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The physics of Me
Rachel Mendelsohn
Dr. Cate Challen
Physics and Maths
9/11/15
Physics of Me Project Self Reflection
I knew there were physics behind ice skating, and I could guess at what they were. With that in mind, I wanted to take it one step further. Instead of looking simply for the physics concepts behind it, I wanted to know how I could use them. My goal was to be able to change my behavior to improve my performance in the maneuver I struggle most with, a one-foot spin. To approach this goal, I started out with the question ¨Which variables do the skater have control over?” to guide my research. I used sources from textbooks to youtube videos to get a better understanding of the concepts and connections before narrowing it down to a few credible sources, which I used in the report. I would often get things done as quickly as possible and then stop myself to insure I was putting forward my best work. This shows in my research and in my final product.
First Draft Research Second Draft Research
In the past, I have struggled with getting critique from others, dismissing it as invalid, and I am still working on it. I made it my TPOL goal last year. In working to achieve that goal, I tried to keep an open mind, and I am proud of the outcome. I used all three of the major suggestions I received from my peers and one I recieved for my teacher. My final draft was easier to understand and more polished because of those suggestions. The other way I used the critiquing process was by seeing what worked and did not work in other’s reports and asking myself, ¨Is that something that I could improve on?¨ I found that the best reports were the ones that slowed down to focus in on a small number of concepts instead of cramming in as many as possible. This made me notice that my ideas were not organized very clearly. Every concept I discussed was used to increase angular momentum, but I never said that. I put it in there as if it was just an afterthought, instead of the main concept. When I did my final draft, I used five things from the critique session. I put my sources in MLA format, expanded on the physics concepts by providing more thorough explanations, identified angular momentum as the main concept, included labels in the diagram, and added arrows.
Before Critique After Critique
My biggest challenge was to accurately yet artistically represent centripetal force. At first, I misunderstood the force it applied to an object and therefore did not represent it properly. I had the arrow pointing outwards and sideways, instead of inwards. Once the inward force was explained to me, I could not figure out how to represent it in my final product. All the diagrams I had seen showed the forces from the top, and I wanted to show it from the side. In my final, three dimensional draft I was able to draw one inwards facing arrow and let the movement of the piece do the rest.
My first draft was an artistic rendition of my Photoshop diagram. In each of my drafts, I made sure to sketch it out before tracing it onto the final paper. I then outlined it with pen, and colored it in marker. I took it home so I could spend more time on it, but when I was finished I was not satisfied. I felt that a simple drawing of exactly what I did on the diagram was not my best work. I put more thought into it the next morning I got the idea to make a three dimensional spinning model by connecting the front view that I did for the first draft with a side view. In class that day and the next night, that is what I did. My skater now spins in the the classroom and I am proud of how she turned out.
This year, I am trying to grow in “Unlimited Potential”. I no longer want to finish and say, “That’s the best I can do.” I want to find ways to improve my work, to accept the critique my peers give. In this project, I pushed myself in that, and it shows in my final product, which went from being a drawing to a three dimensional, interactive piece. I stepped outside of my comfort zone my opening up to others ideas.The problem is, when it comes to pushing myself further, I haven’t been assessing my work in a timely manner. While I want to rethink and revise my work, I also want to turn it in on time, and I have struggled with doing both in the past few weeks. Only pushing myself at the last minute is a recipe for disaster. I need to get in the habit of constantly asking myself if I’m putting forward my best work. To help me achieve the this goal, I plan on asking for critique on my own so that I can get a fresh perspective at different stages of the product. I should get a 5 in this project because I grew in my ability to challenge myself and keep an open mind.
Dr. Cate Challen
Physics and Maths
9/11/15
Physics of Me Project Self Reflection
I knew there were physics behind ice skating, and I could guess at what they were. With that in mind, I wanted to take it one step further. Instead of looking simply for the physics concepts behind it, I wanted to know how I could use them. My goal was to be able to change my behavior to improve my performance in the maneuver I struggle most with, a one-foot spin. To approach this goal, I started out with the question ¨Which variables do the skater have control over?” to guide my research. I used sources from textbooks to youtube videos to get a better understanding of the concepts and connections before narrowing it down to a few credible sources, which I used in the report. I would often get things done as quickly as possible and then stop myself to insure I was putting forward my best work. This shows in my research and in my final product.
First Draft Research Second Draft Research
In the past, I have struggled with getting critique from others, dismissing it as invalid, and I am still working on it. I made it my TPOL goal last year. In working to achieve that goal, I tried to keep an open mind, and I am proud of the outcome. I used all three of the major suggestions I received from my peers and one I recieved for my teacher. My final draft was easier to understand and more polished because of those suggestions. The other way I used the critiquing process was by seeing what worked and did not work in other’s reports and asking myself, ¨Is that something that I could improve on?¨ I found that the best reports were the ones that slowed down to focus in on a small number of concepts instead of cramming in as many as possible. This made me notice that my ideas were not organized very clearly. Every concept I discussed was used to increase angular momentum, but I never said that. I put it in there as if it was just an afterthought, instead of the main concept. When I did my final draft, I used five things from the critique session. I put my sources in MLA format, expanded on the physics concepts by providing more thorough explanations, identified angular momentum as the main concept, included labels in the diagram, and added arrows.
Before Critique After Critique
My biggest challenge was to accurately yet artistically represent centripetal force. At first, I misunderstood the force it applied to an object and therefore did not represent it properly. I had the arrow pointing outwards and sideways, instead of inwards. Once the inward force was explained to me, I could not figure out how to represent it in my final product. All the diagrams I had seen showed the forces from the top, and I wanted to show it from the side. In my final, three dimensional draft I was able to draw one inwards facing arrow and let the movement of the piece do the rest.
My first draft was an artistic rendition of my Photoshop diagram. In each of my drafts, I made sure to sketch it out before tracing it onto the final paper. I then outlined it with pen, and colored it in marker. I took it home so I could spend more time on it, but when I was finished I was not satisfied. I felt that a simple drawing of exactly what I did on the diagram was not my best work. I put more thought into it the next morning I got the idea to make a three dimensional spinning model by connecting the front view that I did for the first draft with a side view. In class that day and the next night, that is what I did. My skater now spins in the the classroom and I am proud of how she turned out.
This year, I am trying to grow in “Unlimited Potential”. I no longer want to finish and say, “That’s the best I can do.” I want to find ways to improve my work, to accept the critique my peers give. In this project, I pushed myself in that, and it shows in my final product, which went from being a drawing to a three dimensional, interactive piece. I stepped outside of my comfort zone my opening up to others ideas.The problem is, when it comes to pushing myself further, I haven’t been assessing my work in a timely manner. While I want to rethink and revise my work, I also want to turn it in on time, and I have struggled with doing both in the past few weeks. Only pushing myself at the last minute is a recipe for disaster. I need to get in the habit of constantly asking myself if I’m putting forward my best work. To help me achieve the this goal, I plan on asking for critique on my own so that I can get a fresh perspective at different stages of the product. I should get a 5 in this project because I grew in my ability to challenge myself and keep an open mind.