Cern

LHC- Large Hadron Collider

The Higgs-Boson particle has been also known as the God Particle was discovered at Cern on August of 2012 by using the LHC and now the LHC is being cranked up to much higher energy level collisions.  This is a significant improvement on what is already a much celebrated scientific achievement.  The LHC is now back online  with 13 TeV for April 2015 and it just completed the 9 TeV back in March of 2015.  These increased energy levels gives more precise data into the Higgs -Boson mass and what the Higgs portion decays into (photons or (leptons or muons) and in what proportion.  The energy levels of the collider are schedule to increase into the 20 TeV ranges and with that increased level we intend to see more  in mass and decay.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/RestartLHC?src=hash&lang=en

Vector Notation

Arrows or Letter

OR

What is easier to teach and what is easier to comprehend?  Research data indicates that arrows tend to be a more confusing notation for analyzing vectors than the i,j,k method.  The confusing system of notation has been superseded by the i,j,k notation by a landslide.  Sometimes conceptual systems need to be considered prior to implementation to maximize the instructional benefits of the system.  In the world of mathematics and science the goal is to continue to learn and improve upon what we already know.  At one point in time the arrow method of notation was considered the best method of teaching vectors. By using research methods to determine the validity of the claim that the i,j,k notation method is the ideal notation for teaching we now can conclude that those claims are accurate and have merit.  The delivery method of any instruction is subjective and subject to possible deviation from the norm so to say that it is always better to teach the i,j,k notation would be false.  It has shown that most teachers that were interviewed found the i,j,k, method more effective with a greater consistency.

































http://physicsandphysicists.blogspot.com/2015/04/use-ijk-notation-instead-of-arrow.html?utm_source

Dark Matter thru Cosmic Shear

Cosmic Shear

The largest high-resolution and contiguous map of dark matter in the universe has been unveiled by the DEC . The researchers who created the map say that it demonstrates the potential for a technique based on weak gravitational lensing to be used for studying dark matter and dark energy. Called "cosmic shear", the technique is now being used to regenerate a full-sized 3 D map, which should be completed in 2020.Dark matter is an invisible entity that appears to interact only through gravity. Physicists believe it accounts for four-fifths of the matter in the universe and, while they have some ideas as to what it could be made of, it has never been detected directly.
Dark energy is even more elusive. It is the general label for the unexplained observation that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. This is contrary to the basic prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity, which suggests that gravity should be slowing the expansion down.

This is the first map produced by the Dark Energy Survey that shows dark matter across a large area of sky. The density of dark matter in the blue regions corresponds with the average density of the cosmos. The yellow and red regions have greater than average dark-matter densities. The right ascension (RA) and declination (DEC) are given in degrees. (Courtesy: Dark Energy Survey)

The Debate continues. Are these signature of dark matter the cause of inflation or is it the product of other cosmoses gravitational influence on ours.  This is where young Physicists will spend their future thoughts and hopefully solutions to interpretation of models such as the one above.




https://twitter.com/PhysicsWorld

GO PRO SPACEMAN

Go Pro In Space

New technology is advancing rapidly and the applications are out of this world.  We are only limited by our own imagination when we instruct in our classrooms and the use of current technologies helps us build upon the advancement of teaching methodologies.The product GoPRo is a video camera that can be attached to almost anything.  It is attached to helmets, cars, bicycles helicopters, remote control devices like drones, and the discovery channel uses this technology on its shows like the Gold Rush and the Deadliest Catch.  Now NASA is using it in space during a space walk.   This short video will show how technology can be implemented in the our world and out of this world!!   

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/

Sun Explodes

A LIGHT SHOW TO REMEMBER 

When their is a small explosion on the surface of our sun anything can happen and sometimes thisw beautiful sky is the result of that explosion.  To put this in to context the minor explosion from the sun that created this light show contain enough energy to decimate our planet if its orientation was precisely right. The CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) that created this light show travelled 150 million kilometers to get here!  CMEs are huge bubbles of gas that are threaded with magnetic fields and are ejected from the Sun into what we know as the solar wind.

The effect of a direct hit by a CME could set the entire world back 2000 years in technology.  Our entire electrical grid would wiped out and would take many years to repair.  Our satellites would be destroyed and if they were not destroyed we wouldn't be able to communicate with them.  Our medical services would be set back a hundred years.  People would die of exposure to the elements due to lack heat available.  The entire population of the earth would have to be reorganized due to the lack of power.  The magnetic poles could shift.  The possibilities are endless so lets enjoy the light show while we can!!!!

https://twitter.com/PhysicsToday

A big wheel instead of a Lecture

  Fundamental Laws of Physics

Students need to feel like they are involved with the learning process as much as their teachers do.  A way to engage any student in the classroom is through a friendly competition competition.  By using items and concepts that they are familiar with and have experience in gives the students a sense of confidence and inclusion in any lesson.  The students can use childhood toys to understand the laws of physics that they relied on all their life.  This type of teaching method and the simple toys used can be used to teach and  explain some of the most fundamental and complicated  laws of physics.  Real life applications of  the principles being taught has been found to impart a better understanding and greater retention the principles presented.  A big wheel is more fun than a lecture.

http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/2015/03/who-will-get-there-first-using-rate.html

Women make Great Physical Scientists

Women make great Physical Scientists Too

Patchanita Thamyongkit was mistaken for a secretary at a major science conference in Thailand.  The presenter decided she was a secretary because her gender even though she has won numerous awards as biochemist.  This seemingly thoughtless gesture is an indicator of the inequalities of the nature of the field of science due to traditional culture values of her country.  This also true in the United States when analyze the data.  Women make up only 30% of the physical scientists employed but they make up nearly half of the science majors in the country.  

https://twitter.com/BlackPhysicists

Should Scientist have their OWN Country?

What should we do?

What science  brings can be a double edge sword.  Albert Einstien led the way for the world into the nuclear age and he knew at that time that although scienc is wonderful people can use i for the wrong reasons. The cold war can attest to that.  Now we have Iran and its nuclear progam reminding us of how science stays the sames but people can change.. The two scientists thrown into the political battle between the U.S. and Iran went to the same school M.I.T in Massachusetts.  The scientists are pure but are the politicians backing them?  Maybe we should have a country of just scientists and let them decide what secrets to let out?



http://physicsandphysicists.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-tale-of-two-scientists.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FhNAhW+%28Physics+and+Physicists%29

Parent Toolkit

The American dream of having your child grow up be successful without constraints of society may be far fetched but most parents believe just that.  The interesting thing I found following this tweet about the American Dream was there was a parent toolkit to assess your childs programs and tricks to use to help your child develop in academics, social circles, and general self awareness.  This kit seems like how to  raise your kid to be successful but it is really just a way to help parents become more aware of their child's progress.  It is very interesting and could be helpful it is needed.  Parents in the past relied on their own upbringing to measure their children's progress this can be a good thing or a really bad th
ing depending on how objective a parent can be.  The fact that time is changing and what worked before may not work right now is a very real possibility so taking advantage of what is available ot you today as parents would be both loving and responsible.



https://twitter.com/educationnation

Let it Flow



Let it flow is a concept for helping students reach a level in their classroom work that completely envelops their senses.  They will ultimately lose track of time because they are so consumed by the material they are working with.  This type of mindset can be achieved on a more regular basis by first gaining regular feedback from students when it is achieved.   Once it is identified then slight modifications can be used to enhance the the effect.  Several guidelines have been found that will help maintain this Flow level.  Challenging the students to approximately 10% outside of their comfort zone seems to be very effective and being mindful not to make the project too difficult or too easy.  It is just like tubing down a river . Flowing down stream if there are too many obstacles you get stuck in an eddy you may get scared and if the landscape becomes flat then you go too slow and then you get bored but when your flowing along with a little excitement you want to keep going forever.


http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/

Just A Glitch

The New Educational Testing System in Florida has bugs.  The new testing procedures implemented in the public schools in Florida were being suspended until the glitches were address by the company who came up the testing procedures.  This company was paid to 220 million dollars to ensure  a seamless testing process for the state.  They call it a glitch but the real problem is that the school districts have no way to fix the problem.  The frequency of the errors or glitches of the computer related  issues with  the state and federal  government are on the rise.  The local level of control of the individual educational district in the United States is rapidly decreasing. There have been state takeovers of several city school districts such as Detroit, Atlantic City, Camden,just to name a few.  Even the manner in which a teacher is hired and retained is slowly going into the states hands not the schools based on tests with glitches.  It may have been a glitch but it is a sign of much worse to come.


https://twitter.com/educationweek/status/572794358052753409 

A Variation of Use.

I recently reviewed a blog by a math teacher where he noticed while typing in an equation into Desmos that while it graphed points it did not simplify the results.  Therefore if a mistake was made then it would be noticed immediately.  This insight adds another dimension into teaching a lesson by adding a layer for the students to  simplify.  The ability to find different uses of a tool while it is performing an entirely different task is the sign of astute educator.  We can learn how to use a product as it is intended but we can also find other uses for this same in a manner that is unintended and this is the backbone of advancement in some of man's greatest achievements.  This somewhat mundane or simple variation can sometimes have drastic effects on how we view the physical world.  This awareness of the digital teaching application may not qualify as earth shattering but the  creative thought involve is indictative of all our greatest inventions.  A simple variation of use. http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/

Gravity at work

Science classGravity at work on PhotoPeach

physics cartoon on PhotoPeach

Shadowing a high school student

Just one of the ducks today!

What a great idea for a teacher to a walk a day in one of their student's shoes.   The amount of information attained in one day following a single student could surpass a year of observation in your own classroom.  Taking notes and following the entire day of a student can  give an educator an entirely different perspective of the challenges that their students endure everyday. Setting aside the information that is imparted onto them the physicality of the students day should be overlook.

The educator by performing this excercise went through a learning process about different aspects of the students learning process that could bee changed to enhance the students experience and attention.  The teacher following the student spent 303 minutes sitting in a single day.  Changing his own classroom to add more activity where the students could move around was he response to something he hadn't recognized until he carried out this exercise. This a perfect example of understanding who you are teaching and where they are coming from in order to be effective in teaching them.  Good Job!




http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/

Knowledge isn't Power

How much Smarter is the bowling ball compared to the pins?




The idea that knowledge is power is a misnomer.  Power emanates from money and control of that money.   A small percentage of our population make the economic decisions for all of us whether we agree to it or not.  The idea of knowledge being an obstacle to gainful employment has been repeated so often that this myth now is believed to be a fact.  This what is meant by the statement that knowledge in't power.  This small group of powerful individuals have the ability to influence the public that they their lack of education is what is holding them back from living in moderate comfort.  The fact is that they have prospered during this time in history using technology as their argument.  Thy say if you get educated in these areas then you will get a high paying job yet they don't seem to exist.  So these people of power  again turn to and blame the educational system for not preparing their students for the work environment.
Knowledge is important everyone but it is not POWER!


http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/

Dark Matter

DARK MATTER

This video is a wonderful teaching tool for astronomy students.  The presentation is easy to follow as it peaks your interest in the field of Dark Matter.  The visual representations and arguments used during this lecture are direct and to the point.   The ability to enhance a lecture with visual aids is proven to the utmost degree in this lecture.  To convey the same amount of information with a strong possibility of considerably less comprehension would take three times as long and it would certainly leave its audience in its wake.
 











http://physicsandphysicists.blogspot.com/CharlesTowne

Online Shopping math

Using everyday applications for teacher is a wonderful tool to peak a child's interest.  When reading about the the blog where online shopping was used to help teach students calcualtions of percentages I recognized the different levels it worked on.  Number one it kept the children interested in the lesson.  It also gave the teacher a way to modify the lesson to individual class tastes or even to the individual,s areas of interest.  Then it taught a real world tool that a student could apply to their daily life.  It also showed the importance and benefit from learning math.

http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/2014/12/give-meaning-to-numbers-with-technology.html

No Gravitational Wave and Inflation from BICEP2 Results

The fact that the gravitional waves were not detected by the BICEP2 results would on the surface appear to be a major failure by the scientific community.  By making these claims without confirming their findings the researchers circumvented the normal process of discovery but this can be attributed to the human condition.  These scientist involved understood that if they could prove that gravitional waves existed then the inflation of the universe theory would be solidified.  Because of the mistake they made in the interpretation of the data this was no longer a result that could confirm the inflation theory.  Through further investigation they recognized that they now know how to exclude the misleading data in the future.  This is a perfect example that through a presumed failure we have learned a great deal more that may lead us in the direction of actually proving the inflation theory of the universe.

 http://physicsandphysicists.blogspot.com/2015/02/no-gravitational-wave-and-inflation.html

Portland Maine Problem Solvers

The approach to learning called Expendituary Learning, their words not mine, I found to be both exciting and important.  Having worked in the private sector engaged in projects that started with an improvement on an existing product or a completely different approach to an existing problem that eventually led to a new or improved product these skills  were used on a daily basis.  This type of learning model is where the educational system and political environment should be exhausting their efforts to embrace.

http://vimeo.com/68323188

Trig ferris wheel

I found the learning tool of the ferriswheel a great way to have fun learning trigonometry.  I can see it as a practical tool for teaching different several concepts for basic physics.n  Anytime a physical model can be implemented into a learning environment I believe everybody wins.  The student and the instructor can reference a particular law or concept by association quickly and without ambiguity.





http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/

An American Nobel Laureate in Physics passed away

Charles Towne  an educator and Nobel prize winner died at the age of 99.  He was a religious man which dispels the myth that science and religion doesn't mix.  His research led to the modern laser which is critical in today's technology in areas encompassing medicine, manufacturing, fiber optic technologies,  astronomy, the list is almost endless.  His academic endeavors led him to the most technically advanced institutions in the United States of America.  He was an educator in places such as MIT, the California Institute of Technology, and Columbia University.   He worked at Bell Labs ranked in the top of its fields of research in the world.  He will be missed as a man but remembered for all of his accomplishments.




http://physicsbt.blogspot.com/

Charles Towne

theory of everything

The theory of everything is an interesting generalization of a theory of what we are on every level.  This is the reason why I am a physics major and why I want to teach students in this field.   The importance of questioning what we think we know and trying to find alternate possibilities to answer questions that we have no answers for is a passion of mankind and one  I stoke often.  The competing theories between Reduction and  Condensed Matter is like the chicken and the egg.



http;//www.physicsandphysicts.blog.spot

e-learning 2075

The type of educational system in the year of 2075 is just a guess.  History in this arena has told us that anything is possible.  The changes that may take place will probably include some of what the article "From Chalkboards to Chat Boards: What will e-learning look like in 2075" states.   But if history can tell us anything it tells us that  our own advances in technology are not on a simple linear path. What was thought to be impossible even a decade ago has become commonplace today.  To look forward 60 years I believe this article is quite conservative in its outlook for future education.  S Our technology is advancing on a non linear path therefore our future educational path should mirror our advances in technology.


http://edudemic.com/chalkboards-chatboards-will-elearning-look-like-2075





























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