Recent content by Skrphys

Thanks, Dave! So what I’m gathering is that for AC the electrons in the wire are pushed forward and backward depending on the direction (i.e., sign) of the potential caused by the alternating EM field. So then, the transfer of energy would be from the electrons in the wire “hitting” off of each...

Indeed! I appreciate that you have recognized the disconnect between what is true and what needs to be taught. I guess what I’m trying to do here is to understand for myself so that I can simplify and explain to my students. Thanks for your reply!

I am a high school teacher and we were discussing waves and electricity in class today. One of my students asked me if electricity is a longitudinal wave or not and I had no idea how to answer. So, I realize that electric fields are what drive electrons to move through conducting wires, but...

Thank you all for your posts. Sometimes I forget that often times in physics approximations are used.

I am having a problem with understanding concepts related to the speed of a wave. Here are my thoughts laid out: 1) The speed of a wave is dependent only on the medium 2) When a wave crosses from a less dense medium into a more dense medium (or visa versa) the speed of the wave is always...

Thanks for your reply. Maybe my conceptual understanding of impulse is lacking. You are right, it definitely isn’t talked enough about. Even in college I only recall briefly discussing it.

How does this version of the power equation relate to physical situations? Does the value you get give you an instantaneous power? Or is the velocity to be taken as the average velocity (an actual displacement over time)?

Awesome! This is how I was trying to explain it too but my explanation got lost after the definition of impulse. I was having trouble connecting it to the speed. So I’m the end, and correct me if I’m wrong, it’s because acceleration is dependent on time so we can still say f=ma applies because...

I have my students doing a lab where they have to do and explain the tablecloth trick using Newton’s Laws. The problem I am having is that the one question asks why the quick removal of the tablecloth matters. I know friction is not affected by speed and yet this is the only force acting on the...

I am a high school physics teacher looking for clarification on some topics.