Academic Wizard, Author at Assignment Help Central

September 18, 2025

Thermodynamics and Climate

Imagine you’re driving along a road and you approach a bridge. You notice a sign that reads, “Bridge freezes before road.” Why do bridges become covered with ice before roads do? Research this question and respond in depth, writing a full paragraph. Be sure to include examples. At the end of your response, provide at least two authoritative sources that you used in your research.

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Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is the branch of physics concerned with a system’s energy and work. Scientists became interested in thermodynamics back in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with the birth of the Industrial Revolution. Use online or print resources to answer the following questions about the importance of thermodynamics. Cite at least three authoritative resources to support your responses.

Part A

You’ve learned about the laws of thermodynamics. Using examples, explain why the first and second laws are significant for living organisms.

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Part B

Heat engines were first envisioned and built during the Industrial Revolution. Explain the thermodynamics of a heat engine, commenting on its efficiency.

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Part C Thermodynamics and Climate

Heat pumps and refrigerators are modern conveniences that came from the study of thermodynamics. In a paragraph, explain how they work.

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Global Warming

Scientists are actively studying what amount of the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere is a result of human activity. Research greenhouse gases and global warming to answer the questions below. Document at least three authoritative sources.

Part A

What evidence is there that the use of fossil fuels, which produce carbon dioxide, is causing climate change?

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Part B

Describe how computer climate models help scientists understand possible future climate changes. How reliable are these computer models in making predictions about global warming? Discuss any limitations in these models.

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Part C

What can you do? Read up on the issue and discover ways you can reduce the human “carbon footprint” on the planet. Include four examples of what can be done in homes and in the community. Cite your sources.

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Part D

Many people believe that if the human race continues to use energy as we are now, without change, we’ll witness a significant worldwide environmental impact in this century. Research this topic and discuss this possibility. Include concrete examples of specific environmental consequences of global warming.

Why do bridges become covered with ice before roads do?,
Using examples, explain why the first and second laws of thermodynamics are significant for living organisms.,
Explain the thermodynamics of a heat engine commenting on its efficiency.,
How do heat pumps and refrigerators work?,
What evidence links fossil fuel use to climate change how do climate models help predict changes, what can humans do to reduce their carbon footprint, and what are possible environmental consequences if energy use continues unchanged?

September 18, 2025

Light & Refraction

By Academic Wizard Blog

Light & Refraction

Discussion – Discuss your experience when standing in front of different types of mirrors in a fun house or even in a clothing store. Why do you look taller or shorter, narrower or wider, or distorted in other ways in these mirrors? Maybe you’ve even seen more than one of yourself in a set of mirrors. Describe your experience. Are these trick mirrors or applications of physics? Explain your answer.

Light Spectrum and Efficiency

$Light & Refraction$

You may have already used the Blackbody Spectrum simulation to see how the temperature of a substance affects how light is emitted. Many of the light sources you’re familiar with are incandescent light sources. They glow because they have a nonzero temperature. The hotter the source, the more radiant energy it gives off. Now, let’s explore a few different incandescent energy sources and investigate their lighting efficiency. In this simulation, the curve represents the radiation intensity and energy emitted with respect to the wavelength at a given temperature.

To begin, launch the Blackbody Spectrum https://contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Phet_Sims_upd/blackbody-spectrum/blackbody-spectrum_en.html

Part A

Several different incandescent radiation sources are listed in the table below, along with their respective temperatures. Sunlight is provided as a baseline measurement at the top of the table. You will determine the peak intensity for each source with respect to its visible color spectrum. You also estimate the amount of emitted energy that falls in the visible light spectrum.

To do so Light & Refraction

drag the slider to reach the temperature listed in the first column of the table. You can also type in the temperature value in the text box above the temperature slider.
use the buttons to zoom in or out on either the vertical or horizontal axis to easily observe the curve (and the peak). The peak should be as high as possible, while still being visible on screen. You should extend the scale far enough to the right to see the curve reach very close to zero emission on the right.
estimate the percentage of emitted energy that appears to fall within the visible spectrum and enter that value in the table. You can do this by estimating the area under the energy curve in the visible region as compared to the total area under the curve.

Incandescent Light Sources Temperature(K) Color at the Peak of the Curve Energy in

Visible Spectrum

sunlight 5800

photoflood 3400

100-watt incandescent 2870

40-watt incandescent 2500

candle flame 1900

electric stovetop coil 800

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Part B

From the readings above, what can you say about the lighting efficiency of the various incandescent radiation sources? Which are the most efficient in emitting visible light?

Support your answer with suitable reasoning.

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Part C

Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs provide about four times as much visible light for a given amount of energy use. For example, a 14-watt CFL bulb provides about the same amount of visible light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. LED lights are even more efficient at turning electrical energy into visible light. Does that mean they are both a lot hotter? Go online and research how fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs work. Describe how their operations and their spectra differ from those of incandescent light bulbs. Be sure to record your research sources.

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Refraction and Refractive Index

Question 1

In this activity, you will use the video measurement and analysis tool, Tracker, to observe how light is refracted when it travels between air and Acrylite, a transparent plastic material. You will also make observations and quantitative readings about the angle of incidence and angle of refraction to find the refractive index of Acrylite.

To begin your activity, open the Tracker experiment Acrylite to Air contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Tracker/applications/acrylite-to-air/acrylite-to-air.html .

Click play to watch the video. The other video controls allow you to rewind the video or step forward or backward one frame at a time.

Observe the video to proceed with the activity, in which you will collect data to calculate the refractive index of acrylite.

Part A

Describe your observations of light traveling from Acrylite into air in the video. Then, compare the relative refractive properties of Acrylite and air. Provide a rationale for any conclusions you may come to.

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Part B

Do you notice any peculiarity in the way the light ray behaves at large angles? Explain this behavior, based on your knowledge of refraction.

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Part C

Now, grab Tracker’s protractor tool (the green angle in the video frame) and measure the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction for the frame numbers specified in the table below. Hints:

To advance the video a frame at a time, use the step buttons on the right.
Position the vertex of the protractor exactly at the origin of the coordinate axis.
Move the arms of the protractor so that one arm is on the vertical axis (above or below, as appropriate) and the other on the light ray.

Frame Number Angle of Incidence (θi) in Degrees Angle of Refraction (θr) in Degrees 8

14 Light & Refraction

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Part D

The light ray is traveling from Acrylite into air. The refractive index for air is 1.00. If the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction are known, how could you determine the refractive index of Acrylite?

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Part E

Using the angles of incidence and angles of refraction obtained in question 4, complete the rest of the table below, entering sine values and calculating the refractive index of acrylite for each angle measured. Finally, average these values and enter your calculated average value for the refractive index of acrylite in the space below.

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Part F

Conduct online research to find the refractive index of Acrylite, the material used in the Tracker experiment. (Acrylite is also known as Acrylite glass, or PMMA.) Does the average refractive index you calculated match the accepted refractive index for Acrylite?

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Question 2

Now, open the second Tracker experiment, Air to Acrylite contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Tracker/applications/air-to-acrylite/air-to-acrylite.html .

Click play to watch the video. The other video controls allow you to rewind the video or step forward or backward one frame at a time.

Observe the video to proceed with the activity. In this activity too, you will collect data to calculate the refractive index of acrylite.

Part A

What do you see in this video? Do these observations support your previous findings regarding refractive properties of Acrylite as compared to air? Provide a rationale for your answer.

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Part B

Now, follow the same procedure you did in the earlier Tracker experiment. Find the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction for the frame numbers specified in the table below. Then, calculate the refractive index for Acrylite for this new data. Make a calculation for each measurement in the table. Finally, enter the average of these values in the space below the table.

Frame Number Angle of Incidence (θi) in Degrees Angle of Refraction (θr) in Degrees

Sine θi Sine θr Refractive Index

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Part C

After researching the actual refractive index of Acrylite on the Web, did you find that it matches your calculations?

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Applications of Convex and Concave Lens

In this activity, you will revisit the two videos about how light is refracted when incident on a lens. First, open the convex lens video. Observe how the light rays parallel to the principal axis behave when they hit the convex lens at different points. You can replay the video any time during this activity.

Then, watch the second concave lens video. Observe how the light rays parallel to the principal axis behave when they hit the lens at different points. You can replay the video any time during this activity.

livephoto.sciencetutorials.net//LPVideos/refl-refr/concave_lens.mp4

Part A

Describe what happens to the incoming parallel rays for the two lenses. Compare and contrast the results.

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Part B

Below is a list of some applications of lenses. Determine which lens could be used in each and explain why it would work. You can conduct online research to help you in this activity, if you wish.

Applications Lens Used Reason

peephole in a door

objective lens (front lens) of binoculars

photodiode – In a garage door or burglar alarm, it can sense the light (or the lack of it) from an LED light source positioned some distance away.

magnifying glass

viewfinder of a simple camera

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Part C

A human eye is a convex lens. In normal eyesight, the image of an object in front of our eyes is formed exactly on the retina and is inverted. In farsighted and nearsighted eyesight, where is the image formed? Which lens can be use as a corrective measure in each case? You may use online or other resources to help you answer this question. Be sure to record your research sources in the References section near the end of this document.

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- Why do mirrors in fun houses make people appear taller shorter narrower wider or distorted?,
- Based on the Blackbody Spectrum simulation what are the peak intensities and visible energy outputs for various incandescent sources?,
- Which incandescent sources are most efficient in emitting visible light and why?,
- How do fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs differ in operation and spectra from incandescent bulbs?,
- What do Tracker experiments reveal about the refractive index of Acrylite compared to air, and how does this relate to lens applications and vision correction?

September 18, 2025

Electricity, DNA & Fields

By Academic Wizard Blog

Electricity, DNA & Fields

discussion- An enormous amount of electricity is created at power-generating stations and sent across the country through wires that carry high voltages. Appliances, power lines, airport and military radars, substations, transformers, computers, and other equipment that carries or uses electricity all generate electromagnetic fields.

Many questions have been raised about how electromagnetic fields affect our bodies. Do they pose a public health risk? Perform an Internet search to find information about the effects of electromagnetic fields on public health. Then, discuss the pros and cons of using equipment that produces an electromagnetic field.

Here is one authoritative source to get you started: electromagnetic fields and public health.

Double Helix Structure of DNA

This task connects the physics of electrostatics with molecular biology. Molecular biology is the study of the structure and function of the cell at the molecular level. DNA’s double helix structure consists of two strands held together by electrostatic forces. Do online research on electrostatics and molecular biology, and then answer the following questions. Here are two sources to start with:

Part A

What is DNA and what is its role in life? List DNA’s four nucleotide bases.

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Part B Electricity, DNA & Fields

Explain DNA’s structure, specifically noting the role electric fields and forces play in it.

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Electric Field of Dreams

In this activity, you will explore the relationship between the strength and direction of the electric field lines to the type of charge on a particle and its magnitude. You will also explore the interactions between two or more charged particles and observe their movement. To begin your activity, open the simulation: Electric Field of Dreams. ‪‪Electric field of dreams‬ 1.0.0-dev.10‬

Directions:
At any time you may

click the Reset All button to reset all the settings;
click the Play/Pause button to pause or resume the motion; or
pause the motion and then click the Step button to observe the motion step-by-step.

Part A

To begin, click the Add button to add one object to the system. Observe the electric field around this charged object. You may move the object around the field by dragging it with your cursor. While the arrows indicate the direction of the electric field around the charge, the length of the arrows indicates the field strength. Based on your observations of the field, what is the charge on this object? Give your reasoning.

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Part B

Set the charged object in motion by dragging it and releasing it. What do you observe about the behavior of the field lines in the vicinity of the object?

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Part C

Add another charged object to the electric field by clicking the Add button again. What is the charge of this new object? Give your reasoning. What do you observe about the behavior of both the objects as well as the field lines in the vicinity of both the objects?

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Part D

Click the Remove button to remove one of these objects, and then click the Properties button to set properties for the next object you will add. Just change the sign of the charge to (+), then click Done. Click Add to add this new object to the field. Now what do you observe about the behavior of the two objects and the field lines that surround them?

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Part E

With the two oppositely-charged objects still in the field, apply an external field to the system: In the External Field box, simply drag the dot until it becomes an electric field vector in some direction. Observe, describe, and explain the behavior of the two objects.

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Electric Field Hockey ‪‪Electric field hockey‬ 1.0.0-dev.10‬

In this activity, you will again explore the relationship between an electric field and charged particles in the field, but this time you’ll have a gaming challenge. To begin, open Electric Field Hockey.

Directions:
On the control bar, make sure that the Puck is Positive and the Field boxes are checked. Also, make sure that the Practice option is selected.

Your aim is to score goals by manipulating the black puck (test charge) into the blue-colored bracket (goal) on the right. Think smart and place positive source charges (red) and negative source charges (blue) in such a way that the black puck moves into the goal.

Note that when you place a red, positive source charge in the hockey field, a red arrow appears on the black puck (test charge) showing the force the positive charge exerts on the puck. Similarly, when you place a blue, negative source charge in the hockey field, a blue arrow appears on the black puck (test charge) showing the force the negative charge exerts on the puck.

Part A

Place a red charge in the hockey field and click Start. In which direction do electric field lines point? In which direction does the black puck move? What conclusion do you draw from this movement?

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Part B

Click Reset and then click Clear. Now, place a blue charge in the hockey field and click Start. In which direction do electric field lines point? In which direction does the black puck move? What conclusion do you draw from this movement?

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Part C

Manipulate the mass of the puck by dragging the Mass bar to the right for increasing the mass and to the left for decreasing it. What changes do you see in the speed of the puck? Which principle works behind this change?

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Part D

In the same situation, what do you observe about the relationship between the speed of the black puck and its distance from the blue charge?

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Part E

You can make the puck travel in complex ways by placing a set of charges around on the field. So, here’s your game challenge: Arrange source charges around to propel the puck from its starting position into the goal. That’s pretty easy for a straight shot; you just put a negative charge behind the goal. But what if there are barriers in the way? That’s a real test of your physics understanding, including Newton’s laws of motion and electrostatic forces. Game’s on!

On the control bar, check the Trace, Field, and Anti-alias boxes. The game has three Difficulty levels. Start with Difficulty level one and arrange source charges to get the puck into the goal. Once you’ve made a score at any level, increase the Difficulty level. Take a screen capture of two of your most difficult goals and paste them here. At least one of these should be at Difficulty level 2 or 3.

(Note: On a Windows computer, you can use the key combination Alt-Print Screen to copy the currently-active window to your clipboard. When you capture an image of this simulation window, paste the image into an image-processing program such as Paint, and save the image as a file. Then use the Insert Image button to insert the file into the response area.)

15pxSpace used(includes format Electricity, DNA & Fields

Do electromagnetic fields pose a public health risk? Discuss pros and cons,
What is DNA and its role in life? List DNA’s four nucleotide bases,
Explain DNA’s structure specifically noting the role electric fields and forces play in it,
Based on the “Electric Field of Dreams” simulation describe your observations for charged objects and field behavior,
Based on the “Electric Field Hockey” simulation, describe your observations, conclusions, and outcomes.

September 18, 2025

Household Energy Use

By Academic Wizard Blog

Household Energy Use

Discussion- It’s possible to save a great deal of electrical energy (and money and natural resources) with some simple changes in household electrical use. The trouble is that most of these changes mean either changing behavior or spending money. Do an Internet search and review a few ways to save electrical energy. Discuss at least one change that you think would be reasonable and worthwhile to do in your own home in the next year. Provide your rationale.

Home Energy Use

In this activity, you are going to perform an experiment to track the amount of power you and your family use, then look at some basic patterns in that usage. (NOTE: If you live in an apartment or home in which you do not have access to the electrical meter, consult with your instructor about alternative arrangements, like teaming with a classmate to gather this data.)

This experiment is going to span the course of a full week and require 12 meter readings. It really involves two separate experiments:

tracking daily energy use for a week to compare any usage variations from day to day
comparing a single high-usage time period of a few hours with a single low-usage time period of a few hours to help you identify the extremes in your household electrical use

You can easily do both experiments during the same time period. This approach would be the easiest and fastest way to proceed. Read the instructions for both Part A and Part B if you wish to do both experiments at the same time.

To begin, you’ll need to find your electric meter, which could be inside or outside of your home. Many electric meters these days are digital and pretty easy to read, but if you have an older “dial-type” meter, go to this electric meter reading guide to learn about how to read and understand it.

For each of the two experiments below, you will first record three simple pieces of data in a table:

1) day and date, 2) time, and 3) the kWh reading from the meter.

Then record the results of three simple calculations: Household Energy Use

kWh used: Calculate kWh used since the last reading (subtraction).
Hours elapsed: Calculate the number of hours since the last reading (subtraction rounded to a whole number).
Average kW used: (kWh used)/(hours elapsed). If this number turns out to be 0.36, for example, it means that your average household power usage for the time period was about 360 watts, the equivalent of running six 60-watt bulbs for that whole time period.

Part A

Daily Electrical Usage: Data Collection

Pick a convenient time of day to take readings from your electric meter. You’ll need readings roughly a day apart, but if they differ by only an hour or two, that should be fine. Pick a consistent time you’ll remember, though, such as after getting home for the day. You need to start by doing an initial meter reading, then follow up with a reading every day for the next 7 days. You’ll do 8 readings in all.

Record your readings in the tables below. In addition to the data fields described above, there is a lot of room for usage notes. Record anything that might have substantially affected the electrical usage since your previous reading. This might include the amount of time people were around and awake at home, use of specific devices such as an air conditioner, clothes dryer, TV, or lighting.

Type your response here:

Initial Reading

day & date

time

kWh reading

Day 1 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed ‘

avg. kW used

Day 2 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

Day 3 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used ‘

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

Day 4 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

Day 5 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day&date Household Energy Use

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

Day 6 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

Day 7 Data Usage notes (since last reading)

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

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Part B

Usage Extremes: Data Collection

For this experiment, you’ll measure electrical usage during a time period when you expect to have very light electrical usage (for instance, while you’re asleep at night or during the day when no one is at home). Likewise you’ll measure electrical usage during a time period when you expect to have heavier than average electrical usage. This time period might be in the evening, when lights and other appliances are on. Both of these time periods should be at least 4 hours long, to increase the accuracy of your results.

Record your results in the tables below for each situation. For each time period, you’ll need to take an initial and a final reading.

Type your response here:

Low Usage – Initial Reading

day & date

time

kWh reading

Low Usage – Final Reading Energy Usage Notes

day & date

time

kWh reading
kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

High Usage – Initial Reading

day & date

time

kWh reading

High Usage – Final Reading Energy Usage Notes

day & date

time

kWh reading

kWh used

hours elapsed

avg. kW used

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Part C

Let’s start the analysis by looking at your “extreme usage” cases. Compare the two cases in detail—low usage period versus high usage period. Discuss differences between the two as well as any surprises. Things you should cover in your discussion: How much difference was there in average power usage (avg. kW) between the low-usage and high-usage time periods? What might have been running during the low-usage period that used energy? Identify likely “stealth” energy users that you could not turn off during the low-usage period. What do you suppose contributed most to the usage during the high-usage period?

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Part D

Having looked at your “extreme usage” cases, analyze your day-to-day usage. Discuss in detail. Specifically, compare higher usage days to lower usage days. Were there significant variations? Do your conclusions regarding the “extreme” cases help to explain any daily variations? What were the surprises or new insights you had in reviewing this day-to-day usage record?

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Part E

It is possible to save a great deal of electrical energy (and money and natural resources) with some simple changes. You’re probably familiar with what some of those changes are and are now more attuned to your own electrical usage. The trouble is, most of these changes either mean changing behavior or spending money. Search the Web for a few ways to save electrical energy. Record them below and categorize them, if possible, as “change behavior” or “spend money.” You might want to consider adding a “neither” category. There are a few things that don’t really require much change or money at all. Include your sources in your answer.

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Part F

Based on what you’ve learned from your household energy investigation, which of these methods seems reasonable to do in your own home this year? (Do you plan to do it?) Provide your rationale.

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What Is “Wasted” Electrical Energy?

Discuss the production, transmission, and usage of electricity in the context of conservation of energy. When electricity is “used” or we say that energy is “wasted,” what is actually happening?

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Electrical Safety Devices

Perform an Internet search to learn about grounding wires, fuses, and circuit breakers. Specifically,

describe how each device works; and
relate its function to what you’ve learned in this unit about electric current, voltage and resistance.

Compare the two cases in detail—low usage period versus high usage period,
Analyze your day-to-day usage and discuss variations,
Record a few ways to save electrical energy and categorize them,
Based on your investigation, which method seems reasonable to do in your own home this year and why?,
Discuss the production, transmission, and usage of electricity in the context of conservation of energy, including “wasted” energy.

September 18, 2025

Electromagnetism Applications

By Academic Wizard Blog

Electromagnetism Applications

discussion- Research and discuss the aurora borealis in terms of electric charges, magnetic fields, and forces. Which times of the year are best for seeing the northern lights, and where are the best places to view them? Explain your answers. Also identify links to good images. If you’ve ever seen the aurora borealis, describe your experience and note the time and place that you saw it.

Faraday’s Law

Electric generators use the properties of electromagnetism to transform kinetic energy into electrical energy. Many electric generators work by spinning a permanent magnet near coils of wire. Experiment with this simulation of electricity generation to visualize how this process works. Once the simulation opens, try moving the permanent magnet around to see what happens. Also rapidly switch the polarity of the magnet by repeatedly clicking on the magnet icon at the bottom of the page, and observe the effect.

Part A

Try moving the magnet in the different ways described in the table below,. Record your observations in the second column of the table.

Motion Observations

Move the magnet straight through the coil, leading with the north pole. Once the magnet is completely through, move it back to its original position.

Move the magnet straight through the coil, only this time leading with the south pole. Once the magnet is completely through, move it back to its original position

Put the magnet in the center of the coil, but don’t move it.

Put the magnet on the outside of the coil. Repeatedly move it up and down while outside of the coil.

Keeping the magnet outside of the coil. Repeatedly move it back and forth horizontally.

Place the magnet back inside of the coil. Now repeatedly switch the polarity of the magnet by pressing the button toward the bottom-right of the page over and over again.

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Part B

After producing electricity in many different ways, describe what causes electricity to flow in the coil? In your response, describe the types of forces acting on the electrons and how they result in movement.

As you know, loudspeakers are used for communication at sporting events, and in schools or supermarkets. Research loudspeakers on the Web. Describe the components of a speaker and explain how it produces sound. In particular, explain how the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field is used to make a speaker operate.

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Electromagnetism Applications

Throughout this lesson, you learned about the lives and contributions of key scientists in this area of physics. Create a timeline that ties them all together. The timeline does not need to be highly detailed, but it should do the following:

Include at least the four major scientists covered in this unit: Oersted, Ampère, Faraday, and Tesla.
Include key contributions of each scientist and provide a year, if possible, for those contributions.
Note any relationships among these and other scientists, especially if one developed something based on the work of another.
Arrange the scientists chronologically by their first key contribution, not by their birth date.

Research and discuss the aurora borealis in terms of electric charges, magnetic fields, and forces,
Which times of the year are best for seeing the northern lights, and where are the best places to view them?,
After producing electricity in many different ways, describe what causes electricity to flow in the coil?,
Describe the components of a speaker and explain how it produces sound,
Create a timeline that ties Oersted, Ampère, Faraday, and Tesla together with contributions and years.

September 18, 2025

Nuclear Reactions and Electromagnetic Applications

By Academic Wizard Blog

Nuclear Reactions and Electromagnetic Applications

Scientists such as Heinrich Hertz, Philipp Lenard, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein made scientific contributions that ultimately demonstrated that light is electromagnetic radiation, and that it has a “dual nature.” Some electromagnetic phenomena are best explained with a particle model, and some with a wave model. In a sense, “wave” and “particle” are just easy mental models for light. We employ them because we are used to seeing waves and particles—such as those in water waves and baseballs—in our daily lives. Electromagnetic radiation is a basic concept in physics, but it doesn’t fit completely into one of these neat little boxes.

Research and discuss at least one modern technology that employs electromagnetic radiation and that can be explained by the wave model, the particle model, or a combination of the two. Some possible technologies include solar panels, burglar alarms, cameras, and cell phones.

Research Fusion and Fission Reactions

Read about Nuclear power and then search the internet for more information about fission and fusion reactions. Use the search terms:

deuterium-tritium fusion reaction
uranium-235 fission reaction
plutonium-239 fission reaction

Part A Nuclear Reactions and Electromagnetic Applications

Why is the deuterium-tritium reaction the most promising nuclear fusion reaction for future energy production?

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Part B

Why is uranium-235 the most common isotope for nuclear fission in current use in nuclear power generation?

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Part C

Why is it advantageous to produce plutonium-239?

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Calculations

Complete the calculations for each nuclear reaction listed below.

Use these resources to better understand the activity at hand and to help in your tasks:

Conversions:

1MeV = 1.6 x 10-13 J
Energy use per person per year in the United States = 3.5 x 1011 Joules
(estimated, varies by source, August 2009)
Approximate population of USA: 310,000,000

Question 1

Deuterium-Tritium Fusion Reaction

Given: energy released = 17.59 MeV per deuterium/tritium reaction pair (mass = 5 amu)

Part A Nuclear Reactions and Electromagnetic Applications

List the balanced nuclear reaction.

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Part B

Determine the energy released per kilogram of fuel used.

Given MeV per reaction, calculate energy in joules per kilogram of reactants.
Consider 1 mole of tritium plus 1 mole of deuterium to be a mole of “reactions” (total molar mass = 5 grams).

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Part C

Determine the mass of fuel required for the expected energy consumption in the United States for the next 10 years.

Energy use per person per year in the United States = 3.5 × 1011 joules.
Base your calculations on a current population of 310,000,000.

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Question 2

Uranium-235 Fission

Given: energy released = about 200 MeV per individual reaction (mass = 235 amu)

Part A

Find the balanced nuclear reaction.

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Part B

Determine the energy released per kilogram of fuel used.

Given MeV per reaction, calculate energy in joules per kilogram of reactants.
Consider 1 mole of uranium-235 to be a mole of “reactions” (molar mass = 235 grams).

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Part C

Determine the mass of fuel required for the expected energy consumption in the United States for the next 10 years:

Provide the energy use per person per year in the United States = 3.5 × 1011 joules.
Base your calculations on a current population of 310,000,000.

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Question 3

Plutonium-239

Given: energy released = about 200 MeV per individual reaction (mass = 239 amu)

Part A

List the balanced nuclear reaction.

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Part B

Determine the energy released per kilogram of fuel used.

Given MeV per reaction, calculate energy in joules per kilogram of reactants.
Consider 1 mole of plutonium-239 to be a mole of “reactions” (molar mass = 239 grams).

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Part C

Determine the mass of fuel required for the expected energy consumption in the United States for the next 10 years.

Energy use per person per year in the United States = 3.5 × 1011 joules.
Base your calculations on a current population of 310,000,000.

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Analysis and Conclusions

Write a summary of your findings from the calculations section above. Discuss information from your research and the pros and cons of each energy alternative.

Part A

Summarize the results of your calculations from Task 2.

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Part B

Discuss the pros and cons of fission and fusion reactions based on your research.

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Part C

Write your conclusions as to which nuclear reaction is the best alternative energy source.

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Discuss at least one modern technology that employs electromagnetic radiation,
Why is the deuterium-tritium reaction the most promising nuclear fusion reaction for future energy production?,
Why is uranium-235 the most common isotope for nuclear fission in current use in nuclear power generation?,
Why is it advantageous to produce plutonium-239?,
Complete calculations and summarize analysis/conclusions on fusion and fission energy alternatives.

September 18, 2025

Physics Lab Report Guidelines

By Academic Wizard Blog

Physics Lab Report Guidelines

• Laboratory Preparation: Instructions to all lab experiments are posted on our Blackboard course website. Before performing each lab activity, students must read the instructions, prepare for the laboratory, and study the theory for the experiment. Online lab experiments will be performed by each student as specified in the lab instructions, and a single report will be submitted for each experiment activity. Students can work on the experiments individually or in small groups of 2 or 3 students, but each student must write and submit their own lab report and include a detailed list of contributions from all group members to the lab (see below).

• Laboratory Report Policy: Each lab experiment will span two weeks: The 1st week is devoted to reviewing the activity and collecting the data, while the 2nd week is devoted to completing the lab report. Each student will be responsible for producing a report pertaining to each experiment. Lab reports must be typed and submitted (uploaded as assignments) via Blackboard website using the corresponding link available in the Labs & Reports folder. Lab reports are due on Sunday by midnight (11:59 pm) before your next lab (see course schedule). Lab reports will be graded and returned to you via Blackboard website with feedback and comments. Reports will not be accepted via email. A student must pass the lab portion of the course in order to pass the entire course.

• Late Report Policy: Late laboratory reports will only be accepted in the case of extreme emergency or illness and prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Students that do not participate in the lab activity or do not submit the required lab report, will not get credit for the lab and will receive a grade of zero (0%). Refer to the course syllabus for more details.

• Format of Laboratory Reports: Laboratory reports must be typed professionally using Microsoft Word (*.doc or *.docx) and in standard font. Plagiarism and copying from the lab instructions or from another student will not be tolerated. Each report must be a single document less than 1 MB in size, and the basic parts of all lab reports must be arranged in the following order:

1. A “Title page” containing your name followed by your partner’s names if any, the title of the report, the

course code, section number, and the date when the experiment was performed. Physics Lab Report Guidelines

2. A section entitled “Objectives”, which contains the objective or objectives of the experiment.

3. A section entitled “Theory”, which contains all pertinent theoretical considerations and equations used during the lab or in the calculations. All equations must be explained and typed using Microsoft Word.

4. A section entitled “Equipment and Materials”, which contains a list of the equipment and materials used to carry out the experiment. Also, include a sketch of the lab set-up, equipment, or simulation.

5. A section entitled “Data”, which contains the collected data and results in tabular format. All data tables must be typed using Microsoft Word. Do not include any calculations in this section.

6. A section entitled “Graphs and Screenshots”, which contains any required graphs, diagrams, or screenshots. All graphs must have a title, a well-chosen scale, and properly labeled axes. Curves and straight lines should be drawn smoothly and as close to as many points as possible. Graphs must also display any required slopes or intercepts. Screenshots must be clear and properly labeled.

7. A section entitled “Calculations”, which contains detailed calculations for all trials showing the equations used, algebra, and results rounded to the correct number of significant figures. Include in this section comparisons with expected or standard values (percent error or percent difference). All calculations must be typed using Microsoft Word.

8. A section entitled “Conclusions”, which contains conclusions based on the data, calculations, physical theory, and lab analysis. The conclusions should include: ✓ Summary of final results (values). ✓ Comment on the agreement or disagreement of the results with the theory or expectations. ✓ Answers all analysis questions given in the lab instruction or by the lab instructor. ✓ Discuss what you personally learned from this experiment and your observations/comments.

9. A section entitled “Sources of Error”, which contains a list of the possible sources of experimental errors. There are always errors in any measurement. Identify some of the significant sources.

10. A section entitled “References” that lists all references used. Textbook and lab manual/handouts should always be included.

11. If students worked on the lab as a group, include a section at the end of the report entitled “Contributions” that lists in detail the contributions of all group members to the lab. Remember that each student must write and submit their own lab report for each lab activity or experiment.

A title page,
A section entitled “Objectives”,
A section entitled “Theory”,
A section entitled “Equipment and Materials”,
A section entitled “Data”,
A section entitled “Graphs and Screenshots”,
A section entitled “Calculations”,
A section entitled “Conclusions”,

September 17, 2025

Pseudoscience & Yellowstone

By Academic Wizard Blog

Pseudoscience & Yellowstone

Today, there are many topics that are pseudoscience in the news. Pseudoscience ‘looks’ like science but isn’t. Astrology, homeopathic healing, bigfoot, the moon landing was faked are examples of ideas that may seem like science at first but once examined using the scientific method are found to be wrong. As the great Carl Sagan referenced in his book, The Demon Haunted World, scientists have a built in “baloney detector” with the knowledge and use of steps of the Scientific Method. Just as a review on how the scientific method works, view the Neil de Grasse Tyson video. You see that something as simple as the mystery of missing whipped cream on hot chocolate can be easily solved with the Scientific Method as there is solid evidence that cream floats on liquids. Therefore, you should be able to use the Scientific Method to prove or disprove pseudoscience as well. For this discussion assignment:

Choose en example of pseudoscience from the list. Pseudoscience & Yellowstone
In your initial post, devise a hypothesis about this topic and explain the steps that you would take to prove the hypothesis. Also, explain how think you will be able to prove your hypothesis.
You will need to reply to TWO other students as well. Your replies should include feedback on the methods used as well as any additional suggestions of how the hypothesis might be proven.

Here’s the list. Remember these are things that look like science but are actually wrong. Choose one of these. AstrologyCryptozoology (bigfoot Loc Ness monster etc…)Homeopathic medicineCrop circlesPerpetual motionFaces, or canals on MarsVaccines cause autismFlat EarthHollow EarthBermuda TriangleEarthquake predictionPhrenology Pseudoscience & Yellowstone

Choose en example of pseudoscience from the list.,
In your initial post devise a hypothesis about this topic and explain the steps that you would take to prove the hypothesis.,
Also, explain how think you will be able to prove your hypothesis.,
You will need to reply to TWO other students as well.,
Your replies should include feedback on the methods used as well as any additional suggestions of how the hypothesis might be proven.

September 17, 2025

Mapping Technologies

By Academic Wizard Blog

Mapping Technologies

The topic of this Homework is latitude and longitude, map projections, map scales, and modern mapping technologies. Address the following:

What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)? Indicate the latitude and longitude of 5 of the following locations (your choice):
- The Statue of Liberty
- Mount Rushmore
- The Eiffel Tower
- The Taj Mahal
- The Sydney Opera House
- Mount Fuji
- Stonehenge
List and describe the four types of distortions that can result from map projections.
List and describe the three ways to indicate scale on a map.
What are GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing and how do these technologies contribute to more accurate and timely geographic information on Earth?
How do you use these technologies (if any) in your everyday life?

Mapping Technologies

What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)?,
Indicate the latitude and longitude of 5 of the following locations (your choice).,
List and describe the four types of distortions that can result from map projections.,
List and describe the three ways to indicate scale on a map.,
What are GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing and how do these technologies contribute to more accurate and timely geographic information on Earth?,
How do you use these technologies (if any) in your everyday life?

Comprehensive General Answers

1. Difference between meridian (longitude) and parallel (latitude)

Meridians (longitude): Imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, measured east or west of the Prime Meridian (0°) in Greenwich, England. Longitude values range from 0° to 180° east or west.
Parallels (latitude): Imaginary lines that circle the globe horizontally, parallel to the equator. They are measured north or south of the equator (0°), ranging from 0° to 90° north or south.

2. Latitude and longitude of five landmarks

Statue of Liberty, USA: 40.6892° N, 74.0445° W
Mount Rushmore, USA: 43.8791° N, 103.4591° W
Eiffel Tower, France: 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E
Taj Mahal, India: 27.1751° N, 78.0421° E
Sydney Opera House, Australia: 33.8568° S, 151.2153° E

3. Four types of distortions in map projections

When projecting the 3D Earth onto a 2D map, distortions occur in:

Shape: The true form of areas may be stretched or compressed.
Area (Size): The relative size of regions may be enlarged or reduced (e.g., Greenland appears larger than Africa on a Mercator projection).
Distance: The measured distance between two points may not be accurate.
Direction: The compass bearing from one place to another can be distorted.

4. Three ways to indicate scale on a map

Graphic (bar) scale: A line or bar divided into units of distance (e.g., kilometers or miles) that can be measured with a ruler.
Verbal scale: A written statement such as “1 inch equals 1 mile.”
Representative fraction (RF): A ratio (e.g., 1:100,000) where one unit on the map equals a proportional number of units on the ground.

September 17, 2025

Galaxy Classification Lab

By Academic Wizard Blog

Galaxy Classification Lab

In this activity, you will explore all possible morphological types of galaxies, how galaxy properties change as you move between morphologies, and how a galaxy’s color can describe galaxy properties and evolution.

Objectives

After completing this activity students will be able to:

· Describe Hubble’s Tuning Fork and how galaxies are classified

· Identify and classify the different types of galaxies

· Describe how astronomical images are produced, how CCD cameras work, and how and why filters are used

**Note: If a question is labeled “ THOUGHT QUESTION” we are looking for you to show critical thinking/justification in your answer, not a “correct” answer**

Definitions

Here are some terms from lecture that we will be using today in lab:

· Morphology – the description of the shape of a galaxy, i.e. spiral, elliptical, etc.

· Hubble’s Tuning Fork – organizational scheme for galaxies based on their photometric appearance

· Companion – the term which applies to a secondary galaxy that is in gravitational interaction with the main galaxy in question

· Jet – a focused beam of ionized material, usually moving at velocities near the speed of light

Part 1. Galaxy Classification

The main goal of this lab is to look through images of galaxies and identify which type of galaxy each is. One major tool used to identify galaxies is Hubble’s Tuning Fork. Edwin Hubble worked extensively on galaxies in the early 1900s trying to understand how they changed over time. Through this work he noticed that there were two main types of galaxies: elliptical and spiral. Some spiral galaxies have central bar-like features in their center, and these are classified as “barred spirals.” Hubble then developed his tuning fork, shown in Figure 1, where the handle contains elliptical galaxies and the fork shows spirals the top and barred spirals at the bottom.

THE TUNING FORK IS NOT AN EVOLUTIONARY PATH!

The S0, or lenticular, galaxies are a bit different. They have morphological properties of both ellipticals and spirals. S0 galaxies have very large central bulges, like ellipticals, and very small, faint disks with no spiral arms (almost like spirals). Irregulars (Sm; not shown) are a class of galaxy that do not fall under any standard morphology. They have no clear structure and appear highly disorganized in shape.

Figure 1: A simple schematic of Hubble’s Tuning Fork

Galaxy Classification Lab

Go to the following galaxy image database:

http://www.astro.gsu.edu/lab/website/labstuff/classification.html

Here you will find images of galaxies that have a known classification. The links to these galaxies are at the top, images show to the left. The unknown galaxies have links at the bottom and will show on the right.

1. Use Hubble’s Tuning Fork and the reference images in the database to classify the morphology of each unknown galaxy image (numbered 1-20) to the best of your ability. You will need to note for each galaxy whether or not there is visible spiral structure, rings, and/or bars. You will also need to note the presence of any other notable features, such as companions, jets, etc. Record your answers in Table 1.

Use Hubble’s Tuning Fork and the reference images in the database to classify the morphology of each unknown galaxy image (numbered 1-20) to the best of your ability.,
You will need to note for each galaxy whether or not there is visible spiral structure rings and/or bars.,
You will also need to note the presence of any other notable features, such as companions jets etc.,
Record your answers in Table 1.,
Describe how astronomical images are produced, how CCD cameras work, and how and why filters are used.

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Author Archives: Academic Wizard

Thermodynamics

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Part B

Part C Thermodynamics and Climate

Global Warming

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Part B

Part C

Part D

Light Spectrum and Efficiency

Part A

Part B

Part C

Refraction and Refractive Index

Question 1

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Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

Question 2

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Part B

Part C

Applications of Convex and Concave Lens

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Part B

Part C

Double Helix Structure of DNA

Part A

Part B Electricity, DNA & Fields

Electric Field of Dreams

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Electric Field Hockey ‪‪Electric field hockey‬ 1.0.0-dev.10‬

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Home Energy Use

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Part E

Part F

What Is “Wasted” Electrical Energy?

Electrical Safety Devices

Faraday’s Law

Part A

Part B

Research Fusion and Fission Reactions

Part A Nuclear Reactions and Electromagnetic Applications

Part B

Part C

Calculations

Question 1

Part A Nuclear Reactions and Electromagnetic Applications

Part B

Part C

Question 2

Part A

Part B

Part C

Question 3

Part A

Part B

Part C

Analysis and Conclusions

Part A

Part B

Part C

Comprehensive General Answers

1. Difference between meridian (longitude) and parallel (latitude)