Opening Day

Well, it has finally come.  Spring training is over and everyone in Chicago can now enjoy America's past time again -- baseball.  It got me wondering about all the scientific things that are dealt with in the game of baseball.  While I am sure I could find a way to tie in all aspects of science, physics is the probably the most prevalent field of science that is important to baseball.

I am going to look at just one aspect of baseball today that is extremely important to the game and deals with a lot of physics, pitching.

Photo courtesy of howstuffworks.com

There is one pitch that revolutionized the game, the curve ball.  This strange pitch actually curves and throws hitters off and this is exactly why it is so useful.  With a  curve ball there are important factors that allow this pitch to curve - 1. The grip the pitcher has on the ball  2. The air resistance that meets the ball.  Obviously, different pitchers have different grips but the main curve ball grip is where the index and middle finger are lined up together on one of the laces of the ball while the thumb is holding the ball on the opposite side. The grip of the ball is show below.

Photo courtesy of dreamtime.com

Once the grip is in place, the pitcher must snap their wrist while throwing the ball to home plate, putting top spin on the ball.  This topspin affects the way the air travels over the ball which in turn allows the ball to curve.  The actual science behind it is that the air under the ball is flowing faster then the air on top of the ball and this causes lower pressure.  Since there is lower pressure on the bottom of the ball, the ball will then drop or curve.  There are several types of curve ball pitches and they all depend on where the pitcher releases the ball.  If the pitcher wishes to throw a 12 - 6 curve ball they will release the ball at the top but is they want more of a curve ball the travels across the strike zone then they will release the ball at angle across their body.

Here are a few cool links

    -  Video of a 12 - 6 curve ball

    - Article about physics of baseball

    - Another video about physics and how it affects pitching

I will create another post by the end of the week dealing with the best part of baseball - hitting.

Mr. Bean

GO CUBS!

By the way I know you are all on Spring Break, but I have a rugby game this weekend at home.  Game is at 1pm at Wilson Ave. and Lake Shore Drive. I will be posting my whole rugby schedule later for those of you who wish to come see the best game on Earth played live.

Happy Spring Break

Hey guys,

Sorry I have been off the grid for so long, just been catching up on a lot of work and getting into the rhythm of working at Audubon's after school program.  I thought I would try and post something that I found interesting, scientific, or cool.  During my time over the past two weeks not teaching I have been doing a lot of reading so I thought I would recommend a book to all of you guys - The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

This book is about a young boy named Matt that is a clone of a drug lord named El Patron.  Since El Patron holds so much power, he has created a clone that has its full mental ability unlike the others that have been created to only perform only a few tasks.  This book is about forming an identity and the struggle a person goes through to survive who is different then everyone else. I highly recommend this book because I could not put the book down from the moment I picked it up and I think you guys will feel the same way.  

I will be better in the future about posting topics that I think you all will enjoy.  Have a safe spring break and enjoy your time off.

Mr. Bean

Thanks for the memories...

Hey guys, made it to Oklahoma City safe and sound.  I just wanted to write and say thank you to all the students of Hawthorne.  You have made the last 10 weeks an unforgettable experience and one that I will certainly never forget.  I will continue to post cool scientific things here so you can explore the wonderful world of science on your own time.  I will also let you know of any upcoming rugby games if you are so inclined to watch the greatest sport in this world.  Once again thanks a bunch and good luck with the rest of the school year.  I will certainly be back to visit and say hi every once in a while.

One love,

Mr. Bean

Here is a video for all of you to remember me by.  It is me spinning to win in Park Lane Terrain Park in Breckenridge, CO.

3/1/12 - Concept/Modern Car Review

Hey guys, I know I said I would do an example of a car I liked and a car that I did not like on here.  The cars I have selected are below.

Good Car Design

2012 Nissan Leaf

Photo courtesy of www.autoblog.com

The Nissan Leaf is a cutting edge new car model that I chose as my car that has a good design.  The Leaf is 175 inches long and just under 70 inches wide and is run on an all electric motor.  Nissan claims that a driver can travel 73 miles on a fully charged battery which translates into a 99 miles per gallon gasoline fuel efficiency.  Not only is it affordable at around $33,000, it's design allows for a very energy efficient vehicle.  Based on what I learned from the K'NEX experience, I know that the more aerodynamic the car is, the more efficient it will be and this is exactly what Nissan has done.  With a curvy front to create less drag, the Leaf will travel further on less energy.  The car is very light at 3,354 pounds and although it has four wheels, the tires are only 16 inches wide.  All in all, this is a very good car design and because it is run on only electricity, it is a step in the right direction in us reducing our impact on the environment.

Bad Car Design

2012 Mercedes Benz G-Class

Photo courtesy of www.chicagoautoshow.com

The Mercedes Benz G-Class is a car that has a very large and bulky design.  Although it is only 9 inches longer (184 inches) and 2 inches wider (71 inches) than the Nissan Leaf, it ways a ridiculous 5,622 pounds.  All that extra weight contributes to its poor gas mileage at 12 miles per gallon in the city and 15 mph on the highway. Unfortunately, the motor runs only on gasoline so that means that this huge car causes more than its fair share of pollution to the environment.  I believe this is a poorly designed car because it is extremely tall which creates more air resistance on the car, requiring the car to use more energy to get from one place to another.  Another thing that adds to the poor design is the weight of the car because the more a car weighs, the more energy is required to move it.  Not only is this car extremely expensive retailing at $107,000, it is uneconomical and harmful to the environment.  I understand some people may need a car like this for the extreme climates they live in, but a normal person in Chicago does not need a car like this to get from place to place on an everyday basis.

The last paragraph you must compare and contrast the two cars.  I have decided to do a Venn Diagram because ti is an easier way for me to organize my thoughts but you are free to do either option.  

Good luck and I will see you tomorrow.

2/28/12 - 6th Grade Concept & Modern Cars Design Critique

Guys,

Today we reviewed for the test that is tomorrow and you guys seem ready.  The second part of class we looked at concept and modern car designs -- at least one that has been made within the last 5 years.  By the end of class you should have picked out one car design you think is a good and one that is bad.  The assignment is posted on the homework site as well as the rubric so you guys have more clarification.  As we discussed in class, what I am looking for includes...

1. A photo of each car you have decided to critique
2. The specifications of each car such as length, weight, and gas mileage.
3. Your reason as to why each car has a good/bad car design using what you have learned from your experience with car design using the K'NEX pieces
4. A comparison and contrast of the two cars.

It was mentioned in class that some people would like to use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the two cars and I am fine with that, whatever you feel comfortable doing.  I have posted a Venn diagram template on the homework site as well that you can use to complete this aspect of the task.

Tomorrow I will pick two cars to critique so you have an idea of what it should look like.  Study hard for your test and see you tomorrow.

2/28/12 - 8th Grade Review for Chemistry Final

Guys, below is the link to the Jeopardy game we played in class today for you to use to practice.

   - Jeopardy

I would suggest that you guys review old tests, worksheets, and skim the book to find the answers to the review worksheet.  Tomorrow will be the last time you will have a chance to ask any questions about material you do not understand.  I have posted the study guide on the homework site if you need another copy of it.  Happy studying, see you tomorrow.

2/27/12 - 8th Grade Cabbage Juice Indicator Experiment

Today we did an experiment where we used cabbage juice an indicator to tell us whether a substance was either an acid or base.

Photo courtesy of www.chemistryland.com

This lab went relatively well I thought, but I would just like to point out that there were no neutral substances being tested.  Some of the groups thought hydrogen peroxide was neutral because it was purple but the shade of purple was different than that of the cabbage juice.  Since it is only a slightly different color purple this means that hydrogen peroxide is ever so slightly acidic.

Today's lab should have showed you the wide range of pH levels found in everyday household items.  Below is a diagram of the pH scale using the colors of the cabbage juice to let you see the approximate pH of each substance.  This scale is a bit better than the one I showed in class today.

Photo courtesy of http://braukaiser.com

Tomorrow and Wednesday we will be reviewing a lot of material in order to prepare you for your cumulative chemistry final on Thursday and Friday.  There is a lot of material to cover and it would be helpful if you brought in all your old tests and handouts so we can go over any questions you might have on the material.