Tue 11/28; Physics, missed Tinkers Workshop
We all have off days, and today was one of mine though it got better in the evening.
I couldn't get into Dr. Harris' physics lecture (09:30 - 11:00). Nothing against him; arriving so late in the term makes it harder to catch up but his teaching style doesn't engage me emotionally. I won't go to the T-Th Physics class anymore. There is only one more week of class before finals anyway. So I left around 10 AM.
We were planning to go to a special bike repair session at Tinkers Workshop from 14:00 - 18:00. Our objective would have been to install the 6 speed freewheel if possible (which is tricky because of the small rear triangle spacing on this bike). However, Jen took a nap for several hours and I didn't wake her, and I slept too even though I have had plenty of sleep lately. So she woke up cranky that she slept and missed so much of the limited daylight and we didn't go to the Tinkers Workshop. We plan to go there on Thursday when she doesn't work.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Physics
Mon 11/27: Physics, Bike maint, Jen goes to Jeff's 'anniversary'
I skipped the 08:00 Physics 7a today, but I went to the 7b at 09:00. At the a good portion of it was interested; Prof. Irfan discussed experimental methods as well as applications of magnetic fields and materials, as well as the 3 fundamental types of magnetic materials: diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and ferromagnetism.
After class finished, I had the usual $4.50 3-item lunch special at the Little Mandarin in Downtown Berkeley, and then I met Jen at the Missing Link bicycle shop.
I tightened the spokes on the front wheel (of the Specialized Sequoia touring bike) & Jen took off the front fender. It took us a while to get the headset apart, but we bought new bearings and got it greased and put back together. Although Jen thinks her her handlebars are too low, we didn't replace the stem because it would have been quite a bit of work to take the brakes, shifters, and handlebar tape off the stem. Her 6 speed freewheel is a very narrow Suntour model where is no longer available. Replacing it with a Shimano 14-28T freewheel ($14, with tax part only) will involve adjusting the spoke tension and adding spacers to allow additional clearance on the wheel's right side for the increased thickness of the new freewheel. We made an appointment with the Missing Link service dept to install the new freewheel (about $30 labor).
Tomorrow we will go to the Tinker's Workshop. We already have the replacement Shimano freewheel, so we may be able to install it ourselves at the bike clinic (14:00 - 18:00).
Jen left for the evening to go to Jeff's 'birthday' party. He was her friend and former boyfriend who committed suicide in May of this year.
Labels: Bike Mechanical, Physics
Wed 11/22; Physics, stocking up for thanksgiving
Photo: Jen at stoplight during our ride from Emeryville to Berkeley Bowl.
The last classes (08:00 Physics 7a fluid mechanics, 09:00 elec & magnetism) before the Thanksgiving holiday weren't too helpful. For some reason I couldn't really get into them. I need to do some more problems and it would really help to have someone else my own age interested in physics as well.
We stocked up on food from Berkeley Bowl in case we have Thanksgiving dinner alone but we are hoping to have dinner with David Freck or Chancy's friends.
Labels: Cycling, Physics
Tue 11/21; Physics Marris 7b; Oscillating masses
Top - Prof Marris demonstrates the different normal modes predicted by the equations, using a forced oscillator and 4 masses connected by identical springs. The equations predicted the amplitude of oscillation, as well as the phase variation. Bottom - Using the same equations to describe the waves in a string.
The solution to these equations as a little messy; not precisely an analytic solution. For some reason I wasn't too interested in the actual math but I liked the demonstration.
Labels: Physics
Mon 11/20: physics
I attended the Physics 7a, which covered more fluid dynamics. It was relatively interesting and a good review. The Physics H7b elec & magnetism was talking about capacitance & Dielectrics though I wasn't familiar enough with the magnetic monopole, dipole & quadrapole equation to follow the last part of the lecture. I spent some of the rest of the day reviewing the Simple Nature book though I burned out on it a bit, it would be nice to have someone with whom to study this stuff.
Labels: Physics
Fri 11/17: Downloading physics textbooks
I went to Half Price Books in Berkeley but didn't find a suitable physics textbook so I downloaded several free textbooks from the internet and I'll review those (for example, a Calculus based physics book called Simple Nature).
Labels: Physics
Fri 11/17: UC Berkeley Physics 7a, H7b lectures
Physics 7a 08:00 - pretty interesting, covering properties of fluids
Physics H7b 09:00 - Deriving Maxwell's equations, demonstration of two propogating e-m waves producing one standing e-m wave; Note to self: Need to derive Maxwell's equations on my own, acquaint myself with some mathematical terminology I have either forgotten or didn't learn very well, become better aquainted with differential forms of equations.
Labels: Physics
Wed 11/15: UC Berkeley physics H7B: Electricity & Magnetism
Professor Irfan demonstrated eddy currents in the electricity & magnetism lecture. He supercooled an aluminum ring with liquid nitrogen, and used a solenoid to project it so hard it hit the ceiling. He shot a room temperature, copper ring a few feet into the air but wouldn't supercool it because it would be such a good conductor that it could cause damage when it flew into the air.
Labels: Physics
Tue 11/14: Physics H7a class exam
I went to LeConte hall again to attend the Honors Physics 7a T-Th 09:30 - 11:00 hoping it would be more interesting. However, they were having midterm exams so I didn't stay.
Labels: Physics
Mon 11/13 Physics lectures 7a, honors 7b
I attended 2 physics lectures today in Le Conte hall at Berkeley today. The second one, honors 7b electricity and magnetism, was more interesting. I spoke with the professor (first name Irfan) and I will attend his lecture again on Wednesday. I'll attend a class on Tuesday morning if I can find something interesting.
Labels: Physics
