PHYSICS: WEEK 8







Newton's first law of motion states that an object will not change its speed or direction unless an unbalanced force affects it.  I see this law in effect whenever I play pool.  The ball
 either stops on the table because of the friction of the velour when it is going at a slow speed or stops because it hits another ball on the table.  The second law of motion states that acceleration is produced when an unbalanced force acts on an object.  The more mass the object has, the more net force has to be used to move it.   An example of this second law is when I carry a heavy backpack full of acupuncture textbooks to school.  It is easier to lift and carry my backpack when I don't have to bring these heavy books to school because there is less mass in the backpack.  Therefore, more force is required to lift and carry my backpack with Maciocia, Bensky and Deadman stuffed inside.  Newton's third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction that acts with the same momentum and the opposite velocity.  I've experienced this law of motion when I jumped into a pool off a diving board.  The board sprung back and launched me into the air.




Energy efficiency is something that is included in the design of many products in our modern world.  It is becoming a standard that home appliances such as dishwashers, stoves and washing machines are built with energy efficiency in mind.  Consumers are inclined to look for the Energy Star symbol on these appliances, ensuring them that the products adhere to EPA specifications of energy efficiency.   More and more households are also switching over to using LED lightbulbs to save energy.  They also rated life of up to 50,000 hours which is 50 times longer than a standard incandescent lightbulb!  Lastly, energy efficiency has become an important part of the construction industry.  Windows, roofs and doors are all built with saving energy in mind.  Government subsidies are also available for consumers who purchase these materials for their home.



Rene Descartes based his philosophy on the idea of radical doubt in which nothing that is perceived or sensed is necessarily true.  The only real thing in this situation is the mind that is doubting and believing its perceptions.  He was made famous for his quote, "I think therefore I am."  The heart of this philosophy is very Buddhist in nature.  It reveals the fickle state of the mind and how it leads us to believe that what we are perceiving through our five senses is absolute truth.  Descartes implies that it is the self that ultimately creates the illusion of reality.












Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 4, 2018 at 11:08 AM

    I never thought to think of of the connection between Descartes and his philosophy as being Buddhist in nature. That's an interesting point and the fact that the self ultimately creates the illusion of reality. Does that mean our reality is one that we create via our own perceptions? It's an interesting thought especially because we think we know things but in reality there is just so much out there that we have yet to discover, and we're just constantly changing every day. Also, love the pool reference, it's a great imagery to see Newton's Laws in action.

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  2. UnknownJuly 7, 2018 at 6:52 PM

    Your comment about Descartes' philosophy in being Buddhist is incredibly thought-provoking! I would have never put the two together, but your explanation is eloquently said. It reminds me to approach problems and situations with a open-mind and objective perspective rather than an experience that is solely subjective-based.

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