In this unit I learned about how concepts in physics are determined by equations. For example, to determine velocity (constant, how fast, and how far) you use the equation v = d/t and the measurements in m/s. To determine the acceleration of an object you use the equation a = change in velocity / t which is measured in m/s squared. To determine constant acceleration you use the equation d = 1/2 a(t squared) which is measured in m to determine 'how far' and you use the equation v = at which is measured in m/s to determine 'how fast.' By using these equations with the appropriate information given, you can determine any of these concepts of physics. These applications are helpful with answering big answer problems because in order to complete an equation you must know what that equation means and you can apply that to your big answer. The rules of physics all come together to form one big answer.
What I have found difficult about what I have studied is how to keep all of the equations straight and not confusing the equations with another term. Velocity is a difficult equation to keep up with because the velocity equation is v = d/t BUT the constant acceleration equation for determining how fast an object is going is v = at. Because of this, it is easy to get the equations mixed up.
I overcame these difficulties by constantly working on more problems where I had to apply these equations to find the answer. The light clicked when I just kept repeating these equations and continuously had to look for key words that determined which equation I had to use.
My problem solving skills still have some work for I have really only worked on one problem solving problem. My effort in this class I feel has been very good. A lot of the time in classes I get very frustrated with myself. Sometimes that is good because it makes me want to do better but I have learned that in physics you just have to continuously work at it until it clicks. I have already learned so much in physics and it is just now one month into classes. Being able to watch Mrs. Lawrence's podcasts are extremely helpful in my learning because I get to look back at them when I have questions or I want to review and I can learn at my own pace. Being able to work with a partner in some assignments is helpful because there is so much information to learn and sometimes I forget some of it so having a partner and another input is helpful. I am not a very patient human being. Sadly I get this trait from my father, But, being in this class I need to improve my patience skills and learn that it is okay to make mistakes just as long as I can learn from them and apply my learning's to my next assignments.
My goal for the next unit is to improve my problem solving skills by doing more of these problems and asking for help more than I have been doing. It is okay to ask questions. I'm not expected to automatically know what I am doing.
The connections I have already made between physics and the real world is tremendous. Most of my connections have to do with cars for just driving on a straight road on cruise control contains constant velocity. But, when you change direction, you change your velocity. This is a connection that really stands out to me because I do drive and I make this connection on a physical day to day basis.
I really liked how you were able to generalize the unit by relating them all back to formulas. I think that that particular perspective towards what we have been doing is really interesting and different. I think that your blog relates to mine when you say you struggled in differentiating the various formulas. I think that that concept was one of the most challenging of the unit. I also liked how you went into such debt about your problem solving skills. I think that one of the best ways to improve is analyzing your current stand point. One thing I think you could maybe work on (because it helped me alot!) is deeply explaining each concept in the unit. I did this and I thought it was so helpful for the test. Through attempting to explain everything, you can really figure out what you do and don't understand. Overall, good job!
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