SLIPPERY WHEN WET

This past saturday, it was EXTREMELY windy and rainy at my house. When I went outside to throw away trash at night, I almost slipped but managed to regain my balance just in time. This made me think about how when the ground is wet from rain, the friction between the ground and any surface decreases. Factors like water tension, if it is really wet outside, can play a factor in the dangers of driving (or even walking) in wet conditions. My shoes simply did not have the friction to keep my foot from slipping, but luckily I did not fall.

pHySiCs

so today we were driving on the road and we happened to pass a gas station.  When I saw people filling up gas I immediately though about car engines and how they work.  Gas molecules are put inside the valves of the engine where they are ignited by an electrical spark.  The pressurized gas combusts and pushes the piston which does work.  This is all related to our recent study of gases and thermodynamics.  I also thought about how high gas prices were and how the world would be in a better place if car engines were 100% efficient.  We could probably travel more than twice as much if that were possible!  

physics, you're everywhere

Well since I was sick last week, I didn't come to school at all and now I'm a little behind so I got to catch up and do my homework diligently (psh yea right).  Anyways, on my trip to California I got to go snowboarding with my relatives.  At first I was excited because I knew snowboarding would be a lot of fun, but after falling about five times on my hands/face, and then another five times on my butt and backside, it became less fun.  When I first put snowboard to snow I thought about the physics behind how a snowboard worked.  A snowboard has a pretty large surface area to ride on, and that helps distribute pressure so that you can slide more easily.  Going over smooth patches of snow allows you to go faster, where as lumpy patches can sometimes trip you or slow you down.  The material that the board is covered with also reduces the friction your board creates with the snow (what little there is, but snowboards still need to be waxed every so often)  Other things involved physics such as how air pressure was less at the top of the mountain than at the bottom, and how hot chocolate transfers heat to your body when you drink it to warm yourself up.  "Another fun day of physics!" I thought as I left the mountain, and that is how I ended my vacation, got sick, and came home to miss two days of school.  Physics, see you tomorrow!