper cars of Kennywood Park in Western Pennsylvania.  It is an annual tradition that 

produces bumper car stars as well as bumper car scars, for those that can’t keep up with the 

fierce competition of underground bumper car racing’s biggest competition, the Kennywood 

100, that is, 100 daunting lengths of the park.   

  In between 11‐hour day shifts made up of playfully “love tapping” each other, as the 

cars refer to it, while the children in their passenger seats gleefully scream, the cars turn a 180 

and transform into competition‐thirsty vehicles as they practice for the Kennywood 100.  They 

show no mercy as they traverse from the Logjammer to the Exterminator, colliding with each 

other whenever a car stands in their way of glory.  The cars practice several hours every night, 

obtaining only a few hours of sleep before a long day of work in the park, all in preparation for 

the most celebrated race in underground bumper car racing. 

  The meanest and most notorious of all the bumper cars was undisputedly the reigning 

champion, the green car, aptly named Mean Green.  Do not be fooled by his glittery emerald 

paint, for there is nothing sparkly about this bad‐tempered vehicle’s style of racing.  He plays 

rough, violently bumping into components every chance he gets, even when it is not logical or 

helpful to him.  He shows no mercy, and because of it, bumper cars from all over the nation 

fear and respect him. 
  On the night of the race, bumper cars from all over the region showed up.  There were 

cars from Six Flags, Cedar Point, Idlewild, Hershey Park, and many other amusement parks.     

Still, the one to watch was Mean Green, and everyone—both competitors and spectators—

knew it.   

  When the race started, Mean Green got off to an early lead, as predicted, and kept it 

safely until the 90th length.  Somewhere between the Thunderbolt and Noah’s Ark, Smooth 

Blue, an extremely kind‐hearted and talented bumper car from Idlewild, caught up to Mean 

Green, and with a surge of acceleration, collided with last year’s champion.  This had never 

happened before to Mean Green, and a gasp went up throughout the spectators.   

Mean Green, who is not a very good sport, was perhaps the most surprised and angry of 

all.  In an attempt to rid himself of his only true competition, Mean Green complained to the 

officials: “Did you see that?!? That was a completely inelastic—not to mention illegal—collision!  

I lost all of my kinetic energy! Half of it was converted into heat because of friction, and the 

other half was spent in damaging my beautiful body! Throw that cheater Smooth Blue out of 

the competition!” 

But the officials, one of which was Dr. Jeremy Levy of the University of Pittsburgh, knew 

that Mean Green’s claims were not completely true.  Levy said to Mean Green, who was now in 

second place since he lost time complaining, “That’s just not true.  The collision wasn’t 

completely inelastic and you did not lose all of your kinetic energy!  Sure, it definitely wasn’t 

elastic, and you lost a good bit of kinetic energy from the friction and some distortion, but you 

definitely have enough kinetic energy left to finish the race and maybe even win still, though 

Smooth Blue is quite far ahead of you…and he actually deserves to win.” 
 By this time, several cars had passed Mean Green, and it did not look good for the 

racecar.  Fans along the race cheered for Smooth Blue to win, so that the Kennywood 100’s 

champion would actually be deserving of the trophy this year.  However, Mean Green 

miraculously caught up with Smooth Blue and won the race by a hair. 

As Mean Green obnoxiously celebrated by himself and Smooth Blue and his fans sadly 

contemplated how Mean Green was able to catch up to him, Levy noticed that something was 

not right.  He ran to Mean Green, and after inspecting the bumper car’s wheels, he said, “Aha! I 

knew there was no way you could have won this race fairly!” 

The crowd looked confused, and Mean Green’s face turned a slight shade of red as he 

looked nervous.  Levy continued by saying, “Look, all the cars have a maximum angular velocity, 

but Mean Green here increased the radius of his wheels, which gave him a greater linear 

velocity and an unfair advantage, according to the equation v = rω.  He is disqualified, and 

Smooth Blue is the new Kennywood 100 Champion!” 

A cheer erupted from Kennywood Park.  That night, good had prevailed over evil.  As 

Mean Green slowly walked out of the park, ashamed and angry at being found out, the fans 

reveled in the fact that sometimes the good guy doesn’t finish last, and in this case, the good 

bumper car had finished first. 
Andrea Burns 

This is a picture of the sculpture that I made showing a woman on both the earth and moon. With no 
physics knowledge, she is much happier on the moon because her weight is less (and she doesn’t realize 
that her mass is still the same!).  

 
Ellen Pullekines

Art & Physics XCRED

Ode to Physics I

Oh Physics I, begun so long ago,

How far we’ve come, how far to go.

Beginning with basics, scalars and vectors,

To thermodynamics, up on the projector.

F=ma, how you have guided our way,

Through the dozens of problems due every Friday.

Kinematics and dynamics, oh what fun

To see the check marks when we are done.

We expended energy to understand work,

And who can forget the concept of torque?

We clicked through concept tests,

Trying to decipher what answer was best.

Normal forces and tension, gravity and friction,

All of these forces cannot be fiction.

They keep us firmly attached to the earth at our feet,

These from our minds we should never delete.

What we’ve learned in physics makes the world go round,

From the tallest of H’s down to the very ground.

 Rolling and rotating, linearly accelerating

Having learned so much physics, it’s time for celebrating!

But first it is time for the final exam

Trying to remember, where we began.

Newton? Fluids? Impulse and momentum?

Better start studying, lest I forget them.

So I say, oh dear Physics I,

Now that you are almost done,

It is already time to start thinking about going on to Physics II,

And bidding Professor Levy a fond adieu.