Script

The final script is done for our presentation...click here

physical model is also finished.

Media Work

Today we searched and found a video that we may be using for calculating the Centripetal Force...

 

Shawn Johnson--Uneven Bars--2008 Visa Championship

 

Also, we began to apply the idea of Centripetal Force to this video, and how it would work.

 

We will be meeting out of class to calculate the Centripetal Force and make a presentation, then finish up our posterboard and media presentation.

Being Productive

Today we made plans for our layout of the multimedia presentation, the trifold poster board, and physical model. We have begun our process for printing and  setting things up.
All and all a very productive day!

Angular Momentum

Angular Momentum is equal to the product of mass, velocity, and distance from mass to axis rotation. Another equation for angular momentum is the moment of inertia multiplied by the angular velocity. Angular momentum is not gained or lost from the time the gymnasts pushes off the mat. However, gymnasts are able to change their rate of rotation. They do this by changing their center mass of pulling in their arms or vice versa to perform tricks without pushing off of anything.

Friction

Friction is the rubbing of two surfaces against each other. On the uneven bars the gymnasts use angular friction. Angular friction is found by coefficient multiplied by the two friction surfaces. By using chalk, it helps increase friction when the chalk absorbs sweat. Chalk also helps the gymnasts glide around the bar and helps prevent their hands from sticking to the bar.

Acceleration

Acceleration

 

 

Centripetal Acceleration = velocity squared / radius

 

 

The radius would be equal to the gymnast's height. Being short is favorable in gymnastics because it would make the radius smaller. Therefore, making the acceleration larger. Sometimes gymnasts will do the splits while swinging, reducing the radius and giving them a extra boost of speed. This speed is needed to switch bars and do certain tricks.

New Perspective

This week we decided that we're going to do a more theoretical perspective on the physics of uneven bars, then go into detail on one aspect.

Through a theoretical stand point we will address momentum, acceleration, velocity, and friction.

We will be collecting physical data and going in-depth with centripetal force.

Our decision to take a more theoretical perspective was inspired by this presentation:

http://prezi.com/pk5rhd6et9nn/physics-in-uneven-bars/

In summary, we will still be studying all the basic physics of uneven bars, but only gathering numbers for centripetal force.

Measurements of Uneven Bars

Height--

Upper Bar: 250 centimeters (8.2 ft)

Lower Bar: 170 centimeters (5.6 ft)

Diameter of bar-- 4 centimeters (0.13 ft)

Length of the bars-- 240 centimeters (7.9 ft)

Diagonal distance between the two bars-- 130 centimeters (4.3 ft)–180 centimeters (5.9 ft)(adjustable)

 

information provided by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique  (FIG)

 

Square One...Again

Two changes have taken place in our project since the last post. 1. Bella has joined our group. 2. We are completely rethinking our project. After a couple weeks of thought, we realized that our original Idea may not be fit for our research. And so, we have started again from stage one: brainstorming. After a class period of tossing around ideas and thoughts, we have come to a conclusion. We were all drawn to the idea of doing a project related to acrobatics or gymnastics, but after accepting that flying trapeze may not be the easiest idea to test, we settled for uneven bar gymnastics. We will be investigating the question: How is physics present in the performances of Gymnasts? Specifically uneven bars. We will physically test the basics of the uneven bar with the help of a gymnast friend, and then go into the complex performances through videos and diagrams. By the end, we will have researched and examined the physics put into performance on the uneven bars.

Introduction and Idea

Hello! This is Sydney and Natalie. We are students in an Honors Physics class and we were assigned an in depth independent project. This blog is for tracking our progress over the course of this project. The ideas for the project are not concrete yet, but this is our proposition:
What situations are the best for the conditions in underwater swimming?
This project will go into the swimming techniques, clothing, and several other prospects of movement underwater.