Showing posts with label physics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label physics. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Making a mark in the sky

So this happened last year - a solar-powered dirigible was tediously done by a bunch of dozen folks. I came through a trail of reading on solar energy, that started with a presentation by Elon Musk introducing the Tesla Solar, which seems a half-baked plan in its early days (more technology into a rather simple existing solution means more points of failure, and hence more frustration with things over longer period of time, plus the need for greater expertise if something goes wrong).

It now itches to build a small floating solar-powered dirigible of my own. Frustrating, because what is sold as "kids' toys" is still exciting new discovery about the world in my interactive-reactive head. It will lead to failures in other points of my existence chain, which might be perceived as more serious, or be seen as foretelling of a career cascade (if that's not what mine already qualifies for) and hence another thing to cope with.

But that thought aside, plans are already underway to visit the supermarket to get a new stash of bin bags. It will take taping together half a dozen of those, by my intuitive calculation (to be confirmed on paper later). Ideal would be to try replicate a "Pif", a french solar (or rather, hot-air-powered) dirigible akin to a kite maneuvered with both ends tied and connecting to a string connected to a spool that a lucky kid from a village will get to hold (of course, i do the maneuvering).

This would work best in the hills, which is coincidentally where I am. Imagine meself on a lovely morning atop a local summit doing this.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Physics made Interesting

Through a long chain (toys > finite time singularities > euler's disc > tippe top > rigid body forces > MIT) I bumped into the character of Prof. Walter Lewin. Acknowledged as one of the best teachers of our generation, Lewin studied in physics and astrophysics, then followed with taking up teaching (for good) at MIT (Cambridge).



His striving for pedagogical frontiers is exceptional, and teachers need to see and understand more of him - this 75 year old guy swinging on a pendulum in the name of physics (and under the assurity of physics), and riding out on fire extinguisher-powered tricycles on his last lecture at MIT.
It was surprising to see even baby bro join in and enjoy the lecture alongside me - he, who has not touched Physics since 2005 and surely sees no reason to.

A tiny note to add - his status royale at MIT was snatched after charges of sexual harrassment surfaced, which happened a coupla years back. It was after his term ended at MIT (during his involvement with MIT's online education platform, OpenCourseware). Disciplinary action ensued, and all his lectures were taken off OpenCourseware thereafter.

Coincidentally, t'was Walter Lewin's birthday just yesterday, on the 29th of Jan.