danaleeling

Underneath the focus on physical systems,  SC 130 Physical Science  is built on a foundation of connecting physical systems to their mathematical models and communicating the results in writing. Laboratory exercises lead to the writing of a full laboratory report that is marked for content, syntax, grammar, vocabulary, organization, and cohesion. The majority of the laboratories investigate systems that involve a linear mathematical relationship. Reports include xy scatter graphs, best fit linear trend lines, slope, and y-intercept analysis. The course outline includes the learning outcome, "Students will generate mathematical models for physical science systems." This serves a general education program learning outcome, "Students will be able to present and interpret numeric information in graphic forms," which in turn serves an institutional learning outcome for quantitative reasoning: "Students will be able to reason and solve quantitative problems from a ...

Site swap notation is a chance to have some fun in physical science and to gain exposure to a non-traditional mathematical notation system. Some of the thinking behind the design of this laboratory is covered in a May blog on this same laboratory . Maria-Asuncion Paul. Emmy Rose Gilmete Dyron Perez Pamela Edgar Stephanie Usiel Maria-Asuncion Paul

Rain aborted the use of flying disk flight distances as the mathematical models practical laboratory. At 11:25 I made the call to switch from flying disks to pendulums. The laboratory is a straightforward laboratory, but the relationship between the length of the pendulum and the period is a square root relationship. The complication is that except for the data point (0 centimeters, 0 seconds), the points tend to appear to be roughly linear to the untrained eye. The lengths would have to exceed 265 centimeters. Stevenson and Ursula set up their pendulum. Emmy Rose times, Pamela Edgar swings the pendulum, and Correy Abraham handles changes in length of the pendulum. Bryan Wichep, Heron Susaia, and Stephanie Usiel measure the length of a pendulum.

In MS 101 Algebra and Trigonometry the formula distance = (2 velocity² sin θ cos θ)/gravity arises in the text. Rather than leave the concepts completely abstract, the class went outside with a protractor and radar gun to obtain measurements of the launch velocity and launch angle. This term the class did not attempt to measure the distance of flight. Midson Tom and Angie Joab hold meters sticks, Jamal Ranganbay is pitching, Tommy Wichilbuch Jr. holds the radar gun. One of the set of numbers out this exercise was a launch velocity of 12.2 m/s at an angle of 47 degrees. The exercise also helps demonstrate that out in the "real world" angle measuring devices utilize degrees and not radians. There are fields in which radians are more useful, for example those fields which study wave-based phenomenon, but where static angles are involved degrees are more often used.

I enjoy learning and sharing that joy with learners. Rousseau in Emile suggested that learning should be enjoyable to the Emile who is engaged in that learning. In the tragic event that Emile does not survive to adulthood, that schooling should not be seen by Emile himself as a waste of his short time on earth. Schooling that purports to teach skills only useful in some future context risks this outcome. The Jeffersonian general education that builds towards the formation of a well-rounded person includes subjects that the learner might never utilize in their future vocation or career. These subjects have a special onus to not leave the learner saying, "Well that was 45 hours of my life I will never get back!" I seek to engender learning, yet I also seek to share the wonder and joy of the subject I am teaching. Exponential functions, trigonometry, and physical science are not typically courses that evoke fond memories in former students. In addition to engendering learning,...

Lubuntu and Xubuntu are members of the Ubuntu extended family of operating systems, both intended to use less resources than Ubuntu. To provide additional computing resources to the students who come in for assistance, I use computers that the college is no longer deploying. In this instance a couple of MPC ClientPro computers from circa 1995 are in use, one running Lubuntu and one running Xubuntu. The two rigs are not identical. At some point I read somewhere that the Lubuntu OS had a smaller memory footprint than Xubuntu, and so I thought I would have a look at the memory footprints for the two computers. The Lubuntu rig is running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS with the LXDE desktop environment. For those unfamiliar with the world of Ubuntu, that is the April 2014 build of the Ubuntu OS. I would note that neither computer could run the 2014 build of the Windows operating system - Windows 8.1.  The Lubuntu 14.04 system in idle after boot is using 114 MB of the 241 MB of RAM avai...

For test six in MS 101 Algebra and Trigonometry I opted to lead off with a wave equation question built on an actual RipStik wave done just before class on the day of the test. I tried a eastbound downhill run from the Learning Resource Center, but the speed was too fast. On a single sheet of poster paper I had at best half a wavelength and an amplitude of maybe three centimeters. I tried the uphill from the north faculty building, but that was too steep. My runs were crooked, wobbly, irregular, and generated chaotic waves. I then opted for a westbound run towards the LRC in front of the south faculty building, placing two 82 cm long poster pad papers on the ground. I did a steady swizzle run up the slope trying to ensure that my centerline was straight. I focused on a point at the far end of the sheets, and worked to ensure my track was straight. Whether I would achieve a sine, negative sine, cosine, or negative cosine was not within my control. The RipStik moved from right to l...