Embedded Files
Dark blue: Useful equations: change in x = initial velocity in the x direction times time plus 1/2 times acceleration times time squared; this is another important kinematic equation for an object moving with constant acceleration; it can be applied in the x or y direction. F = kqq/r^2 is Coulomb's law and determines the force between 2 point charges (q and q) based on the radius between them and the constant k; absolute value is used because the direction is determined separately by the interaction of the charges (like repel, opposite attract). E (energy of photon) = h (Planck's constant) times f (frequency of the electromagnetic wave). Centripetal force = mass times velocity squared over radius; based on newton's 2nd law, since centripetal acceleration is v^2/r; occurs when an object is moving in a circle. Snell's law is n1sin(theta1)=n2sin(theta2), which means that the angle light enters and exits a refractive surface changes depending on the index of refraction (n) there. Velocity (final)= velocity (initial) plus acceleration times time; this is the last important kinematic equation for an object moving with constant acceleration; it can be applied in the x or y direction.
Connor D, James M, Harry K (2015) Inspired by Alex Grey
Mr. Curtis the physics teacher's face is the center of the mural. The bands of color emanating from him remind me of electric field lines on a charge distribution with a point charge (see the shoulder on the left).
There are lots of physics concepts pictured in the bands of color:
Red: a sound wave with a beat frequency, waves that are experiencing constructive and destructive interference, a circuit with a battery and a resistor, a triangular prism refracting light.
Orange: the bottom half of a pulley with a weight hanging from each side, a lens bending light, how to draw a lens bending light, useful equations (work = force times displacement, voltage = current times resistance)
Yellow: Useful equations: EMF (script E)= Blv where v is the velocity of a moving rod, l is its length, and B is the existing magnetic field. B=pvg, where B is the magnetic field, p =rho is the volume charge density, v is again the velocity of a moving rod, and g might be the force of gravity, except that makes less sense in a magnetism equation. Force of a spring is -k (spring constant) times the displacement from the equilibrium position. p (momentum) = mass times velocity; useful when doing conservation of momentum in collisions.
Green: Useful equations: PV=nRT ideal gas law, also used in chemistry, P= pressure, V= volume, n= molar mass from periodic table, R= gas law constant, T = temperature. Voltage = charge / capacitance (voltage of capacitor in circuit). T= Frsin(theta), script T is torque, = the component of force perpendicular to the radius from the center of mass to the point of application of the force. Power = work / change in time.
Light blue: Useful equations: v (speed) = frequency times wavelength (lamda) for electromagnetic waves. velocity^2 (final) = velocity^2 (initial) + 2 times (constant) acceleration times displacement; this is an important kinematic equation for an object moving with constant acceleration; it can be applied in the x or y direction. Period (T) of a pendulum = 2 pi times sqrt( length of pendulum string / gravity (which is 9.81 m/s^2)). Force = mass times acceleration, Newton's 2nd law, used very often in physics. Flux = B (magnetic field) times A (area) times sin(angle between them); flux is a measure of how much electric field there is in an area. Friction = mu (coefficient of friction) times r (reactionary force, also known as normal force and called N), very useful when friction is present, such as when a block is sliding down a hill.
Purple: A free body diagram of the forces acting on an object sliding down an inclined plane. Electric field lines coming off of two positive charges. A spring holding a mass up on an inclined plane. A plunger in a cylinder-- possibly demonstrating that air has mass since the plunger will not go all the way down, or the plunger is charged and it demonstrates a magnetism concept. Two masses attached to a pulley, a common physics problem setup. Torque being applied by a wrench as someone exerts a force F a distance r away from the point of rotation.
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